4 Mistakes That Ruin Sweet Potato Casserole (and How to Fix Them) (2024)

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Sweet potato casserole not as sweet as you remembered? Here are four things that can go wrong—and how to fix them.

By

Hilary Meyer

4 Mistakes That Ruin Sweet Potato Casserole (and How to Fix Them) (1)

Hilary Meyer

Hilary Meyer is a freelance recipe developer, tester and content creator. After graduating from culinary school, she started working as a freelancer in the EatingWell Test Kitchen in 2006, developing and testing recipes.

Updated on October 24, 2023

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In This Article

  • Mistake to Avoid No. 1: Crunchy Sweet Potatoes
  • Mistake to Avoid No. 2: Your Casserole Is Too Sweet
  • Mistake to Avoid No. 3: Your Casserole Is Dense Instead of Fluffy
  • Mistake to Avoid No. 4: Your Casserole Is Bland

With its sweet filling and (sometimes) savory topping, sweet potato casserole is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. It's not fancy or complicated to pull together, but that doesn't mean there's no room for error! Here are four ways you can mess up your sweet potato casserole—and four ways to fix it when things go wrong.

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Mistake to Avoid No. 1: Crunchy Sweet Potatoes

There's some debate over which is better: sweet potato casserole with a filling as smooth as silk or a filling that has a little more texture. No matter where you land, everyone can agree that the filling shouldn't be crunchy. If it is, you've got a problem—and the problem is that your sweet potatoes haven't been cooked properly. You can bake or boil your sweet potatoes for sweet potato casserole. If you're baking them, make sure a sharp knife can slide easily through to the middle of the sweet potato after cooking. If you're boiling, make sure to cut your sweet potatoes into equally sized pieces so they cook at the same rate. (Another hot tip if you're boiling your sweet potatoes: Don't overcook them! They tend to absorb water, which could make the filling watery.) So, say you do have some undercooked bits of sweet potato. You have two choices: Pick them out or bake your sweet potato casserole long enough to soften the underdone pieces.

4 Mistakes That Ruin Sweet Potato Casserole (and How to Fix Them) (2)

Pictured Recipe: No-Sugar-Added Sweet Potato Casserole

Mistake to Avoid No. 2: Your Casserole Is Too Sweet

Sweet potato casserole walks a fine line between being savory and sweet. That's why we love it! But if you taste your filling and find it would be better suited for dessert, then you may want to try toning it down. You can add more sweet potato to even out the flavor, but that takes tons of extra time you might not have. Your best bet might be to add something to the filling to counter the sweetness. Something tangy like sour cream or buttermilk can help. And the topping? If your filling is sweet already, you can skip the marshmallows on top and opt for a more savory topping like a nutty crumble mixture. If the topping calls for sugar (which many do), feel free to hold back on the sugar and bump up the salt a little. The savory topping and sweet filling will taste perfect together.

4 Mistakes That Ruin Sweet Potato Casserole (and How to Fix Them) (3)

Pictured Recipe: Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

Mistake to Avoid No. 3: Your Casserole Is Dense Instead of Fluffy

A really good sweet potato casserole filling should be light and moist, not dense. If it's dense, then you may not have added an often overlooked ingredient—an egg. An egg adds lift, structure and volume and makes the filling more custard-like. Obviously, you can't add an egg after the fact, so know that it's not absolutely necessary for success. Your casserole can still be great without it. But do know that if your recipe does include an egg, you will want to make sure your casserole is cooked through—not just warmed up in the oven. How will you know? The filling should puff a bit around the edges. If you want to be absolutely sure your casserole is cooked through, an instant-read thermometer can also tell you—if the casserole contains an egg, check that it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

4 Mistakes That Ruin Sweet Potato Casserole (and How to Fix Them) (4)

Pictured Recipe: Meringue-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Mistake to Avoid No. 4: Your Casserole Is Bland

Sweet potatoes are sweet but, on their own, they're pretty one-dimensional. Forget the flavorings in your filling, and you'll have a sweet potato casserole that's OK but not great. Since the goal is always to achieve greatness during the holidays, don't be afraid to spice things up! A splash of vanilla extract can push your casserole to the confectionery side of things without making it too cloying. Orange juice or crushed pineapple adds a nice tangy counterbalance, and spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger can make it more interesting. The topping is also a good place to experiment. Yes, the classic marshmallow topping is good. But if you like the look of marshmallows and want something a little fancier, try a meringue topping. It looks like marshmallow topping but you can control the design by piping it with a piping bag. It's almost guaranteed to inspire oohs and aahs from your guests. And don't forget: A topping with chopped nuts like pecans or almonds is always a good savory choice that's easy to whip up if you're crunched for time.

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4 Mistakes That Ruin Sweet Potato Casserole (and How to Fix Them) (2024)

FAQs

4 Mistakes That Ruin Sweet Potato Casserole (and How to Fix Them)? ›

My sweet potato casserole is watery. How can I thicken it? - Quora. The solution for watery casseroles is instant potato mash powder or cornflour - slake (mix with a little water) at first or it will go lumpy. Stir well.

How to fix watery sweet potato casserole? ›

My sweet potato casserole is watery. How can I thicken it? - Quora. The solution for watery casseroles is instant potato mash powder or cornflour - slake (mix with a little water) at first or it will go lumpy. Stir well.

How to tell if sweet potato casserole is done? ›

Sprinkle the topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture, then pop it into the oven and let it bake for 40 to 45 minutes. You will know it's done when the topping is lightly browned and the center of your casserole is set and firm.

Why won't my sweet potato bake? ›

Sweet potatoes don't bake evenly when placed on a baking sheet. They turn out much better when baked directly on the rack. To avoid any drips landing at the bottom of the oven, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and place it on the rack directly below the sweet potato.

How do you thicken potato casserole? ›

1 teaspoon of corn starch to 1 cup of casserole liquid, mxi it well and add it to the casserole. Give a good stir and when it bubbles a bit it will thicken.

What to do if casserole is too runny? ›

Thicken a meat casserole the most popular way with flour.

Add some flour to your pan after you've browned the meat and before adding any liquid. This way, the flour will soak up the juices and fat in the pan. Add about one teaspoon of flour at a time until you get the right thickness.

Why is my potato casserole runny? ›

I would skip the milk, just cream and cheese, and make sure to bake a long time uncovered. I never add a thickener. I'd suspect the potato type you are using as a PP suggested and/or that your cream/milk is separating which you see as “watery”.

Why are my oven sweet potatoes soggy? ›

The main reasons for soggy sweet potato wedges are: overcrowding the baking sheet, not tossing in enough oil, having too thick sized wedges, and not roasting at a high enough heat.

Is sweet potato casserole supposed to be jiggly? ›

Bake the casserole for 35 to 45 minutes, until the filling is hot, does not jiggle when you shake the dish, and the topping has browned.

Why is boiling not good for sweet potatoes? ›

While boiling makes sweet potatoes tender, it doesn't help much with their flavor. Most dishes that call for boiled sweet potatoes would be improved if you used roasted or baked sweet potatoes.

Is it better to bake sweet potatoes in foil or not? ›

Lining the baking sheet first with foil or parchment ensures an easy clean up. No need to wrap your potatoes in foil though—you want them to really feel that oven heat, rather than steam. The skins: Removing the skin is completely up to you.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The theory is that soaking draws out starch from inside the potatoes, helping them crisp up. I've tested soaking sweet potato fries many times, and I've found that it doesn't make them much crispier, if at all.

Why are my baked sweet potatoes still hard in the middle? ›

If the potato is still firm when squeezed, that means it needs to cook more. Baked sweet potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat for 2 minutes in the microwave, at 400°F in the air fryer for 5 minutes, or at 400°F in the oven for 10 minutes.

Why is my sweet potato casserole soupy? ›

Boiled sweet potatoes have a tendency to absorb water, which, in turn can make the casserole a little soupy. This recipe, however, calls for baking the sweet potatoes! You'll also find that this recipe doesn't add too much liquid to the mix.

How to thicken sweet potato casserole? ›

How do you thicken a sweet potato casserole? If you are not adding eggs, you can thicken your sweet potato casserole by adding a bit of flour or cornstarch. You will need about 2-3 tablespoons of flour and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.

How to know when casserole is done? ›

It's important to heat a casserole thoroughly before eating it; use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the casserole is at 165 degrees F for safe consumption.

How to thicken runny mashed sweet potatoes? ›

You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well. Stir in the thickening agent gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, until the potatoes have reached your desired consistency.

Why is my sweet potato pie filling runny? ›

Underbaking: If the pie is underbaked, the sweet potato filling might not have had enough time to fully set. Make sure to follow the recommended baking time and temperature for your recipe, and check for signs of doneness using the methods mentioned earlier.

How do you get moisture out of sweet potatoes? ›

However, our favorite way to pretreat sweet potatoes is to bake them! Baking your sweet potatoes in the oven at 350ºF (177ºC) for about 20 minutes and then fully dehydrating them will yield a much better flavor and texture when they are rehydrated.

How do you add moisture to a casserole? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

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