Butternut Sweet Potato Casserole

Our Butternut Sweet Potato Casserole is a simple recipe that will wow your guests.   When you combine butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, pancetta, and rosemary into this Italian-version veggie casserole, you get a delicious side dish. Nothing fancy or trendy, just an easy flavorful butternut sweet potato casserole that melts-in-your-mouth with every bite!

Thanksgiving is on everyone’s mind this time of the year and for good reasons. This year, my goal is to simplify my menu and recipes, making them less stressful and more enjoyable not only for my guests but for me too!

I don’t know what is the secret to the perfect holiday, but I can honestly say that holidays become less stressful (for me) when I make lists in order for me to prepare some of my side dishes the night before. And this casserole happens to be one of them.

Butternut Sweet Potato Casserole

This Butternut Sweet Potato Casserole, for example, can be prepared the night before in one baking dish and in a matter of minutes. 

Then cover it tightly with foil wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake it on Thanksgiving Day. *Important Tip: Make sure the casserole dish is taken out of the refrigerator and allow it to reach room temperature before baking.

Best of all? No need to add any sugar, cream, or marshmallows to this recipe, making this casserole much lighter in texture, calories and fat.

Ingredients You Will Need:

Our printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this post, but here is the list you will need for our recipe:

• Butternut squash – (about 1-inch pieces) about 3 cups
• Sweet potatoes – (1-inch pieces) about 3 cups
• Onions – (1 + 1/2 cups) chopped
• Carrots – (chop into 1/2-inch pieces) about 3 cups
• Extra virgin olive oil – 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 Tbsp.
• Crushed red pepper – 1/4 tsp.
• Sea salt – 1/2 tsp.
• Black pepper – 1/8 tsp. fresh cracked pepper
• Rosemary – about 1 tsp. dried rosemary (or 1 tsp. fresh rosemary chopped)
• Garlic powder – 1 tsp.
• Pancetta – about 3 slices pancetta- diced (or 4 ounces package /chopped pancetta)
• Parsley – fresh chopped parsley, as a garnish

How To Make This Italian Butternut Sweet Potato Casserole…

This is a great recipe, even if you have never made a casserole before. Our full recipe card is located at the bottom of this page. But first, here are our simple instructions how to make it:

1. Grab a Baking Dish. Simply toss all the vegetables, along with seasonings, rosemary, pancetta, onions, and extra virgin olive oil into the baking dish. 

2. Mix everything to combine, and into the oven, it goes!

3. Bake for 30 minutes, then turn off the oven, leaving it in the oven to continue to bake for additional 30 minutes, allowing the vegetables to caramelize and soften.   

YUM!! Now you are all set with one side dish!

Recipes Tips

• Most supermarkets sell these vegetables already pre-cut! …which is a lifesaver!
• Recently, I found these 2-pound containers of pre-cut sweet potatoes and butternut squash, which is enough to feed a crowd.  However, if you need a smaller portion, follow my recipe below.   
• I used only 3 cups of each vegetable and it was enough for us.  You can use all of it, as needed.
• Keep in mind these vegetables will shrink while baking.  So if you are having a big crowd for Thanksgiving,  you may want to use the entire container, then increase all the ingredients including onions, carrots, rosemary, salt, garlic powder, and especially the olive oil to keep them moist.
• Rosemary and pancetta work really well in this sweet potato casserole balancing the natural sweetness of the vegetables with rich and smoky undertones. Creating AMAZING flavors!
• Pancetta can be found already pre-chopped in 4-ounce packages at most supermarkets in the Deli section, or ask behind the Deli counter for 3 (1/4-inch thick) slices and dice them.

Storing

Store any leftovers in a sealed container. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a preheat oven at 350F and for 15 minutes, until it is warm enough. You can freeze any leftovers, but only up to one month.

BONUS Tip! Top any leftovers with a fried egg for Black Friday breakfast!  :)

A Delicious Side Dish

Your family and friends will enjoy our casserole.  It will be the first thing that will disappear from your buffet table.

This is such a delicious dish. Best of all, while it’s baking in the oven, it will make the entire house smell wonderful!

Italian Butternut Sweet Potato Casserole tastes SO fabulous!  It won’t disappoint. Trust me, after one bite, your guests will be back for more!

Enjoy!

More Italian Casserole Recipes! 

• Roasted Potato Marinara
• Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon
• Broccoli and Bleu Cheese Casserole
• Mom’s Best Mashed Potato Pie
• Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower with Wine and Cheese

Hey friends, are you cooking with us?  If you make our Italian butternut sweet potato casserole, let us know!  Leave a comment with a star rating below!   We’d love to hear from you. Or snap a photo and hashtag it on Instagram; and tag us @2sistersrecipes and on Pinterest.

Have a Delicious Day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Anna and Liz