How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole in the Air Fryer

The Absolute Best Sweet Potato Casserole Ever

Sweet potato casserole was a beloved Thanksgiving tradition when I was a kid. Now, it continues to be a family favorite in our household. It’s a dish that has been cherished for generations. The creamy texture with a crunchy topping makes it a hit for everyone. Whether served as a side dish or enjoyed as a dessert, we can never skip this sweet potato casserole for our Thanksgiving meal!

I have always made this recipe in the oven. However, I have now tried it in the air fryer, and it’s amazing! It is perfect if you want to make a small batch or don’t have oven space and want to whip a quick side to add to your Thanksgiving meal.

Ingredients and Supplies to Make a Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

• Sweet potatoes
• White sugar
• Eggs
• Salt
• Butter
• Milk
• Vanilla extract

For the toppings, you need:

• Mini marshmallows
• Brown sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Butter
• Pecans (optional)

Supplies

• Cutting board and sharp knife
• Instant Pot (or other method for cooking potatoes)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Whisk
• Mixing bow
• Baking dish that fits in your air fryer basket
• Air fryer

How to Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Casserole

Step 1: Prepare the potatoes

You have a few options for cooking your sweet potatoes before adding them to the casserole. You could:

1. Cook them in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 50 minutes or until soft and tender.
2. Cube them and boil them on the stovetop until tender.
3. Cook them in the air fryer at 380°F (193°C) for 40 minutes or until tender.
   • Cook it even faster in the air fryer by starting in the microwave first. Watch how I shortcut cooking a sweet potato in this video.
4. Cube them and cook them in the Instant Pot. The Instant Pot is my cooking method of choice for this casserole. It only takes 10 minutes!
   • First, cube the sweet potatoes and place them in the Instant Pot with one cup of water. Ensure the release valve is in the “sealing” position.
   • Place the lid on, turn and lock. Next, press the “Manual” button on the Instant Pot on high pressure, and then set the timer to 10 minutes.
   • When the potatoes finish, quickly release the pressure and drain the water.

Step 2: Make the potato filling

Mash your potatoes and mix them with sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk, and vanilla. Transfer the contents to an 8×8 baking dish or a 7-inch cake pan that came in an air fryer accessory kit. You can also prepare this recipe in five 8oz ramekins. I love ramekins because everyone gets their personal servings straight from the air fryer!

Can you put a casserole dish in the air fryer? Yes! Any oven-safe dish will work in the air fryer. The trick is to make sure the dish fits in the air fryer before adding the mixture.

Step 3: Add the crumble topping

Soften the butter and mix with brown sugar and flour until a crumble forms. Sprinkle the crumble over the sweet potato mixture and gently press it into the filling.

Step 4: Air fry

Place the dish in the air fryer basket, and cook for 6 minutes at 320°F (160°C) or until mixture is cooked through. Add the marshmallows and chopped pecans to the top, press down lightly, and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.

Storage Tips and Tricks

Can Sweet Potato Casserole be made ahead of time?

Thanksgiving Day can be so busy and overwhelming (especially when you’re the one cooking!) Sweet potato casserole is a great one to prepare a day or two in advance. Prepare sweet potato casserole in advance by:

1. Mixing your filling.
2. Adding the mixture to your air fryer dish.
3. Add your crumble topping, and cover with plastic wrap.
4. Place in the refrigerator until you are ready to air fry.

Note: If the dish is cold, it may need an extra few minutes to heat all the way through. Sweet potatoes should reach an internal temperature of 205°F (96°C). Get a free, easy-to-use guide for internal temperatures for all your favorite foods here!

Can Sweet Potato Casserole be frozen?

This favorite Thanksgiving side freezes excellently. If you want to prepare it more than a few days ahead of time (or if you happen to have leftovers), freezing will work great. Scoop it in a freezer-safe container or a disposable aluminum dish and wrap it in plastic. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating in the air fryer. Or place it in the oven to thaw and reheat.

Final Thoughts

This recipe is so amazing and delicious. It is the perfect side dish or dessert for your Thanksgiving dinner this year, especially if you are serving a smaller crowd. Of course, because it only takes 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer, you can easily make this recipe in batches. This recipe is a Thanksgiving classic in our home. What’s yours?

Try these tasty Thanksgiving recipes this year! Or watch me make some of our family favorites.

• Quick & Easy Air Fryer Turkey Breast
• Easy Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce Recipe
• Air Fryer Apple Cobbler
• Slow Cooker Honey-Glazed Carrots Recipe
• Perfect Roasted Melting Potatoes Recipe

Don’t make the same mistakes that I have. Learn how to actually use your air fryer with these helpful tips and tricks!

• The Best and Worst Air Fryer Accessories
• How to Clean Your Air Fryer
• How to Cook Any Recipe in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer 101

Sweet Potato Casserole in the Air Fryer

Crazy easy and crazy delicious, this classic Thanksgiving dish just got ten times better in the air fryer!

5 / 5 ( 2 Reviews )

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Serves: 6

Adjust Servings: 6

US CustomaryMetric

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 2 pounds sweet potato cubed
• ½ cup white sugar
• 2 eggs beaten
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter softened
• ½ cup milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Toppings

• 2 cups mini marshmalllows
• ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons butter softened
• ½ cup chopped pecans optional

Instructions

• Add cut sweet potatoes and 1 cup water into the Instant Pot.
• Make sure that the release valve is in the "Sealing" position. Place the lid on, turn and lock.
• Press the "Manual" button on the Instant Pot on high pressure, and then set the timer to 10 minutes.
• When the potatoes finish, quickly release the pressure and drain the water.
• Place the potatoes back in the instant pot then mix together the sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk and vanilla.
• Mix until smooth.
• Transfer to a 8x8 baking dish, 7" cake barrel air fryer accessory, or five 8oz ramekins.
• In a small bowl mix together the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the softened butter to make a fine crumble. Pour on top of the sweet potatoes in an even layer and lightly press down.
• Place in the air fryer and cook for 6 minutes at 320°F/160°C or until mixture is cooked through. add the marshmallows and chopped pecans to the top, press down lightly, and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 527kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 22g | Sodium: 440mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 46g