This crockpot sweet potatoes with marshmallows is going to bring back some memories! Tender sweet potatoes are perfectly seasoned with your favorite fall spices and sweetened with maple syrup and, of course, lots of melted mini marshmallows.
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Why I Love This Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipe
One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving as a child was seeing the mini marshmallows in the casserole dish for my Mom’s sweet potato casserole recipe. I was always so amused with the fact that we could eat mini marshmallows with dinner. Now with this easy crockpot version, I can cook them anytime I want! Here’s why this is my favorite fall side dish recipe:
- Fall seasonings: The sweet potatoes are tossed with pumpkin spice – the perfect fall spice blend – to give them lots of warmth.
- Easy: Just add everything to the slow cooker, except the marshmallows, and cook until tender. Then top the sweet potatoes with the marshmallows and serve!
- Frees up oven space: Save space in your oven and on your stovetop by cooking at least one of your side dishes in the crockpot.
- Always a hit: You know what they say – the best part of Thanksgiving are the leftovers. The only issue is that I never end up with leftovers of these sweet potatoes!
Enjoy more of the very best sweet potato recipes like these marshmallow stuffed sweet potatoes or this crunchy sweet potato casserole with pecan topping. These individual sweet potato bites with toasted marshmallow on top are also always a crowd favorite!
Key Ingredients
Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make this crockpot sweet potatoes recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for full ingredient list and exact amounts!
- Sweet Potatoes: They’ll need to be peeled and diced. Try to ensure your sweet potatoes are diced the same size, so they cook evenly. The only step of this recipe that takes me a little time is prepping the potatoes – after that it’s set it and forget it.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar caramelizes perfectly onto the sweet potatoes. If you’re all out, you can combine 1 cup of granulated white sugar with 1 tbsp molasses to make your own.
- Maple Syrup: I always suggest using pure maple syrup instead of thick pancake syrup, as it will give the most true maple flavor.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: The best spice blend to keep handy during the fall season, but you can also substitute it for ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg.
- Mini Marshmallows: My favorite part! Their sweetness is perfect and I love the gooey texture they add. You can use full size marshmallows, but I think the mini version gives you the best ratio of marshmallow to sweet potato.
How to Make Crockpot Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
There’s nothing like a trusty crockpot recipe on a crazy holiday! Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions and to watch the step-by-step video.
- First, prep your slow cooker. Simply spray your Crockpot with non-stick cooking spray so the goodies don’t stick to the bottom!
- Then, add everything to the crockpot. Give it a good stir so the spices and sweeteners coat the sweet potatoes.
- Set it and wait. It will take about four hours to slow cook the sweet potatoes to tender perfection.
- Finally, add the marshmallows! About five minutes before serving, you’ll stir in the mini marshmallows and place the lid back on top.
- Dig in: Once the marshmallows are melted, this delicious sweet potato dish is ready to serve!
Chef’s Tips and Variations
- Toast the marshmallows: If you like your sweet potatoes with toasted marshmallows, you can spoon the potatoes into a casserole dish after they are cooked. Top with marshmallows and place in the oven at 400°F for about 10 minutes, until the tops of the marshmallows are browned and toasted.
- Add nuts: If you like nuts, add some toasted pecans or walnuts! Stir them in before cooking and they will soak up the sauce and be a little softer in texture. Or for the ultimate crunch, stir them in before adding the marshmallows.
- Prep ahead: You can peel and dice the potatoes the day before and refrigerate them in an airtight container until ready to use. This is a great time saving tip for busy holidays!
- Travel friendly: If you want to take this side dish to a potluck, cook the sweet potatoes but do not add the marshmallows yet. Instead, keep the lid on tight and transport carefully to your destination. Plug the sweet potatoes back in and let them get good and hot again. Then add the marshmallows as directed and serve!
What To Serve With Crockpot Sweet Potatoes
If it’s the holidays, you of course need a Thanksgiving turkey or ham to round out your meal. Here are some more of my favorite sides to try with these crockpot sweet potatoes:
- Salad: Waldorf salad is also a family favorite during the holidays. It’s a great way to add a fresh, fruity salad to a wintery spread.
- Veggies: To add some green vegetables to your menu, try my candied carrots, easy corn casserole, or my best green bean casserole made from scratch!
- Mashed potatoes: Don’t forget to try my garlic mashed potatoes for those of you who need both regular potatoes and sweet potatoes for your holiday spread!
- Stuffing: And if you are making these for the holidays, you have to make sure to include a batch of my very favorite homemade stuffing or easy sausage stuffing!
Crockpot Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
Ingredients
- 4 large sweet potatoes, about 2 lbs, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup butter, sliced into pieces
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, or cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
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Instructions
- Spray an 8-quart slow cooker with non-stick spray.
- Place the sweet potatoes in the slow cooker. Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, butter, pumpkin pie spice, and salt and stir to combine.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and set it on high for 4 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are fork tender. There will be extra sauce at the bottom when done cooking. You can pour it out if desired, or leave it to drizzle on top of the sweet potatoes when serving.
- Five minutes before serving, remove the lid and top with marshmallows. Place the lid back on the sweet potatoes and let the marshmallows melt for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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More Must-Make Holiday Side Dish Recipes
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I made these at Thanksgiving and they were THE BEST sweet potatoes we have ever eaten!! I did double the recipe and they fit but it was tight. They still got ready in 4 hours! The Best part – they didn’t turn to the consistency of baby food! I am making again for my work Christmas party. Thank you for this Ah-Mazing Recipe!!!
Can you add apples to this?
Sure! I haven’t tried it, but apples usually need less cooking time than sweet potatoes. To prevent them from becoming too soft, I’d add the diced apples half way through the cooking time.
Can I substitute something if I don’t have pumpkin spice?
Hi Chelsea! You can add a little cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg in it’s place!
Hi there! What would you recommend I do differently if using frozen pre-cubed sweet potatoes?
If using frozen, you will need to add about 30 minutes to the cook time. Other than that, no changes needed!
What size crock pot?
7 or 8 quart! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Can you use canned? I’m making our own Thanksgiving dinner family of 2 adults and a 7 year old girl and a 1 year old girl
I wouldn’t recommend canned sweet potatoes for this recipe, they are already cooked and softened so they won’t soak up any of the sauce or flavor. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
If I double the recipe, do you know if it takes a little longer to cook on high?
Hi Lauren! Unless your crockpot is an extra huge one, I don’t think double the sweet potatoes will fit in a 7/8 quart crockpot. I would recommend splitting the recipe into two crockpots and cooking as directed. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
If I’m making this in the oven, should I cover it with foil?
Yes, I would! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Hello I accidentally put them on low for the first two hours. ♀️ Can I turn them to high now so they will be ready in 3 hours? Also how many people does this recipe feed?
Hi Brittany! Yes, you can switch them to high and they should finish cooking sooner! It makes 8 servings. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Should you stir in between?
Nope, you don’t need to! But you can, it wont hurt them! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Hi! I used canned yams, should I put it in the crockpot on low, or warm since the yams are already pre cooked?
Yes, I would use warm. But for the future, I really recommend fresh (or frozen!) cubed sweet potatoes so they get a chance to soak up all that butter and seasonings as they cook!
When you cook them in the crock pot do you have to add any milk or water in the crock pots
Nope! Only add the ingredients listed in the recipe – no milk or water!
I call shenanigans on the 10 min prep. The potatoes do need to be peeled lok
Peeling potatoes is quick if you have a sharp peeler! 😉 Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Can these be prepped the night before and cooked the day of?
Yes! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Hello! The recipe says to serve immediately. Can I make these the day before then add the marshmallows right before eating?
Sure! I think it would be best though to prep them the day before, refrigerate the crockpot with ingredients inside, then allow the crockpot to warm at room temperature for about an hour and then drop it into the crockpot and let it’s do it’s thing the morning of. That way they are still fresh! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Can this be made in the oven?
Hi Sheilia! Yes, sure! 350°F for probably about 45 minutes in a baking dish, just until the sweet potatoes are fork tender. Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!
Hi, just confirming that the sweet potato cubes go in the crockpot without any prior cooking? Should I allow more than 4 hours of cooking just in case? Thanks!
Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Correct, they go in uncooked! They should cook in the times given in the recipe! Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!
I’ve not tired this yet. I am planning on doing this for Thanksgiving next week. However, would adding chopped pecans be ok in the mix or would I need to add those when adding the marshmallows?
You can add them either time, as a topping or in with the sweet potatoes!
Hi Jessica! Could I put this on low cook? I’ve got a cooker that has high for something else,and one that is only low cook Happy Thanxgiving!!
Hi Candice! Yes, you can cook it on low! They will take longer, probably about 7/8 hours, you just need them to get tender! 🙂 Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Jessica happy thanksgiving !I’m going to add pecans to mine… Should I add them in the very beginning?
You can add them in the beginning or at the end! It will work both ways! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
If I double the recipe will it fit in a standard sized crock pot? Thanks!
Hi Christine! Sadly no, the sweet potatoes fill up the crockpot pretty well at the beginning when they are raw. (You can see it in the step by step photos in the post.) You would need a second crockpot to double it. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
What should the crockpot be set to? High or low for the four hours?
High! If you use low they will take longer to cook. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!