Cook the Story Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe (2024)

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This light Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe gets its sweetness and creaminess from low-fat vanilla yogurt instead of butter, cream, and sugar.

As a Canadian, I didn’t grow up eating the classic American Sweet Potato Casserole, or very many sweet potatoes at all. When I finally tasted this traditional Thanksgiving side dish, I didn’t love it. I’m sorry. I found it too sweet and kind of strange. Marshmallows at dinner time?

That was a long time ago though. These days I’m totally on board with it! Except for, well, I’m never sure I want to have very much because I know that it’s loaded with butter and cream and those marshmallows! I’d much prefer to save my calories for this perfectly roasted turkey, the stuffing and gravy – oh, and the pumpkin pie of course!

The goal for today’s recipe was therefore to find a sweet potato casserole that both I and traditionalists will enjoy. This recipe is a touch less sweet than the classic. But you can add some extra brown sugar if you really need to. Check out the recipe below. It tells you when to taste it and when and how much sugar to add if you like it sweeter than I do.

Jump To:

  1. Video: Delicious and Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
  2. Making Sweet Potato Casserole Lighter And Healthier
  3. What About The Topping?
  4. More Thanksgiving Recipes
  5. Podcast Episode: Making Sweet Potato Casserole
  6. Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Video: Delicious and Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

Making Sweet Potato Casserole Lighter And Healthier

For the lightened sweet potato recipe below, I’ve played around with the basics a bit to come up with something that’s just as creamy as the original but a bit healthier. This version doesn’t have any butter or cream. Instead, the creaminess comes from vanilla yogurt. It still has the flavor you love, just with a couple tweaks to the original recipe.

To further reduce the sugar in the recipe, I’ve tweaked the classic sweet potato casserole topping by cutting back on the marshmallows. The marshmallows are still there and their brown puffiness will please traditionalists. But they don’t cover the whole casserole in melted candy.

What About The Topping?

As for the Sweet Potato Casserole Topping, I have a trick for making sure that the marshmallows don’t get crunchy. First, you bake the casserole for awhile without the topping. Then you add the pecans and marshmallows and continue to bake just until the marshmallows are puffed softly and starting to brown. This ensures that the pecans don’t get overly dark and bitter as well.

Don’t want marshmallows at all? Try making a pecan crumble mixture for the topping! Finely chop up the pecans and mix with old fashioned oats, melted butter or coconut oil, and some brown sugar if you’d like. Mix it all up and sprinkle on top of the sweet potato mixture instead of the marshmallows.

More Thanksgiving Recipes

If you’re looking for more healthy Thanksgiving side dishes, be sure to also check out my recipe forGreen Bean Casserole from Scratch. It’s just as tasty and just as easy as the original but with fresher ingredients.

You can also browse all my Thanksgiving recipes, including turkey and cranberry sauce, in my Thanksgiving collection to complete your meal.

Podcast Episode: Making Sweet Potato Casserole

Listen to me explain briefly about how to make this casserole, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:

Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.

Print

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Christine Pittman
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

DESCRIPTION

This healthier twist on the classic Sweet Potato Casserole uses low-fat vanilla yogurt instead of butter and cream. And there are fewer marshmallows on top.

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 3 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
  • 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • A pinch of nutmeg
  • A pinch of salt
  • Brown sugar (optional)
  • 4 large egg whites OR 2 large whole eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup mini marshmallows

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or spray a 2.5 quart casserole dish.
  2. Put the sweet potatoes in a medium sauce pan with enough water just to cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook until fork-tender, 5-7 minutes. Drain them.
  3. Return the sweet potatoes to the pot and use an egg beater to mash them up (or transfer them to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat them in there.
  4. Add the yogurt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Beat some more. Taste it. If it’s not sweet enough for you, beat in brown sugar 1 tablespoon at a time and taste.
  5. Once you’re satisfied with the sweetness, add the eggs and beat them in as well. Transfer the mixture to the lightly greased (or sprayed) casserole baking dish.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes. Top evenly with the pecans and marshmallows and continue to bake until marshmallows are puffed and lightly browned, 10-15 more minutes.

Love this recipe? I’d appreciate it if you could scroll down and add a *5 star rating* to help others know they’ll love it as well!

This post originally appeared in November 2014 and was revised and republished in November 2022.

Cook the Story Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make a sweet potato casserole not runny? ›

Eggs and cream help stabilize the dish and prevent it from becoming too runny (a common complaint with many sweet potato casserole recipes). Make it as smooth or chunky as you like!

Why put egg in sweet potato casserole? ›

The egg is the all-important binder in a sweet potato casserole: it enriches and stiffens the mixture without making it heavy. Make sure to cool the mash slightly before adding the egg so it doesn't scramble, and to stir well so there are no streaks of cooked egg white in the finished dish.

How do I know when my sweet potato casserole is done? ›

you should see it firm, but still paste like. Once it bulges and you start to see cracks, it will be overcooked. You don't need anything of those fancy gadgets for casserole! You can grab a potato masher or whisk and mash them up.

How long is it safe to eat sweet potato casserole? ›

Cooked sweet potatoes generally keep without spoiling for a few hours when stored at room temperature. They can last three to five days if stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. Frozen cooked sweet potatoes will keep well for up to six months.

How do you make a casserole less runny? ›

Thicken a meat casserole the most popular way with flour.

Add some flour to your pan after you've browned the meat and before adding any liquid. This way, the flour will soak up the juices and fat in the pan. Add about one teaspoon of flour at a time until you get the right thickness.

How do you make a casserole less watery? ›

10 Tips To Fix Or Prevent Watery Casseroles
  1. Prep Vegetables Ahead Of Time. Vegetables boiling on a stove - Solstock/Getty Images. ...
  2. Add A Starch. ...
  3. Experiment With Pasta Or Grains. ...
  4. Take The Lid Off. ...
  5. Drain Fat From Meat. ...
  6. Choose A Dry Or Low-Fat Cheese. ...
  7. Sprinkle Seeds Into Your Bake. ...
  8. Remove Excess Liquid.
Oct 29, 2023

Can I leave eggs out of sweet potato casserole? ›

Eggs (or not!)

– I've made this sweet potato casserole with and without eggs, both ways are delicious. The eggs act as a binder and gives the casserole a light and fluffy texture. Without eggs, the casserole doesn't have as much structure but it still silky smooth and tastes delicious.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

Why is my sweet potato casserole stringy? ›

Sweet potatoes stored at temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit will shrivel and become dry and stringy. Sweet potatoes may develop an off-flavor and the flesh may become discolored when stored at temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Does sweet potato casserole have to be refrigerated after cooking? ›

Cover and refrigerate leftover sweet potato casserole for up to four days. Bring to room temperature, then warm at 325°F until hot throughout before serving.

Can I eat a week old cooked sweet potato? ›

If your sweet potatoes are already cooked, storage is fairly simple. Put your cooked sweet potatoes in a shallow container such as a GladWare® Container or a GLAD Food Storage Zipper Gallon Bag and place in the refrigerator for short-term use. Cooked sweet potatoes can last in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.

Can you eat a sweet potato that was left out overnight? ›

Once they've been cooked, however, they should go in a shallow airtight container or zip-top bag in the fridge. They'll stay good there for about five days. Tip: You shouldn't leave cooked sweet potatoes at room temperature for more than two hours, as this can promote bacteria growth and cause foodborne illness.

What are the black spots on the inside of sweet potatoes? ›

Internal necrosis is a physiological disorder, not caused by a pest or pathogen, where the sweetpotatoes develop black spots and patches on the inside of the root. These black patches are only found in the end of the root closest to where the vine was.

How do you thicken up sweet potato casserole? ›

The casserole needs at least 15-20 minutes to cool before serving. The casserole sets up as it cools. However, if you prefer a really thick sweet potato casserole, you can add about 2-3 tablespoons of flour to your sweet potato batter and this will help the mixture to thicken.

Why is my potato casserole runny? ›

My sauce is watery

If you stored your potatoes in water to prevent discoloring, be sure to drain them well and pat them dry before adding to your casserole. Some of the waxier potatoes can release more water than starchier ones, so look for good baking potatoes like russet or Yukon golds.

What do I do if my potato bake is too runny? ›

Try letting the dish rest for 10 minutes or so to let the water get absorbed and let the sauce thicken. Try cooking your recipe longer.

How do you remove excess water from sweet potatoes? ›

Completely dry the sweet potatoes with a tea towel or paper towel. Before starting to peel, let the potatoes sit on a towel, so it absorbs the excess water.

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