Creamy and comforting Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole with crunchy pecan topping is Thanksgiving classic side dish! It’s melt in your mouth delicious plus naturally gluten free and can be made vegan.

It is an absolute must make for Thanksgiving dinner! You have to try!

Healthy sweet potato casserole with a wooden spoon in baking dish.

This healthy sweet potato casserole is creamy, fluffy and full of natural sweetness!

Sweet potato casserole is not something I grew up with in Ukraine but now I love it! Creamy mashed sweet potatoes are combined with maple syrup, a hint of cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Then topped with pecan crumble topping to create the best crunchy topping!

This is the best sweet potato casserole recipe! It’s lighter, healthier and so delicious! We also love this Instant Pot sweet potato casserole that’s even more simple and requires no baking.

During a recent Friendsgiving holiday meal, this healthy sweet potato casserole recipe was declared “a delicious, sweet, with interesting topping” dish.

Ingredients and Notes

Sweet potatoes, almond flour, vanilla, maple syrup, sugar, pecans, milk, egg, salt, cinnamon, coconut oil.

Healthy sweet potato casserole recipe is easy to make with just sweet potatoes, milk, butter, sweetener, and simple pantry staples.

  • Fresh sweet potatoes: Instead of canned sweet potatoes we are using fresh ones to make sweet potato puree. Look for firm, dry fresh sweet potatoes with red, brown or light skin and no discoloration.
  • Butter: You can use coconut oil, ghee, or vegan butter.
  • Milk: I used whole milk but any milk works. Use almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk (from a carton), oat milk, or any plant based milk for dairy free version.
  • Egg: To make this recipe a vegan sweet potato casserole you can use a flax egg. Or skip all together, if allergic. Egg helps with texture but not critical.
  • Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup is best for taste. You can use honey, organic cane, coconut sugar or brown sugar.
  • Sweet potato casserole topping: You will need pecans, granulated white sugar, almond flour or almond meal, and coconut oil.
  • Cinnamon, vanilla, salt and pepper: To season and flavor. Can also add a pinch of nutmeg.

How to Make Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

Person showing how to make lighter sweet potato casserole step by step.

This sweet potato casserole recipe serves 16, making it perfect for large crowds. You will need a large, deep 13×9 inch baking dish to fit in all the yumminess.

Cook sweet potatoes: Boil peeled and cut into large chunks sweet potatoes until fork tender. Drain very well to avoid watery sweet potato casserole.

Mash sweet potatoes: Using a potato masher mash with butter, milk, egg and spices.

Add butter while sweet potatoes are still hot after draining. This ensures butter melts and incorporates into casserole better than if you added it with cold milk and other ingredients.

Make pecan crumb topping: Combine topping ingredients pecans, almond flour and white sugar in a medium bowl. Then add softened butter or coconut oil in pieces and incorporate with a fork.

You should end up with very crumbly topping. That’s why I recommend to use sugar and not maple syrup in the topping!

Assemble and bake: Spread sweet potato filling mixture in a casserole dish and sprinkle with the topping. Bake for 45 minutes in preheated 350 degrees F oven.

Can You Make Sweet Potato Casserole Ahead?

Yes. Make it ahead of time before chaotic Thanksgiving day, it will save you some time in the kitchen! That’s why it is called an easy sweet potato casserole recipe.

Prepare sweet potato mixture and crunchy topping, place in separate bowls, and cover. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

On a big day, spread potato mixture in a baking dish, sprinkle with the pecan topping for sweet potato casserole and bake as per recipe.

Recipe Tip

I do not recommend to make ahead and store assembled casserole in the fridge because nuts will become soggy overnight and baking will not help.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Store: Store leftovers covered in the baking dish or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days.

Reheat: Pop entire baking dish in 350 degrees F oven and bake until warmed through about 15 minutes. Or place a portion on a plate into a microwave.

Freeze: Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on a counter or in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. Reheat in a microwave or oven.

FAQs

Can I freeze this healthy sweet potato casserole?

Yes. Assemble, cover with a few layers of plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 weeks. When ready to bake your frozen sweet potato casserole, let dish warm up on a counter for 30-60 minutes to prevent shattering. Then bake by following the recipe plus 20 minutes.

What to serve with this side dish?

This casserole makes a fabulous Thanksgiving side dish served with boneless turkey breast roast, arugula beet salad, and healthy pumpkin pie.

How is this sweet potato casserole healthy?

Traditional sweet potato casserole is loaded with milk or cream, butter, and marshmallows! Compared to that this yummy casserole is healthier, uses whole food ingredients and the end result is a dish that is lower in sugar, calories and fat.

Yet no one will know, it’s just as good as classic sweet potato casserole!

How to cook sweet potatoes for casserole?

The best way to cook your sweet potatoes is to boil them. The moisture from boiling them creates the creamiest texture, perfect for mashing!

More Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes

More Thanksgiving Side Dishes

You may also like this list of over 50 healthy Thanksgiving recipes!

A slice of sweet potato casserole on a plate with a fork. Entire casserole in a baking dish near it.
Healthy sweet potato casserole with a wooden spoon in baking dish.

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

Creamy and comforting Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole with crunchy pecan topping is a Thanksgiving classic! It's lightened up and is naturally gluten free.
5 from 7 votes
Servings 16 servings
Calories 268
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients  

Pecan Topping:

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray large 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large pot, add sweet potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt and enough cold water to cover. Place lid on top, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes or until fork tender.
  • In the meanwhile, prepare pecan topping. In a medium shallow bowl, add pecans, almond flour and sugar. Stir well to mix. Add butter or coconut oil in pieces and using a fork incorporate into the topping. Set aside.
  • Drain sweet potatoes very well. Add butter and mash until smooth. Add milk, egg, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Using same masher or spatula stir well to mix.
  • Transfer sweet potato mixture to previously prepared baking dish, level with spatula and sprinkle pecan topping on top. Bake for 45 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven, let stand for 10 minutes and serve warm.

Video

Notes

  • Store: Store in the refrigerator for a few days. To reheat leftovers pop entire baking dish in 350 degrees F oven and bake until warmed through about 15 minutes. Or place a portion on a plate into a microwave.
  • Freeze: In an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on a counter or in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.
  • Make ahead: Assemble, cover with a few layers of plastic and freeze for up to 2 weeks. When ready to bake, let dish warm up on a counter for 30-60 minutes to prevent shattering. Then bake by following the recipe plus 20 minutes.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 340mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g
Course: Casserole
Cuisine: American
Author: Olena Osipov
Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Comments

    1. I think soโ€ฆThere is enough butter for the crumb to form. And donโ€™t worry about not so healthy. I wonโ€™t judge haha. I myself started to use it sometimes as itโ€™s nice. Balance.

  1. I also noticed that you didnโ€™t mention how long to bake it even though we cook the sweet potatoes beforehand. I usually bake it at 350ยฐ for about 20 minutes then add on the marshmallows and broil them till lightly brown then let the whole recipe cool.

  2. Recipe sounds really healthy and thatโ€™s the way I wanna keep it. I would also like to add pineapple. Can I do that and leave out the milk. I never added milk before and itโ€™s always come out fine. I also never added an egg do I need to add the egg also thank you.

    1. Yes, you can do that. It should be totally fine. Milk and egg make it creamier but there are many variations of a sweet potato casserole.

  3. 5 stars
    This was so yummy! A winner recipe for Thanksgiving that I will probably do again every year. I made it fully vegan – flax egg and all. Thank you!

  4. 5 stars
    The best sweet potato casserole ever!! I’m an avid cook and have tried many. Everyone wanted the recipe
    I baked the sweet potatoes for richer flavor. Used canned full fat coconut milk and it was outstanding.
    Also, heated the second time and still was great.

    1. Hi Jeanne! I wouldn’t recommend baking the whole casserole ahead of time. If you are making this ahead of time, prepare the mashed sweet potatoes and topping. But refrigerate them separately. You can even spread the sweet potatoes into a baking dish and store covered with plastic. When you are ready, assemble the casserole and then bake as per recipe. Hope that helps!

  5. If I wanted to add more protein to the meal, could I add shredded cooked chicken or ground turkey?

5 from 7 votes

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