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This Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans is my new favorite way to serve sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving. It’s lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup, has a crunchy topping, and features dried cranberries for an extra pop of flavor. The combination is addictive!

sweet potato casserole with pecans on top

How to Make It

This healthy Sweet Potato Casserole starts with tender roasted sweet potatoes, which you can prepare ahead of time if you’d like to. You’ll need to roast the sweet potatoes until they are very tender, about 60 minutes at 400ºF, but the time will vary based on their size. (Smaller potatoes will cook faster, and larger ones may take longer than 1 hour.)

You can tell the sweet potatoes are tender by pressing on the outside with a fork. A very tender potato will easily give under the pressure, guaranteeing that the inside is naturally sweet and ready to be mashed!

roasted sweet potatoes and in the food processor

Once the sweet potatoes are tender, you’ll puree them together with your favorite milk (I use almond milk), vanilla, and ginger, then top them with an easy oatmeal pecan crumble. I don’t add sugar to the sweet potatoes, as I think they are plenty sweet as-is, but you can taste this mixture as you go and add maple syrup or sugar, to taste.

Just remember that the crumble topping, and the added cranberries, will add sweetness to the final dish, too!

The Best Oatmeal Pecan Topping

The key to this unique sweet potato casserole is its crunchy crumble topping. It comes together quickly in a food processor, and stands out thanks to the combination of oatmeal, pecans, fresh rosemary (trust me on this one!), salt, and a touch of maple syrup. No added oil is needed!

pecan topping for sweet potato casserole

Before you add the topping to the mashed sweet potatoes, scatter a layer of dried cranberries over the top. The cranberries will plump up as they cook, and the crumble topping will protect them from drying out the oven.

Having a surprise bite of cranberry, contrasted by the creamy sweet potatoes and the crunchy topping is such a treat, and will have all of your holiday guests coming back for second helpings.

Is Sweet Potato Casserole a Dessert or a Side Dish?

Since many traditional recipes are topped with marshmallows, it’s no wonder why some people might consider it a dessert, but I believe this healthy sweet potato casserole is more of a side dish. It’s topped with a crunchy pecan and oatmeal crumble, along with sweet cranberries, and pairs well with all of your other favorite Thanksgiving sides.

sweet potato casserole with pecans on top

Make-Ahead Tips

You can roast the sweet potatoes for this casserole up to 3 days in advance, and you can even prepare the puree and topping, if you’d like to have it all assembled a few days before a busy holiday meal. Just make sure to keep it tightly covered in the fridge.

To reheat, thaw on the counter for 1 hour to help bring it to room temperature, then bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden.

You can even freeze this assembled casserole for up to 3 months when stored in an airtight dish. You’ll want to thaw it in the fridge overnight, before baking it the next day.

sweet potato casserole with pecans on top

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans

5 from 8 votes
This Sweet Potato Casserole is topped with a cruncy pecan topping instead of marshmallows, for a healthy side dish. It's dairy-free and vegan-friendly, without using refined sugar!
prep20 mins cook30 mins total50 mins
Servings:12

Ingredients
 
 

Crunchy Pecan Oat Topping

  • 3/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup pecan halves
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh minced rosemary (unbelievably good!)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Sweet Potato Filling

  • 3 pounds roasted sweet potatoes , peeled
  • 1/2 cup milk of choice (I use almond milk)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Extra Toppings

  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (look for juice-sweetened, if possible)
  • 1/4 cup pecan halves , for topping

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. In a large food processor fitted with an "S" blade, add in the oats, pecans, rosemary, and salt, and process briefly to create a flour-like texture. Add in the maple syrup, and process again until crumbly.
  • Pour the crumble into a small bowl and set aside. In the same food processor (no need to rinse it), add in the roasted & peeled sweet potatoes, milk, vanilla, ginger, and salt, and process until smooth. Taste and adjust the mixture to your liking. You can add maple syrup for sweetness, if you like, or extra milk to make them creamier.
  • In the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish, spread the sweet potato puree into a relatively smooth layer. Scatter the dried cranberries over the top, then sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top. Add the remaining pecans over the top, for decoration and added crunch. Bake at 350ºF until the topping is golden, about 30 minutes.
  • Let cool for about 10 minutes, then serve warm. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Video

Notes

I recommend roasting your sweet potatoes ahead of time, so you don't have to be in your kitchen for more than an hour to make this side dish. To roast the potatoes, preheat the oven to 400ºF and pierce them with a fork to vent. Arrange the potatoes in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. Bake uncovered until tender, about 60 minutes. You'll know they're nice and tender when you can press on the skins with a fork, and they easily collapse from the pressure-- as if you're able to mash them. Once they are cool enough to handle, you can peel them and store them until ready to use.

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 425mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 16088IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: sweet potato casserole

Recipe Notes:

  • The great thing about sweet potato casserole is that you can taste each individual component and adjust the seasoning as you go. I like to keep this dish relatively low in sugar, but you can sweeten the potato puree with maple syrup or granulated sugar, if you’d rather. The overall taste is totally in your hands!
  • If the crumble isn’t sweet enough for you, I recommend adding 2 tablespoons of coconut sugar to the topping, rather than adding any more maple syrup. (I tested this with 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, and it became almost too sticky to work with.) Just keep in mind that the cranberries will add sweetness, too!

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like it. And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too! We can all benefit from your experience.

Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite way to prepare sweet potato casserole? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. I create healthy recipes made with simple ingredients to make your life easier.

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Comments

  1. My all time favorite for a sweet potato side dish! I baked the topping separately from the sweet potatoes for half of the baking time then layered it on top to finish out baking time. So delicious!

  2. Tastes like a dessert! So sweet and has great flavor. I love the fresh rosemary in the crumble topping. It gives a great savory flavor that compliments the sweetness in the potatoes.

  3. This recipe is delicious!! The perfect healthy sweet potato dish for thanksgiving. We love the added touch of ginger and crunch of the topping! Megan, you’re amazing!

  4. I started putting sweet potatoes in my crock pot. Just wash and put them in, cook on low while I’m at work. Perfect every time.