Healthy Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Oat Crumble – the perfect side dish for your holiday table. Easy to make, lots of flavor and gluten-free friendly too. The whole family will love this!
Post updated with some more instructions and new photos 2019. Originally published November 2017. Same delicious recipe!
Why You’ll Love This
- A healthier take on traditional sweet potato casserole but doesn’t compromise on flavor.
- Choose your favorite way to prepare sweet potatoes – on the stovetop, Instant Pot or using the oven.
- A vegan and gluten free friendly recipe using coconut oil, sweetened with maple syrup and made with gluten free oats.
- The pecan crumble topping! It’s to die for.
- Leftovers reheat well! This makes for a great addition to leftover Thanksgiving breakfast the next day (or two, or three).
Casserole Ingredients
- sweet potatoes – There are a variety of sweet potatoes out there but for this dish, use orange sweet potatoes for the classic taste and texture.
- coconut oil – used in place of butter to keep this recipe vegan. However, you can use butter or vegan-friendly butter too.
- non-dairy milk – your choice here! Use oat milk if looking for a nut-free recipe
- maple syrup – the sweetener of choice here. Only a quarter cup in the sweet potato filling. No need for all of the added white sugar here.
- vanilla – for a little flavor .
- oats – for the best crunchy oat topping ever! Trust me, you won’t miss the marshmallows.
- pecans – Pecans are a great addition to the oat topping but you can always omit if you need a nut-free recipe.
- brown sugar – Or coconut sugar works too.
- cinnamon & nutmeg – always gotta add a little spice
- salt – flavor enhancer
Ways to Cook Sweet Potatoes
BOIL METHOD: Cut the potatoes (with the skins on) into large chunks, and then let them boil until soft – about 20-30 minutes. Drain pot, then rinse the sweet potatoes under some cold water and gently peel the skins off.
BAKE METHOD: Poke holes in the sweet potatoes and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake in oven at 400ºF for about 1 hour (check at 45 minutes.) Sweet potatoes are done when soft. Allow to cool before peeling
INSTANT POT METHOD: Place steamer basket in pot and add 1 cup of water. Place whole sweet potatoes (layering as needed) in pot, close lid and set valve to sealing position. Set to “Manual” and cook on high pressure for 17 minutes. Allow pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes. Rinse under cold water and peel skins.
Sweet Potato Filling
In a large bowl using hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine cooked sweet potatoes, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and milk.
You can also use a potato masher here.
In regards to texture of the mashed sweet potatoes, I like to keep some texture. Mix and/or mash to your liking.
Pecan Oat Crumble Topping
I love love love this topping! I much prefer it over marshmallow topping.
All you have to do is mix together the oats, flour, pecans, brown sugar, softened coconut oil (or use vegan butter) and spices. Mix well in a medium bowl until everything is evenly combined.
TIP: Use your hands to get extra clumps.
Assemble & Bake
Add the sweet potato mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish and add the pecan crumble topping, topping with additional whole pecans if you’d like.
Bake casserole for about 45 minutes until crumble is golden and let rest for 15 minutes or so before serving.
Even though this healthy sweet potato casserole is one of those dishes you typically see served around the holidays, I could totally eat this year round… Anyone else?!
Making Ahead
To make this recipe ahead, prepare the filling and add to casserole dish, cover and refrigerate overnight. You can make the crumble the day of, add to dish and bake as directed. Allow the casserole dish to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking.
Storing & Reheating
Cover leftovers with lid and store in fridge. Reheat using your desired method (I just use the microwave). Leftovers are actually great on toast, yogurt bowls and pancakes!
More Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
- Lightened up Cheesy Potato Casserole
- Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Squash with Almond Butter Dressing
- Kale Butternut Squash Salad with farro, feta & cranberries
If you make this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment and review! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn about the recipe too. XX Ashley
How to Make…
Best Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole
Healthy Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Oat Crumble – the perfect side dish for your holiday table. Sweetened with maple syrup and gluten-free friendly.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Diet: Vegan
- Yield: 9x13 casserole dish 1x
- Scale:
Ingredients
- 4–5 large sweet potatoes
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 3 TBS coconut oil, melted and cooled
- 3/4 cup non-dairy milk, room temperature (canned coconut milk will provide richer texture but any milk works)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pecan Oat Crumble
- 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
- 1/2 cup 1:1 gluten-free flour, whole wheat white flour, or all-purpose (almond meal will also likely work)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup coconut or brown sugar
- 6 TBS softened coconut oil*
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
- Cut sweet potatoes in large chunks (I left skins on) and place in large pot of water. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes then reduce to simmer about 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender – check with fork. Drain and rinse with cold water. Peel skins once potatoes have cooled. See Notes for other methods of cooking sweet potatoes.
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease/spray large casserole dish or 9×13 pan; set aside.
- Place peeled sweet potatoes in bowl of stand mixer with maple syrup, melted & cooled oil, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Use paddle attachment to gently combine. Keep some texture with the potatoes, but you want the mixture fairly smooth. You can also do this by hand using a potato masher.
- Transfer sweet potato mixture into prepared casserole dish; set aside.
- In a medium bowl combine ingredients for crumble: oats, flour, pecans, sugar, softened coconut oil, cinnamon and nutmeg. Use fork to combine or hands to mix together at end, leaving chunks.
- Sprinkle pecan oat crumble on top of sweet potato mixture, pressing gently into mixture.
- Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes, until crumble is slightly golden. Allow casserole to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Recipes Notes:
BAKE METHOD: Poke holes in the sweet potatoes and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake in oven at 400ºF for about 1 hour (check at 45 minutes.) Sweet potatoes are done when soft. Allow to cool before peeling
INSTANT POT METHOD: Place steamer basket in pot and add 1 cup of water. Place whole sweet potatoes (layering as needed) in pot, close lid and set valve to sealing position. Set to “Manual” and cook on high pressure for 17 minutes. Allow pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes. Rinse under cold water and peel skins.
Nutrition Information:
- Serving Size: 1/12th
- Calories: 252
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 47mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
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Sarah Cherrix says
Do you think I could make this ahead. As in today and then throw it in the oven tomorrow before Thanksgiving meal?
Ashley says
Yes I do believe that should work! I probably would make the crumble right before you throw in the oven though. I haven’t tried making ahead yet but I will be as well!
Lauren says
Made this for my Friendsgiving this year cause my coworker is vegan and it turned out amazing! Just be sure your mashed potatoes are room temp or really warm before putting the coconut oil in cause it will harden while stirring! (My mistake) turned out awesome and nonvegans even went back for seconds! Minimally sweetened! Pro tip: I added marshmallows to half of the dish for my nonvegans cause I can’t have spc without it!
★★★★★
Megan says
Love this recipe! The crumble top is perfect and I normally add mini marshmallows to 1/4 of the top during the last 10 minutes in the oven. Perfect! I could eat this for every meal of Thanksgiving day (or any day!) and my kids and husband like it, too.
★★★★★
Andrea says
Made this for Thanksgiving this year and it was SO. GOOD. And it was easy to put together! prepared it a day ahead of time and put it in the oven as we were prepping other items on Thanksgiving day. I did put marshmallows on half, as well. Delicious! Will be making this every year from now on.
★★★★★
Ashley says
Yay! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and review!
Lyndsey Hogan says
The best sweet potato recipe, now I’m always in charge of making sweet potatoes on holidays!
★★★★★