My Crock Pot sweet potato casserole is my twist on a classic Thanksgiving side dish that saves precious oven space while still delivering that cozy holiday flavor. I just love the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes with the buttery, crunchy pecan topping!
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My Easy Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
My Crock Pot sweet potato casserole came together that very first time out of sheer necessity. My oven was packed with turkey, stuffing, and rolls, and I needed another way to get my sweet potatoes on the table.
Slow cooker to the rescue! I was hoping my Crock Pot would give me the same tender, creamy texture I was used to from baking sweet potato casserole. But after one rich, velvety bite with the buttery pecan topping and gooey marshmallows, I realized it was every bit as delicious, maybe even better!
Since then, I’ve stuck with my slow cooker version whenever my oven is filled. I’ve baked casseroles in the oven plenty of times, but this method is a great way to save oven space and keep the dish warm until it’s ready to serve. For big holiday meals like Thanksgiving or Christmas, that’s the kind of stress-free cooking I need!
For more sweet potato recipes, be sure to check out my easy sweet potato casserole, air fryer baked sweet potato, sweet potato cream cheese pie, and sweet potato casserole with pineapple!
Sweet Potato Casserole in the Crock Pot Ingredients
- Canned yams – I use drained canned yams to save time, and they mash into a smooth base without any extra peeling or boiling.
- Unsalted butter – Butter gives the casserole its rich, creamy flavor, and I like using unsalted so I can control the sodium levels. I melt it first so it mixes evenly.
- Brown sugar – I use light brown sugar for added sweetness and a touch of caramel depth that pairs perfectly with the sweet potatoes.
- Egg – The egg helps bind the casserole so it holds together nicely when served.
- Cinnamon and salt – Cinnamon brings warmth, while a little salt balances out all the sweetness.
- Pecans – I can’t get enough of the crunch and nuttiness they add to the topping!
- Flour – This helps the topping hold its crumbly texture.
- Mini marshmallows – This is the gooey, golden topping that makes this dish a holiday classic.
How to Make Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Prepare the slow cooker by spraying the inside with cooking spray.
STEP TWO: Drain the canned yams and transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Mash them using a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon. Add ¼ cup melted butter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, an egg, cinnamon, and salt to the mashed yams. Stir everything thoroughly.
STEP THREE: Spread the mashed sweet potato mixture evenly inside the crock pot.
STEP FOUR: In a separate small bowl, combine the remaining brown sugar, butter, chopped pecans, and flour. Mix well to create a crumbly topping. Spread this mixture evenly over the top of the soon-to-be slow cooked sweet potato casserole.
STEP FIVE: Close the lid and cook the sweet potato casserole in the slow cooker on low heat for 3-4 hours.
STEP SIX: In the last hour of cooking, sprinkle the top of the slow cooked sweet potato casserole with marshmallows to add a sweet and gooey touch.
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes Casserole
- I mash the yams first with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon so the base is creamy and smooth before adding the other ingredients.
- If I’m prepping sweet potato casserole a day or two in advance, I follow the recipe up until I have the sweet potato mixture in the pot, then cover and refrigerate it. I add the pecan topping right before cooking.
- I always spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray to make cleanup easier.
- Adding the marshmallows in the last hour gets them nice and gooey without breaking them down too much. Otherwise, the marshmallows disappear into the casserole.
- If the casserole is done before the rest of the meal, I switch the Crock Pot to “warm” and it stays perfect until serving time.
- To brown the tops of the marshmallows, I use a butane torch lighter. It gets that classic baked look, and it tastes so good!
Sweet Potato Casserole in the Crock Pot Variations and Substitutions
- I sometimes swap butter for coconut oil or ghee when I need a dairy-free version of sweet potato casserole.
- A little vanilla extract adds extra depth and rounds out the flavors beautifully.
- To enhance the warm spice flavor, I’ll add a pinch of nutmeg to the sweet potato mixture.
- I sometimes add dried cranberries to the sweet potato casserole for a burst of tartness that goes so well with the super sweet mini marshmallows.
- For a different nut flavor, I’ll swap out pecans for walnuts in the crumbly topping.
What to Serve With Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
I love serving slow cooker sweet potato casserole with other classic Thanksgiving sides like green bean casserole, mac and cheese with cream cheese, maple glazed carrots, or cornbread stuffing!
For the main dish of holiday feasts, my go-tos are a boneless turkey breast or air fryer turkey breast if it’s just me, my husband, and the kids or a spiral ham if we’re hosting a crowd!
Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole FAQs
What type of yams should I use?
I’ve found that canned cooked yams are the easiest option since they’re already soft and tender. If I’m using fresh sweet potatoes, I make sure they’re peeled, boiled, and fork-tender before mashing.
Are yams and sweet potatoes different?
While a lot of stores use “sweet potato” and “yam” interchangeably, most of what we buy in the U.S. is actually sweet potatoes. True yams are a completely different root vegetable with white flesh and rough skin.
How should I store leftover slow cooker sweet potato casserole?
I let my sweet potato casserole fully cool, then cover the Crock Pot insert with plastic wrap or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It stays fresh for about 5 days.
More Easy Crock Pot Recipes
- Crock pot chicken and stuffing
- Spiral ham in the crock pot
- Crock pot mac and cheese
- Slow cooker london broil
- Crock pot pork tenderloin
- Tri tip in the crock pot
- Crock pot ham and cabbage
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Easy Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 40 ounces canned yams drained
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted, divided
- ½ cup brown sugar divided
- 1 large egg beaten
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 8 ounces miniature marshmallows
Instructions
- Spray the inside crock of a slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Drain the canned yams, transfer them to a large mixing bowl, and mash them with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon. Add ¼ cup melted butter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, egg, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.
- Spread the mashed sweet potato mixture evenly in the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, combine the remaining brown sugar and butter, chopped pecans, and flour. Spread the mixture evenly over the top of the sweet potatoes.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Sprinkle on the marshmallows in the last hour.
Notes
- Use a butane torch lighter to brown the tops of the marshmallows for that classic baked look.
- Mash the yams first with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon so the base is creamy and smooth before adding the other ingredients.
- If prepping sweet potato casserole a day or two in advance, follow the recipe up until the sweet potato mixture is about to go into the slow cooker, then cover and refrigerate it. Add the pecan topping right before cooking.
- Always spray the slow cooker insert with cooking spray to make cleanup easier.
- Adding the marshmallows in the last hour gets them nice and gooey without breaking them down too much.
- If the casserole is done before the rest of the meal, switch the Crock Pot to “warm.”
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
