Savory sweet potato casserole is made with mashed sweet potatoes, garlic, herbs, and a crunchy panko parmesan crust. It's the perfect Thanksgiving side dish recipe to pair with turkey or ham.
Heather's recipe summary
Flavor/texture: Mashed, creamy sweet potatoes are mixed with savory seasoning like thyme, sage, and garlic. The casserole is topped with an irresistible crunchy panko parmesan crust.
Pan size: 9x13
Serves: 12 people
Similar to: Southern Sweet Potato Casserole and Savory Roasted Sweet Potatoes
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Milk - Any milk works in this recipe - 1% milk, whole milk, skim milk,or even unsweetened almond milk.
- Minced garlic - Can be substituted with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder if needed. I don't recommend using jarred garlic, which often has a harsh flavor.
- Panko bread crumbs - Traditional panko, gluten-free panko, traditional bread crumbs, or crushed butter crackers (like Ritz brand) work as a topping.
How to make savory sweet potato casserole
- Combine mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, melted butter, milk, and seasoning in a large bowl.
- Distribute mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish and smooth into an even layer.
- Mix panko, parmesan, melted butter, and salt in a bowl.
- Sprinkle over the sweet potato filling in an even layer and bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes or until center is set and top is lightly browned.
Ways to cook sweet potatoes
You'll need four pounds of cooked and mashed sweet potatoes for this recipe. Here are my two favorite cooking methods:
Baking - Preheat your oven to 425F. Give your potatoes a scrub, pat dry, and pierce multiple times with a fork. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for about 45-60 minutes, or until they reach 205F in the center. Use an instant read thermometer to ensure your potatoes are fully cooked. Allow potatoes to cool slightly before peeling the skin off and mashing.
Boiling - Peel and quarter your potatoes, then place in a pot of salted water. Bring to a boil and cook for about 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain and mash.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Assemble the casserole as directed. Before baking, cover the casserole and refrigerate overnight. On Thanksgiving day, pull out the casserole to bring to room temperature on the counter top. Meanwhile, preheat your oven, then bake as directed in the recipe card below.
Runny filling can happen from overmixing until gluey, adding too much liquid, or not properly draining your boiled potatoes before mashing.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
Sweet Potato Filling
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed*
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup milk
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Panko Topping
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Sweet Potato Filling
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease a 9x13 baking dish and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, melted butter, milk, minced garlic, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper. Stir until evenly incorporated.
- Pour sweet potato filling into prepared 9x13 pan and spread into an even layer.
Panko Topping
- In a bowl, add panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, melted butter, and salt. Stir until combined (mixture will be wet and clumpy). Sprinkle topping evenly over sweet potato filling.
- Bake casserole for 35-40 minutes, or until center is set and top is lightly browned.
- Serve warm.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Baking: Preheat oven to 425F. Scrub potatoes and prick all over with a fork. Bake 45-55 minutes, or until cooked through. Allow to cool slightly, then peel the skins off and mash.
- Boiling: Peel potatoes and quarter potatoes, then place in a pot of salted water. Bring to a boil and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes can be pierced through with a fork. Drain and mash.
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