Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole: The Ultimate Copycat Recipe for Unforgettable Holiday Meals
Recreate the legendary flavors of Ruth’s Chris Steak House right in your own kitchen with this exquisite Sweet Potato Casserole recipe. A true masterpiece of comfort food, this dish features a luscious, creamy sweet potato base crowned with a delightful brown sugar and pecan streusel. It’s not just a side; it’s a showstopper perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special occasion where you want to impress.
Our carefully crafted recipe captures the essence of the restaurant’s beloved classic, offering that irresistible balance of savory sweetness and textural contrast that makes it utterly addictive. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to elevate your holiday spread, this guide will help you achieve sweet potato casserole perfection every single time.
Why This Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe Will Be Your New Favorite
Beyond its reputation, there are several compelling reasons why this Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole stands out and deserves a place on your table. It’s more than just a dish; it’s an experience.
- A Spot-On Copycat of the Iconic Ruth’s Chris Casserole: This recipe is designed to replicate the signature taste and texture of the famous restaurant version. We’ve honed the proportions and techniques to bring that gourmet experience directly to your home dining table, making it accessible without the need for reservations.
- An Exquisite Harmony of Crunchy and Creamy Textures: What truly sets this casserole apart is the delightful interplay between its two main components. The base offers a velvety, melt-in-your-mouth sweet potato puree, while the topping delivers a satisfying crunch. Every spoonful is an adventure for your palate.
- Features a Divine Pecan Streusel Topping: The streusel is not merely an afterthought; it’s an integral part of the dish’s allure. Made with rich brown sugar, flour, and generous amounts of pecans, it bakes into a golden, buttery, and irresistibly crumbly layer that provides a wonderful counterpoint to the smooth sweet potatoes.
- The Quintessential Thanksgiving and Holiday Side Dish: While delicious year-round, this sweet potato casserole truly shines during the holiday season. It complements traditional roasts, brings vibrant color to your spread, and offers a comforting, festive flavor that everyone will adore. It’s the ultimate side that often steals the spotlight from the main course!
Essential Ingredients for Your Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole
Creating this magnificent casserole requires a thoughtful selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to assemble, categorized for clarity.
For the Sweet Potato Base:
- Sweet Potatoes: Approximately 1.5 pounds (about 4 medium-sized), peeled. Fresh sweet potatoes are preferred for their natural sweetness and texture, but canned options can be used in a pinch (ensure they are drained well).
- Granulated Sugar: ¾ cup to enhance the inherent sweetness of the potatoes.
- Salt: ¼ teaspoon to balance the flavors and bring out the richness of the sweet potatoes.
- Vanilla Extract: ½ teaspoon, pure vanilla extract is key for a warm, aromatic note that deepens the overall flavor profile.
- Egg: 1 large, well-beaten egg acts as a binder, contributing to the casserole’s creamy, custard-like consistency.
- Butter: ¼ cup (½ stick), unsalted and softened, for richness and a smooth texture.
For the Irresistible Pecan Streusel Topping:
- Brown Sugar: ¾ cup, packed. Brown sugar adds a deep, molasses-like sweetness and moisture to the streusel, creating a more cohesive crumb.
- All-Purpose Flour: ¼ cup, essential for binding the topping ingredients and ensuring a classic crumbly texture when baked.
- Chopped Nuts: ¾ cup, pecans are traditional for the Ruth’s Chris version and highly recommended for their buttery, earthy flavor. Walnuts can be a suitable alternative if preferred.
- Melted Butter: ¼ cup (½ stick), unsalted. Melted butter brings all the streusel ingredients together, creating those desirable clusters.
How to Make Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole – A Step-By-Step Guide
Follow these detailed steps to bring this sensational sweet potato casserole to life. Precision and patience are your best tools for achieving restaurant-quality results.
Note on Sweet Potatoes: While fresh sweet potatoes offer the best flavor and texture, you can absolutely use canned sweet potatoes (ensure they are thoroughly drained) as a convenient shortcut, especially when time is limited. Adjust cooking time accordingly if using canned.
Prepare the Sweet Potatoes:
Begin by peeling each sweet potato. Once peeled, cut them into relatively uniform pieces. For medium-sized sweet potatoes, cutting them in half lengthwise is often sufficient. If you’re working with particularly large or thick sweet potatoes, consider cutting them into thirds or quarters. The goal is to ensure all pieces are roughly the same size, which promotes even cooking.
Boil Until Tender:
Place the cut sweet potatoes into a large pot and cover them with water. Add a pinch of salt to the water, which helps to season the potatoes from within. Bring the water to a rolling boil and cook the sweet potatoes for approximately 20 minutes, or until they are fork-tender. You should be able to easily pierce them with a sharp paring knife or a fork without any resistance. Once cooked, drain the sweet potatoes thoroughly in a colander.
Create the Creamy Sweet Potato Mixture:
Transfer the drained, hot sweet potatoes into a large mixing bowl. Add the granulated sugar, salt, vanilla extract, well-beaten egg, and softened butter. Using a potato masher, hand mixer, or stand mixer, mash and combine all the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and creamy. For an extra smooth consistency, you can use a food processor, though a few small chunks can add pleasant texture. Taste and adjust sweetness if desired.
Prepare the Pecan Crumb Topping:
In a separate medium-sized bowl, combine the brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and chopped nuts (preferably pecans). Pour in the melted butter and mix everything together with a fork or your fingertips until the mixture is crumbly and well combined. Don’t be shy about adding a little extra pecans if you love that nutty crunch!
Assemble and Bake:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the creamy sweet potato mixture into your chosen baking dish. This recipe works beautifully in a 9×13 inch casserole dish for family-style serving, or in individual ramekins for an elegant presentation. Evenly sprinkle the pecan crumb topping over the entire surface of the sweet potato mixture. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the sweet potato mixture is heated through and slightly bubbling around the edges.
The Story Behind Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole
This legendary sweet potato casserole recipe, in its original form, hails directly from the esteemed kitchens of Ruth’s Chris Steak House. It’s truly incredible that they were generous enough to allow us to share and adapt their fantastic recipe, and we are absolutely delighted to bring this culinary treasure to your home table.🍽️
This homemade rendition is an unparalleled companion to a classic steak dinner. In fact, we frequently enjoy serving it alongside our Perfect Prime Rib Recipe with Red Wine Au Jus, where its rich, sweet notes beautifully complement the savory depth of prime rib. Beyond beef, it pairs wonderfully with other main courses, becoming a versatile star for any meal.
The magic of this sweet potato casserole lies in its perfect interplay of two distinct textures. You have the velvety, mashed sweet potatoes—creamy and dreamily smooth on their own, infused with just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of vanilla. Then, there’s the crunchy pecan topping, which we encourage you to be generous with! It’s wonderfully crisp, sweet, and boasts that delightful nutty flavor. For a truly unforgettable experience, make sure to scoop up a generous helping of that crunchy topping with every bite of the mashed sweet potatoes, allowing the harmonious blend of flavors and textures to dance on your palate.
What To Serve With This Irresistible Sweet Potato Casserole
This versatile sweet potato casserole isn’t just for holidays; it’s a fantastic pairing for a wide array of main dishes. Its sweet and savory profile complements various meats beautifully:
- For a Grand Holiday Feast: Serve this casserole with a succulent roast, such as our Perfect Prime Rib with Red Wine Au Jus, a traditional roast turkey, or a glazed ham. The casserole’s richness provides a comforting balance to these festive proteins.
- For an Everyday Weeknight Dinner: Don’t reserve this dish only for special occasions! It pairs wonderfully with a simple roasted chicken, pork chops, or even a robust cut like our Flank Steak with Bloody Mary Salsa. The sweet potatoes offer a hearty, flavorful side that elevates any casual meal.
- Unexpected Pairings: Consider serving it alongside a spicy Cajun-inspired dish for a delightful contrast, or even as a unique addition to a brunch spread with savory egg dishes.
Can You Freeze This Sweet Potato Casserole? Yes, and Here’s How!
One of the many benefits of this sweet potato casserole is its freezer-friendliness, making it an excellent candidate for meal prepping or saving leftovers. To freeze a cooked sweet potato casserole, whether it’s a whole batch or individual portions of leftovers, follow these simple steps for optimal results:
- Cool Completely: Ensure the casserole has cooled entirely to room temperature before freezing. Freezing a warm dish can lead to ice crystals and affect the texture.
- Portion and Pack: For best results and convenience, divide the casserole into desired serving sizes. You can freeze it in a large, oven-safe dish (if planning to reheat the whole thing), or in individual, freezer-safe containers.
- Seal Properly: Transfer the cooled casserole into an airtight, freezer-safe container. If using a baking dish, cover it tightly with a layer of plastic wrap directly touching the surface of the casserole, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. This prevents freezer burn and maintains freshness.
- Label and Date: Always label your frozen dishes with the contents and the date it was frozen.
- Freeze: Place in the freezer. For the best quality, frozen sweet potato casserole should be eaten within two months. It will still be safe to eat beyond this, but the texture and flavor might start to diminish.
When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw the casserole in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the oven until warmed through and the topping is crisp again.
Top Tips for Mastering This Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole
Elevate your casserole game with these insider tips and tricks, ensuring every batch you make is a resounding success.
- Nut Alternatives for the Streusel: The traditional Ruth’s Chris recipe famously calls for chopped pecans in the streusel, which impart a wonderfully buttery and earthy flavor. However, if pecans aren’t to your liking or are unavailable, feel free to substitute with chopped walnuts for a slightly more bitter, robust flavor, or even chopped almonds for a milder nuttiness. If you or your guests have nut allergies, or simply prefer it, you can easily omit the nuts altogether for a classic crumb topping.
- Make-Ahead Magic for Stress-Free Entertaining: This casserole is a fantastic make-ahead dish, perfect for busy holidays. You can assemble the entire casserole, including the sweet potato mixture and the streusel topping, up to one day before you plan to bake it. Simply cover your baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, you will need to add a little more bake time (typically an extra 10-15 minutes) to compensate for starting with a cold casserole, ensuring it heats through evenly.
- Achieving Your Perfect Sweet Potato Texture: The method you use for mashing your sweet potatoes will significantly impact the final texture. This recipe recommends beating the sweet potatoes with a mixer (either a stand mixer or a hand mixer), which generally results in light and fluffy sweet potatoes with a few delightful small chunks mixed in. If you prefer a super smooth, almost pureed texture, consider using a food processor to blend the cooked sweet potatoes and other base ingredients until silky. Both methods yield delicious results, so choose what best suits your preference!
- Enhance the Flavor Profile: For an extra layer of complexity, consider adding a pinch of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or a tiny dash of allspice to your sweet potato mixture. A teaspoon of orange zest can also brighten the flavors beautifully.
- Individual Servings for Elegance: Instead of a large casserole dish, consider baking the sweet potato mixture in individual ramekins. This not only makes for an elegant presentation but also ensures each guest gets their own perfectly portioned, crispy-topped delight.
More Delicious Recipes to Explore
If you loved this recipe, you might enjoy these other culinary creations from our kitchen:
- How to Turn “Cheap Choice Steak” into “Gucci Prime” Steak
- Jim Lahey’s No Knead Baguette
- Roast Split Chicken with Lemony Artichoke Sauce
- Pork Chops with Apricot Brandy Sauce
We hope this Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole recipe becomes a cherished staple in your home! Have you tried it? Feel free to leave a star rating and we’d absolutely love to hear from you in the comments below about your experience!
Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Jaden Hair
Pin Recipe
Ingredients1x2x3x
- 1.5 pounds sweet potatoes peeled (about 4 medium-sized)
- Crust Topping Mixture:
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3/4 cup chopped nuts pecans preferred
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- Sweet Potato Mixture:
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg well beaten
- 1/4 cup butter
Instructions
- Cut the sweet potatoes in halves (or thirds for very large ones) and add them to a pot of salted water. Bring the pot to a boil, and cook for 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are cooked through and easily pierced with a fork. Drain well.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Mash the sweet potatoes with the Sweet Potato Mixture ingredients (sugar, salt, vanilla, egg, butter). Combine thoroughly until smooth or with a few desired chunks, then pour into your chosen baking dish.
- In a separate bowl, combine the Crust Topping Mixture (brown sugar, flour, chopped nuts, melted butter). Sprinkle this crumbly crust mixture evenly onto the surface of the sweet potatoes in the baking dish.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F (175°C), or until the topping is golden brown and the sweet potatoes are heated through and bubbling gently around the edges.