Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

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If you’ve ever dined at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, you know their sweet potato casserole is legendary. This copycat Ruth’s Chris sweet potato casserole brings that restaurant-quality side dish right to your kitchen. With a creamy sweet potato base and crunchy pecan topping, this easy sweet potato casserole recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving, holidays, or any weeknight dinner.

Why This Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe Works

This Ruth’s Chris inspired sweet potato casserole combines the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes with a buttery brown sugar pecan topping that creates the perfect balance of textures. Unlike complicated holiday casseroles, this recipe requires just simple ingredients and about 45 minutes from start to finish.

What makes this recipe special:

• Restaurant-quality results at home
• Budget-friendly ingredients
• Make-ahead friendly for stress-free holiday meal prep
• Naturally nutritious with vitamin-rich sweet potatoes
• Kid-approved sweet potato side dish

Ingredients for Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

For the Sweet Potato Base:

• 3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (about 3-4 large sweet potatoes)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Pecan Topping:

• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/3 cup melted butter

How to Make Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

Step 1: Prep and Preheat

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish or 9-inch square pan with non-stick spray.

Step 2: Make the Sweet Potato Mixture

In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed sweet potatoes, granulated sugar, softened butter, eggs, salt, and vanilla extract. Beat with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. The mixture should be fluffy and well-combined.

Step 3: Assemble the Base Layer

Transfer the sweet potato mixture to your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom.

Step 4: Prepare the Crumb Topping

In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, chopped pecans, and melted butter. Mix until the topping becomes crumbly. The butter should coat all the dry ingredients, creating a streusel-like texture.

Step 5: Add the Topping

Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the sweet potato base, covering the entire surface.

Step 6: Bake

Bake uncovered for 35 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly around the edges and the topping turns golden brown.

Step 7: Rest and Serve

Let the sweet potato casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving. This allows it to set properly for easier serving.

Expert Tips for the Best Sweet Potato Casserole

Use fresh sweet potatoes when possible. While canned sweet potatoes work in a pinch, fresh sweet potatoes provide better flavor and texture. Simply bake or boil them until tender, then mash.

Don’t overmix the base. Mix just until smooth to keep the sweet potato casserole light and fluffy.

Adjust sweetness to taste. If you prefer a less sweet casserole, reduce the granulated sugar to 3/4 cup.

Toast your pecans. For extra flavor, lightly toast the pecans before adding them to the topping.

Watch the topping closely. The brown sugar can burn quickly. If the topping browns too fast, tent with aluminum foil for the remaining baking time.

Make-Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole

This Ruth’s Chris sweet potato casserole is perfect for holiday meal prep. Prepare the casserole through Step 5, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes, then add 5-10 extra minutes to the baking time.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Refrigerator: Store leftover sweet potato casserole in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

Freezer: Cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating: Warm in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes or microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes.

Recipe Variations

Marshmallow topping: Skip the pecan topping and cover with mini marshmallows during the last 10 minutes of baking for a classic marshmallow sweet potato casserole.

Healthier version: Reduce sugar to 1/2 cup and use coconut oil instead of butter.

Spiced variation: Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg to the sweet potato base.

Nut-free: Omit the pecans or substitute with additional flour and brown sugar for the crumb topping.

Vegan sweet potato casserole: Use flax eggs (2 tablespoons ground flaxseed mixed with 6 tablespoons water) and vegan butter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use canned sweet potatoes? Yes, but drain them thoroughly before mashing. Fresh sweet potatoes provide better texture and flavor for this Ruth’s Chris copycat recipe.

What can I substitute for pecans? Walnuts work wonderfully, or you can omit nuts entirely for a nut-free sweet potato casserole.

Is this sweet potato casserole gluten-free? Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to make this recipe gluten-free.

How do I know when the casserole is done? The sweet potato casserole is ready when the edges are bubbly, the topping is golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Can I double this recipe? Absolutely! Use a 9×13-inch baking dish and increase the baking time by 5-10 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

This Ruth’s Chris style sweet potato casserole pairs perfectly with:

• Roasted turkey or ham for Thanksgiving dinner
• Grilled steaks (staying true to its steakhouse origins)
• Holiday glazed ham
• Roasted chicken or pork tenderloin
• Other holiday sides like green bean casserole and cranberry sauce

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

Based on 8 servings

• Calories: 485
• Fat: 23g
• Carbohydrates: 67g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 5g
• Sugar: 52g

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This easy sweet potato casserole recipe delivers all the indulgence of Ruth’s Chris Steak House’s famous side dish without the restaurant price tag. Whether you’re planning your Thanksgiving menu or looking for a crowd-pleasing holiday side dish, this sweet potato casserole with pecan topping will become a family favorite. The combination of smooth, sweet potato filling and crunchy brown sugar pecan streusel creates an irresistible sweet potato recipe that works for any special occasion.