Jump to Recipe

This sweet potato casserole with canned yams is hands down the BEST recipe for Thanksgiving! Tender sweet potatoes topped with a sugary sweet pecan topping make this a classic holiday dish!

I love this old-fashioned sweet potato casserole served up with other classic holiday side dishes such as Jiffy Cornbread Casserole and Fruit Salad with Cool Whip.

A spoonful of old fashioned sweet potato casserole held up over the full baking dish.

Why You’ll Love This Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams!

  • It’s a sweet potato casserole with pecans! The crisp pecan topping is the perfect touch to this delicious, sweet, and savory dish for Thanksgiving. Not to worry if you love marshmallow topping you can easily add it! Check below for more!
  • An easy-to-make casserole!! Since it uses canned yams you don’t have to do much prep beforehand. You simply mix the ingredients and bake!
  • Make it ahead of time. A recipe that’s perfect to calm down on the craziness surrounding the holidays.
  • Crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving recipe! So good that I guarantee there won’t be anything left by the end of the evening.

5 Star Review

A family favorite!!! I make this every year for Thanksgiving, it’s so good!

~ Kayla ~

Ingredients

Ingredients to make sweet potato casserole with canned yams on the table before mixing.
  • Yams: We use canned yams for this recipe as it yields the best results and makes it so much easier!
  • Milk: I just love how creamy this makes the texture of the casserole.
  • Butter: Adds so much richness!
  • Vanilla: The vanilla really adds a nice sweet taste with hints of warmth to the yams.
  • Eggs: Beat them well for a light and fluffy texture to your casserole.
  • Salt: A little bit of salt balances out the flavors of this dish.
  • Pecans: Pecan topping is our absolute favorite for a bit of nutty crunch!
  • Brown Sugar: It’s an absolute MUST for the perfect sweet flavor. It has much more flavor than granulated sugar due to the molasses added to it which gives it some color.
  • Flour: The flour acts as a thickening agent in the topping and turns it into a delicious crumble.

How To Make Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole

A collage of images showing the steps for making canned sweet potato casserole.
  1. Combine. The yams, milk, butter, eggs, and salt in a bowl.
  2. Mix. Until all the ingredients are well combined. Pour them into a baking dish.
  3. Make the Topping. Mix the pecans, brown sugar, flour, and melted butter together in a small bowl. Add it to the top of the sweet potato mixture. 
  4. Bake. In the oven for 25 minutes and serve.

Tips & Variations

  • Love Marshmallow Topping: With or without the pecans you can easily add marshmallows on top. Add some mini marshmallows over the top near the end of cooking. Make sure not to add them too early or they will burn.
  • Fresh Yams: You can opt for using cooked fresh yams but I think the canned yams work best. The fresh yams are a bit too heavy in my opinion so I prefer canned yams for the overall finished result as well as how easy they make this casserole dish!
  • Use a Different Nut: Instead of pecans, you can also use walnuts or hazelnuts!
  • Add Warming Spices: If you want you can also add some cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg.

Best Oven Roasted Turkey Breast

Turkey Gravy Without Drippings

Cranberry Holiday Punch Recipe

Funfetti Cake (Box Mix But Better!)

What To Serve With Sweet Potato Casserole

Salads. Salads are always a great addition to the table. I think you’ll love this Broccoli Salad, Easy Fruit Salad, or my Macaroni Salad.

Main Course. For a classic Thanksgiving enjoy it with Oven Roasted Turkey and Turkey Gravy. It also makes a tasty side dish for Bottom Round Roast, Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin, and Sliced Ham.

Sides. Old-fashioned sweet potato casserole goes with a wide range of sides. Enjoy it with Hash Brown Casserole with Cornflakes, Air Fryer Corn, Mashed Potatoes, Jiffy Corn Casserole, Air Fryer Zucchini, Cheesy Potatoes, Glazed Carrots, and Easy Green Beans.

Dessert. Don’t forget everyone loves holiday sweets! Serve your favorites or try my Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies, Oatmeal Fudge Bars, Apple Crisp, and Carrot Cake Cupcakes! The possibilities are endless.

A closeup image of sweet potato casserole with pecans in a baking dish.

Leftovers & Storing

  • Store. Leftovers in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months.
  • Make Ahead. One thing that’s great about this recipe is you can easily mix it up a day or two ahead of time. After it’s in the baking dish, place it in the refrigerator overnight so it’s ready to bake first thing the next day. Remove it from the fridge about thirty minutes before you’re ready to cook it. You may need to cook it slightly longer since it’s likely to be colder than when it’s freshly made.
  • Reheat. Return the casserole to a baking dish. Heat covered in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for about 30 seconds – 1 minute.
An overhead image of sweet potato casserole with canned yams ready to go in the oven.

More Thanksgiving Sides

Easy Glazed Carrots Recipe

How To Blanch Green Beans

Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes

Air Fryer Zucchini

More sprinkles, please! Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly meal planning. Follow on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for fun behind the scenes, mom life, and the newest recipes!

A spoonful of old fashioned sweet potato casserole held up over the full baking dish.
4.92 from 23 ratings
Leave a Review
Servings: 8 servings

Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
This Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole is hands down the best recipe for Thanksgiving! It's made with a pecan topping and is so delicious. Perfect for the holidays!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 80 ounces canned cut yams, drained
  • ¼ cup milk
  • ⅓ cup butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ½ teaspoon salt

PECAN TOPPING:

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375℉ and spray a 9×9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix the yams, milk, butter, eggs, and salt until well combined; pour into baking dish.
  • In another small bowl, mix the pecans, brown sugar, flour, and butter together. Sprinkle on top of the sweet potato mixture.
  • Bake uncovered for 25 minutes and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Love Marshmallow Topping: With or without the pecans you can easily add marshmallows on top. Add some mini marshmallows over the top near the end of cooking. Make sure not to add them too early or they will burn.
  • Fresh Yams: You can opt for using cooked fresh yams but I think the canned yams work best. The fresh yams are a bit too heavy in my opinion so I prefer canned yams for the overall finished result as well as how easy they make this casserole dish!
  • Use a Different Nut: Instead of pecans, you can also use walnuts or hazelnuts!
  • Add Warming Spices: If you want you can also add some cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg.
Calories: 692kcal, Carbohydrates: 110g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 83mg, Sodium: 319mg, Potassium: 2436mg, Fiber: 13g, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 943IU, Vitamin C: 49mg, Calcium: 100mg, Iron: 2mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Side Dish
Author: Jennifer
Tried this recipe?Mention @deliciouslysprinkled on Instagram or tag #deliciouslysprinkled.

Some of the links above are affiliate links, which pay me a small commission for recommending my favorite products at no extra cost to you! Thank you for supporting Deliciously Sprinkled.