Happy Friday! I am in all out Thanksgiving planning mode so you are getting a second recipe this week. The yummy smells of nutmeg and cinnamon are in the air. I still have not narrowed down my whole menu yet however, Sweet potato casserole is always on our table. I believe almost any dish can be made healthier with a few tweaks. Today’s recipe Skinny Sweet Potato Casserole is my healthier take on the classic. Hope you enjoy!
Subbing out the small amount of butter can easily make this side dish vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. I love the smell of the nutmeg and cinnamon swirled into the creamy sweet potatoes sitting in a warm skillet topped with spicy pecans and gooey marshmallows. All of the tastes of Thanksgiving in a healthier version with none of the guilt.
Instead of coating the pecans in butter and sugar, I’ve roasted them with cayenne pepper then sprinkled them on top as more of an accent. You can enjoy the comforting blend of the sweet potato and pecans without the sugary bomb of the classic preparation. No white sugar needed here!
Skinny Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 Sweet Potatoes
- 1/2 C unsweetened almond milk
- 3 Tbl butter (or vegan substitute)
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon and nutmeg
- 1 Tbl vanilla extract
- For the pecan topping"
- 1 C pecans
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
- cooking spray
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 10-12 large marshmallows
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375
- Clean & peel sweet potatoes and cut into large chunks
- Add to a stockpot filled w water & a pinch of salt and bring to a boil
- Cook until potatoes are soft about 10 m & transfer to mixing bowl & mash slightly
- Add almond milk, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanilla to mixing bowl and combine until smooth
- Spray a skillet or casserole dish with cooking spray
- Add sweet potatoes
- To prepare pecans:
- On a baking sheet spread out pecans in a single layer
- spray with cooking spray & sprinkle on cayenne, nutmeg, cinnamon & allspice
- bake 10-15 min
- Chop pecans and sprinkle on top of sweet potatoes
- Layer marshmallows and broil until marshmallows brown (2 min or so)
- Potatoes can be prepared in advance and pecans & marshmallows added a la minute
This Skinny Sweet Potato Casserole was so yummy I guarantee you guests won’t even know you’ve “healthied” it up a little. The ooey gooey marshmallows nestled on top of the bed of pecans & sweet potatoes was fabulous. They provided just enough sweetness without being overpowering. Hope you enjoy!
This year, I have another vegetarian joining us for Thanksgiving and I couldn’t be happier! I will be sharing my Vegetarian main dish on Meatless Monday-stay tuned!
Tell me-Have you planned your menu yet? Do you try to plan healthy sides or just go all out on Thanksgiving?
Sounds fabulous! and sweet potatoes are so good to begin with they really don’t need all the ingredients from the original recipe!
Exactly! This gives you all the yumminess without all the extra calories
I love and adore Thanksgiving, but one of my least favorite things about it is the fact that people try to gluttonize what otherwise could be so healthy and delicious without all the nonsense! This is a great rendition, and lets the SP talk for itself 😀
I totally agree!! I never understood why people need to eat themselves into a food coma on T Day
Oh you nailed it! This sounds like my kinda dish! Yum!
Thanks my MM friend! Have a great week
I just made a sweet potato casserole myself last week! How I love Thanksgiving food!
Me too when it’s healthy which is easy to do right?
What a nice alternative. Sweet potato casserole is one of my favorites for the holiday table.
Mine too! Thanks
I was in Thanksgiving prep mood this week too. My husband got to benefit:-). I love sweet potato casseroles and this one looks amazing. I tend to go a little wild with the (vegan) butter and brown sugar, so a skinnied down version is just what I need.. You should know, though, that regular marshmallows are not vegetarian. They contain gelatin. Fortunately, they do make vegetarian ones.
Thanksgiving prep is fun! I guess I am not that much of a stickler I eat marshmallows!
This looks delicious AND pretty!!! Love it!
Thanks so much! It was so yummy 🙂
This looks so good I had to pin it:)
Sweet potato casserole is one of my favorite holiday delicious. It is so decadent so I don’t eat it often. But knowing how to put a healthy spin on it is great. I know what I’m making for thanksgiving this yr.
I really think that most of the Thanksgiving dishes can be made healthier. It doesn’t have to be over the top right?
This looks great! True story, I’ve never had marshmallows with my sweet potatoes! When I hosted Thanksgiving a couple of years ago I really enjoyed making healthier options – but I’m not sure my family members did!
LOL I am sure some of my family would rather have the high fat food but it’s all about balance right?!
Seriously – Who can say no to sweet potato?? It should be it’s own food group. Yum!
Lol sounds good to me!
One of my Thanksgiving favs! Thanks for sharing your twist on it!
Thanks hope you enjoy!
Sweet potato casserole is my favorite Thanksgiving side! My MIL makes it with so much topping, that top layer could be considered candy all by itself. And yes, I eat it — once a year. For just a split second, I thought your marsh mellows were mini pancakes. LOL. I’ll definitely have to try this version. Maybe I wouldn’t get the sugar coma like I typically do. 😉
so my MIL used to make it that way too and I couldn’t even eat it without feeling sick.
Mmmmm I’m drooling over those marshmallows! I love a good sweet potato casserole. You’re getting me all excited for thanksgiving festivities!
That’s the idea!! 🙂
You just got me really excited for Thanksgiving!
That was my plan 🙂
Oh my goodness – I need this casserole – sweet potato anything is my jam!! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks so much hope you enjoy it!
It looks and sounds delicious, although with all that butter and those wonderful pecans, I wouldn’t think of it as SKINNY! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Well it only has 3 tbl of butter in the whole dish so you really aren’t eating too much in one serving. I am also not putting any sugar at all in so saving lots of calories there too.
Oh yum! I have been looking for a skinnier version of a sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving! and I love the addition of some cayenne pepper for a little spice!!
thanks so much! Using the spice was a great swap from the traditional sugar.
This looks amazing! Sweet potato casserole is always my favorite, but the regular version always feels too heavy. I love this! I’m totally bookmarking it for our Thanksgiving!! Thanks for sharing!
Well thank you! The traditional version can be so heavy and sweet I knew there had to be a healthier way to make it
This is one of my absolute favorite sides. I like your healthy swaps but also that you still left in the marshmallow. This IS the best part IMO.
Agree the best part-don’t tell anyone but my son and I ate them all off of the top after we took the photo 🙂
I love sweet potatoes! I’m glad you don’t add any more sugar than the marshmallows but I can’t lie – I’m sticking to my new Sweet Potato Crumble sans sugar pillows. 😀
Thanks and I am headed over to check yours out now. I am a new fan of sweet potatoes
This looks so delicious!! I love sweet potatoes but I’m not a fan of the ones swimming in butter and topped with marshmallows.. these look perfect!
Exactly! I never like those over the top versions either.
Yummy!! This is one of my favorite dishes on Thanksgiving!! 🙂
thanks! Hope you enjoy and have a great Thanksgiving
I actually just sent this to my sister. She loves this kind of stuff and told me just the other day she is going to use November as an excuse to eat sweet potatoes once a week lol. She diets the rest of the year and avoids it and splurge each November until Thanksgiving; )
Too funny! I hope she enjoys all of her sweet potatoes this month 🙂
This looks super delish! I cannot believe how quickly Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us!
Thanks and I know it’s always a blur this time of year
This looks so good! I made sweet potato soup the other day, and this looks like another recipe I need to make 🙂
Ooh that sounds good too! I am loving sweet potatoes right now
Wow, this looks delicious! If only I could get some of my in-laws to eat sweet potatoes I’d offer to make this for Thanksgiving this year. But alas, too many of them are too picky about their food and won’t even try new dishes. 🙁
Well you might have to make it for you and Preston 🙂
OMG ! Sweet potato and pecans ! You had me in the title….
Enjoy! Hope you give it a try
Oh my gosh that looks so delicious! I love sweet potatoes and I may just need to print this one out since I actually don’t have a good sweet potato casserole recipe yet.
Oh well you must try it then 🙂 Hope you enjoy
This recipe looks sooo good. I love sweet potatoes and I love casseroles. The sweet potatoes my family makes at Thanksgiving are definitely not healthy.
You know most people really add lots of butter and sugar to them but they are really so tasty without all of that. Hope you like them!
Anything with sweet potatoes is ok with me! I love them!!!
Interesting to put pecans with cayenne on top! I bet that’s an awesome sweet/savory/spicy contrast! Love this idea!
Exactly! Instead of mixing them with sugar as it is usually done the spice gives it a nice combo
Looks yummy. I love sweet potatoes with marshmallows, but I generally just mash them with a little milk, butter, and cinnamon before I put the marshmallows on. I’m lazy like that.
Well..just a couple more ingredients in here hope you give it a go
Yummmm! I love sweet potato casserole and it more of a dessert to me! Yum, yum!
They are great aren’t they?!
Love it! Noting says Thanksgiving like marshmallows! I love out deep fried turkey! I think I did your brussell sprout recipe last year and I was a huge hit!
Oh that’s right I remember you liked the brussels. I am going to make them again this year I think. So hard to decide!
I never in a million years would have thought to combine sweet potato with marshmallows and other sweets…very interesting! I can’t wait for Thanksgiving!
It’s a great combo! I am excited for Thanksgiving too!
I LOVE how you put marshmallows on top! It looks so fun and I bet kids would love it
Thanks! It gives them a great flavor
This looks soo good! I love that you used almond milk. I very rarely drink regular milk so I’m a huge fan of any recipe with substitutes!
Thanks! It is easy to substitute with almond milk in most recipes and it has a great flavor.
Mmmm this sounds amazing! I love sweet potatoes so I might need to try this out on Thanksgiving!
Thanks hope you do try it out!
excuse me while I face plant this dish —> HOLY YUM! must make
LOL hope you enjoy 🙂
Thanks for the link-up, and BTW, I love the look of the new website!
Thanks! Have a great day
I love sweet potato casserole and this one looks amazing, I am going to make it for Thanksgiving!
Thanks! Hope you enjoy and happy early Thanksgiving
This looks so good Deb! I am looking forward to my mom’s version during Thanksgiving, but I could probably whip this up before then. I’ve been craving sweet potato and marshmallows 🙂
It’s a great combo isn’t it?! This one is really easy to make
This is a dish I would happily add to my Thanksgiving menu. Looks delicious Deborah.
Thanks so much! I am getting excited about Thanksgiving
TOTALLY GAGA over this!!!
Thanks! I can’t believe it’s almost Thanksgiving already
This looks delicious! I’m a sucker for anything sweet potato so I must try this next week.
Thanks! I am all over sweet potato lately. I have a great sweet potato breakfast skillet from a few weeks ago too you might like. Thanks for stopping by!
That looks like an amazing dish!! Definitely a nice idea to think about for a Thanksgiving dish.
Well thanks so much! Hope you give it a try
Gorgeous looking dish!! I love that you put almond milk and cayenne pepper in this! So good! I can’t believe it is almost Thanksgiving!
Thanks! I know it’s quickly approaching 🙂
This looks amazing,and perfect for the vegetarian guests! I make a sweet potato casserole every year, and will have to try this one out. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you again soon.
I don’t think I can go another day without eating this. Pecans and sweet potatoes are such a great combination. Counting the days until Thanksgiving!
Ah thanks! It is a great combo isn’t it? At least there is no guilt with this recipe.
Love the idea of a skinny sweet potato casserole as this is my FAVORITE thing to eat at Thanksgiving. 🙂
Thanks! Hope you enjoy them and Happy Thanksgiving
This looks excellent! Could you cook the sweet potatoes in a crock pot first rather than on the stove?
Thanks! I have not tired to cook them that way but I don’t see why not. Hope you enjoy and thanks for stopping by
Gimme all the sweet potatoes!
I know they are so good!
I could eat sweet potato casserole all day long! and it is sneaky skinny- score!
sneaky skinny is the best!
We do the typical Thanksgiving sides usually, but I always like to add some sautéed asparagus or green beans to add a little freshness because Thanksgiving food can get so heavy.
I agree I love the veggies on Thanksgiving
I associate sweet potato casserole with Christmas–it is a Southern Staple!
Interesting I did not know that!
I’m not hosting either Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner this year, but if I were I wouldn’t hesitate to add this to my menu. It looks absolutely delicious!
Thanks so much! Good for you for not hosting it’s a ton of work
This past year, I discovered the magic of “real” sweet potatoes. I hate the canned ones (so I’ve never made those for Thanksgiving). But with real sweet potatoes? I might have to give that a whirl 😉 I usually just microwave them, then mash them . I think baking them would give them a little better texture, though.
Look how your cooking has really evolved this year!! 🙂
I must say, I’m not a huge sweet potato fan! I am a fan of the healthier version of this recipe however. Healthier but still delicious is the way to go!
Well thanks so much!
Well I’ve found my side dish I’m taking to our family Thanksgiving!!!!! Thank ya!
Ah thanks so much hope you all enjoy it!
This looks amazing! I’m still working on our menu. It’s a little tricky making it decadent, but keeping it mostly Paleo.
It’s tricky over here too with a few vegetarians and a few carnivores.Good luck to both of us
This looks and sounds delicious! I love everything sweet potatoes, and so does my husband. I make sweet potato biscuits every Thanksgiving. It’s a tradition from where I grew up.
Well those sounds delicious too!
YESSSS!!! I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year (my first ever!), and this may just make the menu!
Oh how fun for you! New house and hosting Thanksgiving?!
I am a SUCKER for marshmallows. Give me 10 please. haha
I love the gooey marshmallows too
if i had to do thanksgiving, i’d probably have a mix of healthy + little indulgent sides.
That’s the way to go!
When I cut out sugar for an extended period of time, I really started to appreciate the natural sweetness of a sweet potato. Love this recipe idea!
Thanks so much! I also try to cut the sugar out of my foods (mostly so I can eat chocolate lol)
I can’t get over how pretty this looks! I bet it tastes even better
OH that’s so kind thank you!
This looks perfect for Thanksgiving!
I can’t believe it’s next week!
This looks so good, I’ll be over any time you put this on the table! Love my sweet potatoes!
yes how great would it be if we could actually cook and eat together?! You might have to come for a visit to DC
Fantastic way to healthy up this recipe.
We actually just discussed our Turkey Day menu and we are knocking out all potatoes this year. Not that we don’t love them – it’s just that we have them often enough that it fills up stomach space. I’d rather have more room for some fresh cranberry sauce and roasted veggies. And stuffing. Stuffing is my favorite.
I just can’t decide what to make I have so many ideas and as you say not enough stomach space!
Since it’s in my control, I definitely try to healthify the menu. Unfortunately my family only likes lots of fat and sugar, but oh well!
I am still working on my menu too, but I am at least beginning to narrow it down. I think I know which desserts I’m going to make, I test drove a salad I really liked the other day, gonna try to do a little baking today.
I haven’t yet decided whether or not sweet potatoes will make an appearance. Probably not, since there is stuffing too! And I plan to bake some muffins!
Well you sound very organized! I keep changing my mind on the sides every time I see a yummy post
OMG this looks too good for words! I can only imagine how good your kitchen smelt making this.
I love all the holiday food smells!
This is such an awesome sweet potato casserole! The pecans make it special!
They do! And the marshmallows 🙂
Wowza! That looks so good!
I have not figured out what I am cooking this year. Might just be the hubs and myself, or maybe some friends joining. Either way I def need to add this to the menu!
Aw thanks so much! I still have to narrow down my recipe too!
Sounds and looks delicious! Sweet potatoes are one of my favorites!
Mine too! Happy Thanksgiving in advance
As much as I love sweet potato I can’t believe I’ve never tried a sweet potato casserole.
Really?! We must change that immediately 🙂
Great twist on a classic! We’re not huge fans of sweet potatoes in our house but this sounds good to me!
Thanks so much friend!
I love sweet potatoe casserole and this one looks great! I love that it is healthier than the old fashioned version!
Thanks so much! Hope you give it a try sometime
Oh my, sounds delicious! Can I come over for dinner?
Now that would be fun!
Marshmallows on casserole? This is something I’ve never had before, but I am definitely game to try. What a great sounding dish!
I think I have my menu nailed down, fortunately I’ve been invited out, so I only have to make a couple of side and a dessert – but maybe I should add this in as well!
WEll I think so!! Hope you enjoy