Captain Crunch Casserole
Captain Crunch casserole is creamy mashed sweet potatoes baked under a crunchy, buttery Captain Crunch cereal topping instead of the usual marshmallows. It’s a fun swap for your Thanksgiving table or a Friendsgiving potluck, and you can mix the base ahead and add the topping right before it goes in the oven. It takes about 50 minutes with cooked sweet potatoes and serves 9.
Forget everything you know about sweet potato casserole. I know, I know. For a lot of people the gooey marshmallows are the whole point. I’m about to change your mind.
If you’re a Futurama fan, the name probably rang a bell. Captain Crunch Casserole is one of Fry’s favorite foods, and it first shows up in the episode “Game of Tones.” Apparently it’s still a hit in the 31st century, because Dr. Zoidberg recognizes it on sight when the Planet Express crew journeys into Fry’s dreams.
This is my copycat version, and I didn’t change much. I just figured my kids would go for it way faster than the marshmallow topped kind. They loved Captain Crunch cereal. Sweet potato casserole was a whole different story. I needed a way to get them to eat it, or at the very least try it, and bribing them with one of their favorite cereals seemed like a solid parenting move. (Don’t judge. It worked.)
Full disclosure, I’m not a fan of the marshmallow version either. I wasn’t even a sweet potato person until I tried them savory. So I get it.
The base is basically your old fashioned sweet potato casserole with a fun crushed cereal topping that adds crunch. Give it a try. I’d bet you won’t miss the marshmallows.
More Ways To Eat Your Sweet Potatoes
- Joanna Gaines Sweet Potato Casserole – another holiday sweet potato casserole worth a spot on the table
- Sweet Potato Souffle Dip – sweet potato casserole vibes in party dip form
- Sweet Potato Patatas Bravas – a savory tapas spin for the sweet potato skeptics
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges – crispy wedges with no oven required
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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
Cereal – Use original Cap’n Crunch, not the Crunch Berries version. Kix or Corn Flakes work too.
Sweet potatoes – They need to be cooked and mashed before they go in. Cooked yams work too. If you use the canned ones, be sure to rinse and drain them well.
Two different flours – The base uses self-rising flour and the topping uses all purpose. Don’t mix them up.
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How To Make Captain Crunch Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 casserole dish.
- In a large bowl, stir together the sweet potatoes, both sugars, eggs, self-rising flour, vanilla, melted butter, and milk until smooth.
- Pour it into the dish and spread into a single, even layer.
- In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, all purpose flour, light brown sugar, and crushed cereal.
- Spread the topping over the casserole and bake 35 to 40 minutes, until it’s bubbly and the top is golden brown. Let it cool slightly before serving.
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Place in the microwave and reheat for 30 second intervals or in a 350F oven until heated through.
Freezer: You can prep this ahead of time, bake (leaving off the topping), cool completely, wrap and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight, add fresh topping, and bake until the center is 165F and the topping is golden brown.
What To Serve With It
I could eat this all by itself. It’s also great next to a roasted turkey, rotisserie chicken, or meatloaf. For a vegetarian meal, pair it with a crisp salad.
Variations
Swap the cereal. Kix or any other corn cereal works in place of the Captain Crunch.
Go nutty. Add chopped toasted pecans to the topping.
Make it gluten free. You need more than a cereal swap here. Use a cereal labeled gluten free (Captain Crunch isn’t) and swap both flours for gluten free versions. Always read your labels to make sure everything is certified gluten free.
Holiday Casserole Sides
- Onion Casserole – a savory side that holds its own next to the turkey
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole – loaded baked potato flavor without scooping a single potato
- Cranberry Casserole – a sweet tart side for the holiday spread
- Crack Green Bean Casserole – green beans people actually fight over
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Crush it, don’t pulverize it. Use a food processor or a zip top bag and a rolling pin. You want small pieces, not cereal dust.
- Make it ahead. Mix the base and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.
- Hold the topping. Add the cereal topping right before it goes in the oven so it doesn’t get soggy.
This Captain Crunch casserole recipe trades the marshmallows for a crunchy, buttery cereal topping over creamy sweet potatoes. It’s the fun side dish your holiday table needs.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!
Captain Crunch Casserole
Ingredients
Casserole Base
- 3 cups sweet potatoes cooked, mashed
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup white granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons self-rising flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup melted butter
- ½ cup milk
Casserole Topping
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup Captain Crunch cereal crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease or butter a 9×13 casserole dish.
- In a large bowl combine all the casserole ingredients. Stir until smooth.
- Pour into prepared casserole dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine the topping ingredients.
- Spread over the top of the casserole.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Remove and let cool slightly. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you are starting with fresh sweet potatoes, you will need to add more time to peel, cube, and boil them until tender.
- Use a food processor or a zip top bag and a rolling pin. You want small pieces, not cereal dust.
- Mix the base and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.
- Add the cereal topping right before it goes in the oven so it doesn’t get soggy.
Nutrition
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