Years ago, I worked in the pathology lab at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, back before it became part of IU Health. Methodist was a teaching hospital, and during our staff pitch-ins, the resident pathologists often joined in.
One year, one of the residents, Dr. Smith, brought in a dish that instantly became a favorite—his wife’s sweet potato casserole.
From the first bite, I was hooked. Creamy, sweet, and topped with a buttery pecan crunch, it was everything you want in a holiday side dish.
Ever since that day, this casserole has had a place on our table every Easter and Thanksgiving. It’s that good.
The best part? You don’t need to be a fancy cook to make it. This recipe is simple enough for beginners and delicious enough to wow your family and friends.
Whether you’re cooking for a big holiday meal or just craving something cozy and sweet, this casserole delivers every time.
Ingredients
I’ll be sharing the full recipe below, with the ingredients for the casserole and topping separated, so you can make it just the way you like it.
Casserole
- 4 1/2 pounds fresh sweet potatoes
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 3/4 cup melted butter
- 3 eggs (well beaten)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Topping
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 1/2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions
Boil sweet potatoes until soft. Then drain, remove skins, and hand mash the sweet potatoes
Mix together all the other casserole ingredients.
Lightly butter a 2-quart casserole dish, then spoon in the sweet potato mixture and smooth it out.
Mix together the topping ingredients. Sprinkle on top of the casserole.
Bake the uncovered casserole at 300°F for two hours.
A Family Favorite Worth Sharing
Whether you make it with the pecan topping or keep it plain, this sweet potato casserole is sure to become a favorite at your table, just like it did at ours. It’s simple, comforting, and made to be shared. I hope you love it as much as we do.