Easy Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

This easy Instant Pot sweet potato casserole is creamy, lightly sweet and topped with a crunchy brown sugar pecan crumble, with no marshmallows needed. The Instant Pot steams the sweet potatoes in 10 minutes, so you skip the long boil or roast.

This is a family favorite we've made for over 15 years, and my son even named it his favorite Thanksgiving recipe. Sorry, hubby, who spent 10+ hours in the cold smoking the turkey.

The sweet potatoes cook the same way as my cubed Instant Pot sweet potatoes, then get mashed and baked. If you'd rather skip the pressure cooker, my canned sweet potato casserole and sweet potato casserole with streusel topping are just as good on the table.

Why I Steam the Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot

The first time we cooked the sweet potatoes in the pressure cooker before baking, we were hooked.

Steaming on a rack over 1 cup of water keeps them soft but not waterlogged, so the mashed sweet potatoes stay thick instead of runny. It also frees up the stove and oven for everything else on your Thanksgiving menu.

We make ours without marshmallows to keep the sugar down. The maple, vanilla and brown sugar pecan topping give it all the flavor it needs.

What You Need to Know

• Instant Pot time - 10 minutes at high pressure with a quick release, then about 1 hour in the oven at 350°F.
• Sweet potatoes - 5 pounds of garnet yams (red-skinned sweet potatoes), peeled and cut into 1½-inch pieces.
• Pan - A 9x13 baking dish. Halve the recipe for an 8x8 or 9x9.
• Serves - 16 as a holiday side.
• Make ahead - Mash and assemble the day before, then add the topping and bake.
• Diet notes - Gluten free as written, with a sugar-free topping swap below.

Ingredients You'll Need

See the recipe card below for exact amounts.

• Garnet yams - These red-skinned sweet potatoes have the best flavor and deep orange color. Lighter-skinned sweet potatoes work too, they're just milder.
• Brown sugar - Light or dark both work for the topping.
• Pecans - Chopped, unroasted. They toast in the oven as the casserole bakes.
• Butter - Cut into small pieces so it crumbles into the topping.
• Eggs - They help the mashed sweet potatoes set so you get clean slices.
• Maple syrup - Use real maple syrup. Honey works too.
• Vanilla extract and lemon juice - Real vanilla and fresh lemon juice brighten the sweet potatoes.
• Salt - I use fine sea salt. If you use table salt, use a little less since it's stronger.

How to Make Easy Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

Step 1: Make the topping and prep

Heat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 dish.

Mix the brown sugar, pecans and butter until crumbly, then chill it until you need it. Cold topping stays crumbly instead of melting into the sweet potatoes.

Step 2: Pressure cook the sweet potatoes

Add 1 cup of water and a steamer basket to the Instant Pot, then the sweet potato pieces.

Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes and quick release. They should be fork-tender all the way through.

Step 3: Mash and mix

Mash the sweet potatoes in a bowl. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, lemon juice and salt.

Stir in the mashed sweet potatoes until smooth, then spread it in the dish.

Step 4: Top and bake

Sprinkle the chilled pecan topping over the top.

Bake about 1 hour, until the center is set and the edges bubble. Let it rest 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Cut the sweet potatoes the same size so they cook evenly.
• Use the steamer basket. Sweet potatoes sitting in the water get soggy and make a runny casserole.
• Mash while they're hot. They mash smoother and you won't need a mixer.
• Keep the topping cold until it goes on.
• If the top browns too fast, lay a piece of foil loosely over the dish for the last 15 minutes.

Variations

• Honey - Swap honey for the maple syrup.
• Sugar-free topping - Use coconut sugar, erythritol or monk fruit in place of the brown sugar.
• Marshmallows - If your family wants them, scatter mini marshmallows over the pecans for the last 5 to 10 minutes of baking.
• Smaller batch - Halve everything and bake in an 8x8 or 9x9 dish. Start checking at 40 minutes.

What to Serve with Sweet Potato Casserole

It's a Thanksgiving side, so it goes right next to the turkey. We serve it with my easy roast turkey or air fryer turkey breast.

Round out the table with Instant Pot mashed potatoes and crockpot orange cranberry sauce.

Make Ahead, Storage and Freezing

• Make ahead - Assemble the casserole without the topping, cover and refrigerate up to 1 day. Add the cold topping and bake, adding 10 to 15 minutes since it starts cold.
• Fridge - Keep leftovers covered for up to 4 days.
• Freezer - Freeze baked leftovers up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat at 350°F until hot.
• Reheat - Warm individual portions in the microwave, or the whole dish covered with foil at 350°F for about 20 minutes.

FAQs

What size Instant Pot do I need?

A 6 quart Instant Pot fits all 5 pounds of sweet potatoes in a steamer basket. In a 3 quart, cook them in two batches.

Can I make Instant Pot sweet potato casserole ahead for Thanksgiving?

Yes. Mash and assemble it the day before, keep the topping in a separate container, then top and bake on Thanksgiving.

What's the difference between yams and sweet potatoes?

The "garnet yams" sold in US stores are actually sweet potatoes. True yams come from Africa and Asia, have a starchy, not sweet, flesh and are rarely sold in regular grocery stores.

Can I use canned sweet potatoes instead?

Yes, and I have a whole recipe for it. My canned sweet potato casserole skips the pressure cooker entirely.

More Thanksgiving Sides

Planning your whole menu? You can see all my Thanksgiving recipes here, or try one of these sides.

• Homemade Mac and Cheese with Heavy Cream
• Corn Souffle Casserole with Jiffy Mix
• Drying Bread in the Oven for Stuffing
• Sage and Onion Stuffing

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