Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

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Today, I am sharing this fantastic Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole recipe. Sweet Potato happens to be one of my favorite foods and the one thing I look forward to the most at Christmas. This easy sweet potato casserole recipe goes great with any roast and is perfect for Thanksgiving too.

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Why This Recipe Works
📋 Ingredients
For the Streusel Topping:
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole
👩‍🍳 Expert Tips
💭 FAQs
Serving Suggestions
🍜 Related Recipes
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

Why This Recipe Works

Quick and Easy: The Instant Pot cuts cooking time, making this a speedy side dish.
Sweet and Savory: This casserole perfectly balances the sweetness of potatoes and savory toppings.
Holiday Favorite: A classic dish that's perfect for Thanksgiving or any festive gathering.

📋 Ingredients

Water: Used as the cooking liquid in the Instant Pot, it helps to steam and soften the sweet potatoes to perfection.
Sweet Potatoes: Provide a naturally sweet, hearty base that becomes incredibly tender and creamy when cooked in the Instant Pot.
Heavy Cream: Adds a rich, velvety texture to the sweet potato mixture, enhancing the overall mouthfeel of the casserole.
Eggs: Act as a binding agent in the casserole, helping to hold all the ingredients together while also providing a subtle richness.
Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, molasses-like sweetness to the dish, complementing the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the sweet flavors in the casserole and adds a hint of aromatic complexity.
Cinnamon: This warm spice adds a comforting note of flavor that pairs beautifully with the sweet potatoes.
Salt: Enhances all other flavors and balances the sweetness of the casserole.
Nutmeg: Adds a warm, nutty flavor that complements the cinnamon and sweet potatoes perfectly.

For the Streusel Topping:

Butter (softened): Softened butter helps bind the streusel together, creating a rich, crumbly texture that melts into the casserole as it bakes.
Flour: Flour gives the streusel its structure, turning it into a golden, slightly crispy topping as it bakes.
Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and a hint of caramel flavor, perfectly complementing the earthy sweetness of the sweet potatoes.
Cinnamon: A warm spice that enhances the flavor of both the sweet potatoes and the pecans, adding a cozy, aromatic touch.
Salt (optional): Just a pinch can balance the sweetness and make the flavors pop, but it's optional depending on your taste.
Nutmeg: A classic spice for sweet potato dishes, nutmeg adds a subtle warmth and depth of flavor to the streusel.
Chopped Pecans: These add a crunchy texture and nutty flavor, making the topping extra satisfying and complementing the soft sweet potatoes beautifully.

For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

🔀 Substitutions & Variations

Sweetener & Flavor Tweaks: Experiment with alternative sweeteners such as maple syrup or brown sugar, and consider adding spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or even a pinch of cayenne for a warm, subtle kick.
Topping Variations: Swap traditional marshmallows with a crunchy pecan or walnut streusel, or opt for a mix of oats and butter for a more textured, wholesome finish.
Dairy & Texture Adjustments: For a creamier version, blend in a bit of cream cheese or Greek yogurt into the sweet potato mixture, or try using coconut milk for a dairy-free twist with a hint of tropical flavor.

🔪How To Make Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

Pouring water over raw sweet potato cubes in Instant Pot.

Step 1: Cut the sweet potatoes in half. Place in the Instant Pot along with 1 cup of water. Secure the lid and set to Manual for 8 minutes.

Step 2: Quick Release. Remove the skins from the sweet potatoes and drain out the water in the Instant Pot.

Adding ingredients with boiled sweet potato.

Step 3: In a bowl (or the bowl of the Instant Pot), use an electric mixer or potato masher to combine the sweet potatoes, heavy cream, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.

Step 4: Spoon the sweet potato filling into a heat-proof bowl or casserole dish that will fit in the Instant Pot.

Step 5: Combine the streusel topping ingredients. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the sweet potato casserole.

Sweet potato casserole mixture topped with pecans.

Step 6: Place 1 cup of water in the Instant Pot, followed by the trivet that the IP came with. Next, add the pecans to the top of the sweet potato casserole.

Sweet potato casserole in a an Instant Pot.

Step 7: Place the sweet potato casserole over the trivet and secure the IP lid. Set to manual for 15 minutes, then naturally release.

Step 8: Your Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole is now ready to serve! This is a great side dish to go with a roast, your Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner.

👩‍🍳 Expert Tips

Steam Instead of Boil: Use the steaming function to cook your sweet potatoes. Steaming helps retain more nutrients and flavor compared to boiling. It also prevents the potatoes from becoming too watery, which is crucial for a casserole that needs to hold its shape.
Mash Potatoes While Hot: Once the sweet potatoes are cooked, mash them while they're still hot. Hot potatoes mash more smoothly, and this helps incorporate the butter and seasonings evenly.
Enhance Flavors with Spices: Don't shy away from adding warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of vanilla. These will give your casserole a depth of flavor and a wonderful aroma.
Use a Crisp Lid or Broiler: To achieve a crispy topping, sprinkle your casserole with a mixture of brown sugar and pecans after cooking. If you have an Instant Pot crisp lid, use it to broil the topping until it’s crunchy. Alternatively, you can transfer the casserole to an oven to broil the topping for a few minutes.

💭 FAQs

Can You Make Sweet Potato Casserole Ahead of Time?

Yes. If you want to make the casserole early, cool and store sweet potato casserole in the baking dish in the fridge. Then simply reheat for 20 minutes in the oven before serving.

Can I Use Canned Sweet Potatoes?

Yes, you can use Instant Pot steamed potatoes or canned potatoes to make this recipe. Both will end up as mashed sweet potatoes before being baked in the oven.

Best Way to Store Sweet Potato Casserole

Keep leftover sweet potato casserole in the refrigerator, stored in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap, and consume within 3-4 days for optimal taste and safety.
For longer storage, freeze sweet potato casserole tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or use a freezer-safe container. Label with the date and freeze for up to 2-3 months.

Serving Suggestions

These are my favorite sides to serve with Sweet Potato Casserole:

Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts: Flavorful sprouts are the perfect contrast to the sweet potatoes.
Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes with a rich buttery flavor, a classic choice.
Turkey Breast: This sweet potato casserole is the perfect dish to serve with Turkey breast at your Thanksgiving Dinner.

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