Meringue-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Your guests won’t know if they’re enjoying a dessert or a side dish with this meringue-topped sweet potato casserole. This side dish is one of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes; it’s the perfect combination of sweet & savory. With its creamy sweet potato filling, topped with a crunchy layer of sugared pecans, and topped with a meringue topping, you’re going to want to add this to your holiday menu!

Don’t let the meringue topping scare you off from making a meringue sweet potato casserole for your upcoming holiday dinners. Of course, you can enjoy this dish for any occasion, but it will knock the socks off your dinner guests.

My daughter legit thought it was pumpkin pie (which she loves) until I told her it was actually made from sweet potatoes (which she despises), so needless to say she approved even though she would have never eaten it had she known it was sweet potato casserole.

Ingredients needed

Sweet Potato Casserole:

• 6 large sweet potatoes
• 12 Tbsp. unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks)
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt

Meringue Topping:

• 6 egg whites
• 1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cup sugar

Pecan Crumble:

• 1/2 cup pecans – chopped
• 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter – melted
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. Salt

How to make a sweet potato casserole with meringue

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place sweet potatoes onto a baking sheet. Using a fork, prick each potato several times all over. Bake for 1 – 1 1/2 hours or until very soft. Remove from oven and let cool.
3. Once sweet potatoes are cooled, scoop out the flesh and add to a mixing bowl. Mix with your stand mixer or hand mixer on low until puréed. Add the butter, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and salt, mix on low until well combined.
4. Grease a 9×13 baking dish. Transfer the sweet potato purée from the mixing bowl to the greased baking dish.
5. Prepare the pecan crumble topping. In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and pecans. Stir until thoroughly combined. Spread the pecan crumble across the top of the sweet potato purée.
6. Place baking dish into the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
7. While the dish is baking, begin to make the meringue. In a mixing bowl, add the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt. Using the whisk attachment (if using a stand mixer), begin beating on low speed, for about 30 seconds. Then, begin to increase the speed to high and continue beating until soft peaks begin to form. Next, gradually begin adding the sugar as it continues to beat on high. Continue beating until thick and peaks begin to form. The meringue should be glossy. Set aside until potatoes are ready.

8. Once the sweet potato casserole is finished baking, remove from oven. Spoon the meringue over the purée, spreading it evenly. Using a small kitchen torch, brown the edges of the meringue. If you do not have a kitchen torch, you can place the dish under the broiler on the top shelf for about one minute. Serve immediately.

Recipe FAQs

Can I freeze sweet potato casserole?

I would advise against freezing the sweet potato casserole due to the texture of the food changing drastically when thawed. To save time, you can cook the sweet potatoes the day before. This will cut down on the actual prep/cook time on the day of your holiday dinner.

Are yams the same as sweet potatoes?

No, true yams are very different from sweet potatoes. They are starchier and look more like a white potato.

Is sweet potato casserole with meringue topping gluten-free?

You can make this recipe gluten-free by using a 1:1 gluten free flour.

Recommended kitchen tools for this recipe

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• To make the meringue topping, you’ll need a good hand mixer or stand mixer. I like this hand mixer because it comes with a whisk attachment which is great for making the meringue. I also love my 6 qt. Kitchenaid stand mixer with the bowl-lift!

Complete your Thanksgiving menu with these additional recipes!

• Thanksgiving Maple Herb Turkey – a delicious Thanksgiving turkey with a maple-infused seasoning
• Orange Cranberry Relish – perfect relish for your Thanksgiving table
• Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad – fresh salad with all the seasonal fruit flavorings
• Orange Cranberry Bread Pudding – a delicious individual-sized dessert
• Honey Caramelized Brussel Sprouts – another sweet + savory vegetable side dish
• Sautéed Green Beans & Mushrooms – an easy one-pot vegetable side dish
• Maple Aioli – perfect for serving with sweet potatoes or poultry
• Maple Bacon Spice Cupcakes – with a delicious maple frosting and topped with candied bacon!
• Cranberry Caramel Baked Brie – feed your hungry guests this appetizer while they’re waiting for the main meal
• Sage, Fig, and Pancetta Stuffing – delicious flavors packed into this stuffing dish
• Maple Mustard Roasted Carrots – an elegant yet simple vegetable side dish

Grab a copy of Gather – A Thanksgiving Cookbook to create a memorable holiday meal!

Meringue-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole