A sweet potato casserole is the epitome of Thanksgiving in my household. It actually was always the dish I avoided as a kid. For some reason, I thought marshmallows and sweet potatoes never went well together.

Well times have changed and so have the recipes. I felt it was it was time to make a casserole I actually enjoy. This Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole was the winner. 

This dish is especially made for those who are health conscious like myself and want to enjoy Thanksgiving food that’s good for them. Enjoy!

Prep It

Like most of my recipes, this sweet potato casserole is very easy to prepare. Start by filling a large soup pot full of eight cups of water and bring to a boil. As the water heats, prepare the sweet potatoes by washing them and patting them dry.

Once that’s complete, chop them up into large chunks (about the size of large strawberry) and place them into the boiling pot of water. Boil them for 20 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork.

Now, before moving on, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Maple Pecan Topping

As your potatoes boil, prepare your maple pecan topping. First, pulse your oats a couple of times in a good food processor or put in a blender for a couple seconds (I pulsed mine about 6 times in a food processor; leave some oats intact).

If the pecans are not already crushed, do just that using one of two methods:

1. Add into your food processor and pulse 3-5 times, leaving some large chunks, OR
2. Use a chef’s knife and roughly chop the pecans, also leaving some large chunks.

Now, add the pecans and oats into a large bowl, then top with flaxseed meal, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and sea salt. Mix well and set aside.

Back to the Sweet Potatoes

By now, your potatoes should be done boiling. Dump them into a strainer and allow to drain. Then add them to a large mixing bowl and smash using a large fork or potato masher; leaving some chunks for texture (notice a pattern here?).

Finish the filling by adding in coconut milk, coconut sugar, cinnamon, sea salt, and nutmeg. Mix well using a fork or whisk so that the spices and seasonings evenly distribute. Then add the filling into a greased 8×8 baking dish and smooth.

Finally, add your maple pecan topping on top of the filling and spread evenly. You’re now ready to bake!

Bake It

Add the Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole to the middle rack of your oven and back for 20-25 minutes, or until pecans are browned. Check at the 20-minute mark to ensure your topping doesn’t burn.

Once finished, take the dish out of the oven and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Eat It

Serve this Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole alongside your favorite plant-based Thanksgiving recipes or as a side dish for dinner.

Looking for more healthy side dishes? Try these:

• Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato Fries
• Cilantro Lime Rice