Sweet and warm Paleo sweet potato casserole topped with a cinnamon pecan streusel! Naturally vegan, dairy free, and gluten free, yet tastes just like the classic dish!

paleo vegan sweet potato casserole

One of my favorite dishes that I look forward to every year is sweet potato casserole, and this paleo version is the one I’ll bringing to the table this year!

Now traditionally, my family makes our sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans…sort of like what I did here in this vegan sweet potato casserole. It’s surprisingly easy, deliciously sweet, and absolutely comforting during this time of year.

Me being me, I really wanted those that may need to follow the Paleo diet, or have other dietary restrictions, to be able to have and enjoy this dish as well!

close up of cinnamon streusel

So I decided to top my Paleo sweet potato casserole with a Paleo vegan cinnamon pecan streusel.

Let me tell you, this sweet potato casserole will have your relatives knocking down your door for the recipe, sooooo if you weren’t looking to have a conversation will your great Aunt, maybe don’t make this recipe.

But if you want to be the star of Thanksgiving, well then, this recipe is all yours 😉

scooped out sweet potato casserole

How to make Paleo sweet potato casserole

Making this casserole is truly a breeze, so if you’re stressed about Thanksgiving, not to worry. This sweet potato casserole recipe will help you through!

Should I steam or bake my sweet potatoes for sweet potato casserole?

Oven baked whole sweet potatoes is always the way to go. The juices really become so caramelized and sweet, the flesh is super soft (perfect for mashing), and the skin just slips right off.

Making the Paleo vegan sweet potato casserole filling

Now a few people opt for placing everything into a food processor, and you know I love my food processor. But quite frankly, I just think that you then over puree the sweet potatoes, which takes away from the texture and enjoyment of the dish!

Mash all of the ingredients together in a large bowl with a potato masher or a hand mixer handle (if you’re like me and you’ve completely misplaced yours lol). Then you’re onto the streusel!

close up of sweet potato mash

Here’s a close up of that filling underneath the vegan sweet potato casserole with marshmallows!

How to make a cinnamon pecan streusel

Another easy part of this dish is making the cinnamon pecan streusel. It’s naturally Paleo, vegan, and dairy free, which is cool if there are any intolerances in the family!

If you’re nut-free as well, swap in seeds in place of pecans or just omit all together!

To make the cinnamon streusel:

  1. Whisk together the flour and cinnamon in a bowl.
  2. Pour in the melted coconut oil and maple syrup.
  3. Sprinkle the pecans over the sweet potato filling, then sprinkle the cinnamon streusel on top.
  4. Bake!

That’s it! Easy right?

plate of sweet potato casserole

Can I prep sweet potato casserole ahead of time?

So let’s talk about prep for Thanksgiving. When are you going to make a paleo sweet potato casserole?

Well, one way is to prep the sweet potatoes the night before (that way you build some resistant starch into them by cooking then cooling them, which will actually aid in digestion!), then making the dish an hour ahead of dinner (that’s literally the whole prep and cook time).

Or you could prepare the dish the night before, cover, and then bake it 45 minutes prior to serving!

plates of sweet potato casserole

I hope you love this Paleo sweet potato casserole as much as I do! Truly one of my favorite dishes when it comes to Thanksgiving 🙂 And this version, everyone and anyone can eat!

If you make this recipe, let me know down below in the comments section! As always, I love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so make sure to tag me there!

Also, I have a whole YouTube video on how to make a sweet potato casserole, if you’re interested in checking it out! Highly recommend 🙂

Happy baking!

Want to save this recipe for later? Add it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest!

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paleo vegan sweet potato casserole

Paleo Sweet Potato Casserole

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  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 60 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
  • Category: dinner, Side Dish
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Sweet and warm Paleo sweet potato casserole topped with a cinnamon pecan streusel! Naturally vegan, dairy free, and gluten free, yet tastes just like the classic dish!

Ingredients

Scale

Sweet Potato Base

  • 2 extra large sweet potatoes (or 4 medium) (baked then cooled, skin removed)
  • 1/3 cup coconut milk
  • 2 tbsp arrowroot power
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract or powder

Paleo Streusel Topping

  • 3/4 cup cassava flour 
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil (melted)
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400F.
  2. In a large bowl, mash sweet potatoes.
  3. Add in all base layer ingredients to the sweet potato and stir thoroughly.
  4. Pour ingredients into a 12×9 or 9×9 baking dish and set aside.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together cassava flour, cinnamon, and sea salt.
  6. Pour in coconut oil and maple syrup, and stir thoroughly.
  7. Crumble streusel on top of the sweet potato base layer.
  8. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top of the streusel layer.
  9. Bake for 40 minutes, or until streusel lightly browns.
  10. Serve warm.
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