Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole (Paleo)

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole with crispy nutty pecan streusel topping – a grain-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free recipe that’s also paleo friendly. This casserole is the perfect side dish for the holidays!

This healthy sweet potato casserole is about to steal the holiday table spotlight. We’re talking fluffy, spiced mashed sweet potatoes topped with a golden, nutty streusel that’s crisp and cookie-like. 

The best part? It’s completely grain-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and still every bit as indulgent as the classic.

I originally whipped this up to “healthify” my family’s beloved marshmallow-topped version (to prove to them that veggies + dessert vibes can coexist). Safe to say, it stuck around as a new tradition. 

Whether you call it a side dish or sneak it in as dessert with a dollop of coconut whipped cream, this casserole is the ultimate comfort food upgrade. I personally think it is a big enhancement over traditional sweet potato casseroles!

Why You’ll Love This Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potato casserole is comforting, nostalgic, and a staple on many holiday tables. But this lighter, paleo friendly twist proves you don’t need heaps of cream, butter, or sugar to get that same cozy satisfaction.

You still get all the warm spice, sweet potato fluffiness, and golden, crunchy topping… just made with real food ingredients that leave you feeling good after your Thanksgiving dinner.

Sweet potatoes themselves bring natural sweetness plus a boost of fiber, vitamin A, and slow-burning carbs to keep you satisfied.

Add pecans for healthy fats, cinnamon for cozy spice, and maple syrup for natural sweetness, and you’ve got a casserole that’s as nourishing as it is nostalgic. Here are a few more reasons why you’ll love it:

• Creamy base meets crispy topping
• Naturally sweetened with maple syrup
• Paleo, dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free
• Perfect for making ahead of time
• Doubles as dessert with coconut whipped cream

​Let’s discuss the wholesome ingredients for this easy sweet potato casserole recipes. Most grocery stores carry the full list!

Ingredients for Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

Fresh sweet potatoes: The star of the show. Naturally sweet and fluffy when mashed. They bring fiber, vitamins, and natural creaminess.

Eggs: Help bind the filling and give it a little lift in the oven. For egg-free, use flax eggs or leave them out (texture will be softer). 

Full-fat canned coconut milk: Makes the filling creamy and luscious without dairy. Substitute with any unsweetened non-dairy milk or heavy cream if you’re not dairy-free.

Pure maple syrup: Natural sweetness with rich caramel notes. Honey or coconut sugar also works.

Ground cinnamon: Cozy spice that makes the whole dish taste like fall. Pumpkin pie spice works too.

Vanilla extract: Enhances sweetness and rounds out the flavors.

Nutmeg + orange zest (optional): A little extra holiday sparkle. Nutmeg adds warmth, orange zest adds brightness.

For the topping:

Almond flour: Grain-free base for the streusel topping. You can use hazelnut flour, cashew flour, oat flour, or gluten-free all-purpose flour if preferred.

Tapioca flour: Adds a bit of crunch and helps the topping crisp up. Arrowroot starch is a good swap.

Raw pecans: Nutty, buttery crunch! Walnuts or sliced almonds are great alternatives.

Maple syrup: Sweetens and binds the topping. Use white sugar, coconut sugar, or brown sugar if you’d like.

Coconut oil: Keeps the topping crumbly and crisp. Melted butter works if you’re not dairy-free. Use regular butter, vegan butter, or avocado oil if you prefer.

Cinnamon + sea salt: Rounds out the sweet, nutty flavors.

Now that we’ve covered the simple ingredients, let’s make this homemade sweet potato casserole!

How to Make Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

Start by chopping the sweet potatoes into large chunks and boiling them in a large pot of water until fork tender. Drain and let them cool completely. This prevents the eggs from scrambling when blended in.

Once cool, peel (or don’t peel, totally your call) and blend the potatoes with coconut milk, eggs, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and optional nutmeg/orange zest in a blender or a food processor until smooth and creamy.

Prefer a chunkier texture? Use a potato masher instead of a blender.

Spread the creamy sweet potato filling into a casserole dish. In a separate bowl, stir together almond flour, tapioca flour, pecans, maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt until crumbly. Sprinkle the crunchy pecan topping over the sweet potato base.

Bake covered for 40 minutes, then uncover and bake 10-15 minutes more until golden brown, crispy, and bubbling at the edges. Let it cool slightly before serving so the topping stays nice and crisp.

Serve this healthy sweet potato casserole recipe alongside your Thanksgiving turkey with your other favorite side dishes.

Storage Options:

1. Refrigerator: Cover the baking dish in plastic wrap, or transfer leftover sweet potato casserole to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
2. Freezer: Freeze leftover casserole in a large zip lock bag, freezer bag, or freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

Recipe Adaptations and Additions

• Nutty twist – Try walnuts, hazelnuts, or even cashews in place of pecans for a different flavor and crunch.
• Chocolate drizzle – Add a drizzle of melted dark chocolate over the baked casserole to take it into dessert territory.
• Spice it up – Swap cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice, chai spice, or add a touch of cardamom for a different flavor vibe.
• Fruit twist – Fold dried cranberries, chopped dates, or golden raisins into the topping for bursts of sweetness.
• Extra indulgence – Add a layer of mini marshmallows on top of the streusel for a “half-traditional, half-paleo” hybrid casserole. You can also add 1/4 cup of brown sugar to the sweet potato mixture.
• Savory version – Skip the maple syrup, add caramelized onions, a pinch of smoked paprika, and toasted pumpkin seeds for a savory holiday spin. Or, check out my Cheesy Mashed Sweet Potato Casserole.

What to Serve with Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

This casserole is a natural fit for any holiday feast. It cozies right up next to your turkey, ham, or roast chicken. If you’re serving it at brunch, think of it as the sweet, comforting sidekick to scrambled eggs, quiche, or a veggie frittata. However you serve it, it plays beautifully with:

• Orange Ginger Turmeric Whole Roast Chicken
• Healthy Green Bean Casserole (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free)
• Sauteed Brussel Sprouts Recipe with Butter and Garlic
• Crowd-Pleasing Roasted Vegetables
• Winter Citrus Roasted Beet Salad

Other Healthy Side Dish Recipes to Try

• Mediterranean Scalloped Potatoes 
• Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash 
• Dairy-Free Creamed Spinach 
• Scalloped Sweet Potatoes (Paleo)
• Rosemary Cumin Roasted Carrots 
• Creamy Mashed Rutabaga with Caramelized Onions 
• Roasted Kabocha Squash with Maple Cinnamon Tahini

The next time you’re planning a healthy holiday dinner, use this as the best sweet potato casserole recipe for health nuts!

I make it several times throughout the holiday season to bring to family dinners and Friendsgiving. You bet, I do take it as my preferred Thanksgiving dessert!

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole (Paleo)

4.91 from 10 votes

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole made without dairy, sugar, or grains!

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Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

Sweet Potato Filling:

• 3 large sweet potatoes 4 cups mashed
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup to taste
• ¾ teaspoon sea salt to taste
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg optional
• 2 teaspoons orange zest optional

For the topping:

• 1 1/3 cups Almond Flour
• 2 Tbsp tapioca flour
• 1 cup raw pecans chopped
• 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup
• 3 Tbsp coconut oil softened
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

Instructions

Prepare the Filling:

• Chop sweet potatoes into large chunks, place them in a large pot and cover with water. Cover the pot and heat until boiling. Boil the potatoes until they’re soft when they’re poked with a fork, about 20-30 minutes.
• Drain the sweet potatoes into a colander and allow them to cool to room temperature (this is so that the sweet potatoes don’t cook the eggs when blended together – you can refrigerate the potatoes to speed up the process).
• When the potatoes are cool, remove the skins (I often leave them on…this is a matter of preference). Place potatoes in a blender with the remaining filling ingredients. Blend until everything is well combined.
• Preheat the oven to 375° F.
• Transfer the sweet potato mixture to an 8” x 8” square casserole dish and spread it evenly.
• Mix together all the ingredients for the topping in a mixing bowl. Spread the topping over the sweet potato mixture as evenly as possible.
• Cover the casserole dish with foil. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking another 10 to 15 minutes, until the topping is golden-brown and crispy and the filling has risen and is slightly bubbly.

Notes

If you aren't dairy-free, you can replace the canned coconut milk with heavy cream and replace the coconut oil with melted butter.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1of 12 · Calories: 290kcal · Carbohydrates: 28g · Protein: 7g · Fat: 17g · Fiber: 2g · Sugar: 12g

Author: Julia

Course: Side Dishes & Snacks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: almond flour sweet potato casserole, grain free sweet potato casserole, healthy sweet potato casserole, paleo sweet potato casserole, sweet potato casserole recipe, Thanksgiving side dishes

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I roast the sweet potatoes instead of boiling them?

Yep! Roasting gives the potatoes a deeper, caramelized flavor; it just takes a little longer. Chop them, toss with a drizzle of oil, and roast at 400°F until tender. 

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble the casserole (without baking), cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days. Bake just before serving.

What size casserole dish should I use?

An 8×8 or 9×9-inch dish works perfectly. If doubling the recipe, use a 9×13-inch pan.

How long will leftovers last?

Store covered in the fridge up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven to keep the topping crisp.

Is this sweet enough for dessert?

Yes! With the maple syrup and cozy spices, it doubles beautifully as a lighter dessert. Add coconut whipped cream for a treat.