This easy Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole is a staple dish in my family during the holidays! It's your traditional sweet potato casserole with a splash of bourbon and topped with a crunchy pecan streusel full of brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg! This deliciously buttery and smooth sweet potato recipe will be the highlight of your thanksgiving dinner!
This sweet potato casserole is another one of my family recipes that I just HAVE to share with ya'll! It's mashed buttery sweet potatoes full of fall spices and topped with a delicious pecan crumble on top. I jazzed up this heirloom recipe with a little bourbon and maple syrup for deep caramel and vanilla notes that make this dish the best mashed sweet potatoes you'll ever make!
This recipe is near and dear to my heart because this is my favorite recipe that my mom makes every year for thanksgiving. I literally make this recipe from taste because I love it so much - there's something about sweet potatoes and pecans together. It's like they were made for each other!
It's also one of those easy recipes and won't take up a ton of time during your holiday meal prep. Simply make the streusel, boil the potatoes, mash them, and bake. You can also make this ahead of time and plop it in the fridge for up to two days prior!
Once this side dish hits your thanksgiving table, you'll be getting rave reviews left and right. Folks will be asking you to make it over and over again.
Ingredient Notes
Sweet Potatoes: You'll need about 3 lbs of sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks. For a lot of mashed potato recipes, I usually say leave the skin on - however, for this one, I recommend peeling them.
Spices: you'll need cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger.
Bourbon: the flavors of the bourbon make this thanksgiving sweet potato casserole stand out from the bunch. You only need a tiny bit but it makes a world of a difference! Use whatever brand you like. I always use maker's mark.
Brown Sugar and Maple Syrup: to add sweetness and flavor that pairs so well with the bourbon. Both are used in the mashed sweet potatoes and brown sugar is used in the pecan topping.
Vanilla Extract: the vanilla extract with the bourbon and brown sugar give this sweet potato casserole so much flavor. Be sure to use a quality brand.
Evaporated milk: this will make for super creamy sweet potatoes and helps all of the flavors come together nicely.
Butter: I always use salted butter for more flavor, however, if you're watching your salt, you can use unsalted.
Eggs: to add a custard-like texture to this sweet potato dish.
Pecans: I love the crunchy texture that the chopped pecans add to this dish. I used about a cup of the chopped pecans for the pecan streusel. You can also mix them into the sweet potatoes too if you'd like.
All purpose flour: this is for the pecan topping.
Substitutions
If you're allergic to nuts, simply omit them from the recipe. A nut-free version is just as delicious!
To make this recipe vegan and dairy free, use vegan butter and vegan heavy cream instead of butter and evaporated milk. You can use the exact amounts in the recipe card.
For a gluten free version, use a 1-to-1 baking flour for the pecan crumble on top.
Tips
Use a potato masher or potato ricer to mash the potatoes. Do not use a food processor, it'll cause the sweet potatoes to release starch and have a gluey texture.
Taste for seasoning. If you'd like more cinnamon flavor, add an additional teaspoon ground cinnamon. If you'd like more nutmeg, add more. This recipe can be easily customized to your liking!
Add candied bacon on top for a sweet and savory take on this recipe!
How to make Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Start by making the streusel. I always make the streusel first and refrigerate it because that prevents it from becoming mushy while baking in the oven. Combine melted butter, chopped pecans, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and the tiniest pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Mix together until crumbly and add to the refrigerator.
Peel and cut sweet potatoes in half (this will allow them to boil quicker). Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add about 1-1 ½ tablespoons of kosher salt to the water.
Boil sweet potatoes until fork tender then drain them and add to a large bowl. Mash the sweet potatoes and add the butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, maple syrup, and evaporated milk. Mash everything together until you get a nice smooth consistency. Then add vanilla extract, bourbon, and an egg. Continue to mix together until all of the ingredients are combined.
Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray and add the sweet potato mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Add the pecan mixture on top of the sweet potatoes and bake in the oven for 1 hour.
Storing and Reheating
If you have any leftover sweet potato casserole, cover it with plastic wrap or add to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Recipe FAQs
Can you freeze sweet potato casserole?
Yes! Add any leftovers to an airtight container and store for up to 3 months.
Is sweet potato casserole a dessert?
Traditionally, it isn't. However, it definitely could be a great dessert, especially with a scoop of ice cream.
Can i make sweet potato casserole the day before?
Yes, you can make sweet potato casserole up to 2 days prior to serving.
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This easy Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole has a splash of bourbon, topped with a pecan streusel full of brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg!
Serving: 8
Prep Time: 30mins
Cook Time: 1hr
Calories: 645kcal
Equipment
9x13 baking dish
Large Pot
Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
Pecan Streusel
8tbspsUnsalted Butter(melted)
½cupPecans(chopped)
1cupBrown Sugar
1 ½cupAll Purpose Flour
1tspGround Cinnamon
½tspNutmeg
PinchKosher Salt
Sweet Potato Casserole
3lbsSweet Potatoes(peeled and cut in half)
½cupUnsalted Butter
1 ½cupBrown Sugar
2tspGround Cinnamon
½tspGround Ginger
½tspGround Nutmeg
2tbspBourbon
2tbspsMaple Syrup
1cupEvaporated Milk
1tbspVanilla Extract
1LargeEgg
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Start by making the streusel. Combine melted butter, chopped pecans, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and the tiniest pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Mix together until crumbly and add to the refrigerator.
Peel and cut sweet potatoes in half (this will allow them to boil quicker). Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add about 1-1 ½ tablespoons of kosher salt to the water. Boil sweet potatoes until fork tender then drain them and add to a large bowl.
Mash the sweet potatoes and add the butter, brown sugar, ground cinnamon,ground nutmeg, ground ginger, maple syrup, and evaporated milk. Mash everything together until you get a nice smooth consistency. Then add vanilla extract, bourbon, and an egg. Continue to mix together until all of the ingredients are combined.
Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray and add the sweet potato mixture to the prepared baking dish. Add the pecan mixture on top of the sweet potatoes and bake in the oven for 1 hour.
Notes
Tips
Use a potato masher or potato ricer to mash the potatoes. Do not use a food processor, it'll cause the sweet potatoes to release starch and have a gluey texture.
Taste for seasoning. If you'd like more cinnamon flavor, add an additional teaspoon ground cinnamon. If you'd like more nutmeg, add more. This recipe can be easily customized to your liking!
Add candied bacon on top for a sweet and savory take on this recipe!
This was utterly delicious. Best sweet potato I’ve ever made.