Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Casserole (Dairy-Free)

Whether you consider sweet potato casserole a dessert, a side dish, or both, it’s undeniably decadent, delicious, and everything you want in a single bite. A bed of creamy mashed sweet potatoes capped with a crunchy cinnamon pecan streusel topping, this is heaven in a casserole dish! You definitely want to make this for Thanksgiving. Gluten-free and dairy-free too, but if you don’t tell, no one would ever know!

Can You Believe Thanksgiving is Almost Here?

I open my Google calendar and glance at the monthly view.

November.

(Woah, how did we get here so fast?!).

We’re barely into November, but to say I feel like a McFlurry of polarized emotions mixed with colorful M&Ms and Oreo bits is an understatement.

It’s the special month – Juan’s birthday, my birthday, and then of course, the biggest holiday of the year: Thanksgiving.

I’m thrilled that we’ll be able to hug family and friends in person after a whole year of Zoom calls and Whatsapp voice messages. I’m ecstatic that we can actually sit down at the same table and catch up on all the IRL conversations we’ve missed out on this year. Hey, I’m even happy to stay up way later than my Cinderella bedtime because these gatherings are totally worth it.

What I’m terrified of is planning the dinner menu (yes, even with a food blog it still feels daunting).

Starters are usually easy – I’ve got my charcuterie board act all down pat, so I know I can whip that up easily. We can order in a Turkey (or someone else can make it), but what about a side dish?

I start making a mental list – crossing off each option that seems a little too difficult or time consuming, or that I’m not sure will work for everyone (even if they’re not on any special diet and can eat both gluten and dairy).

And then…the light bulb moment strikes me.

I’ll make sweet potato casserole, a no-fail option that can be easily made gluten-free and dairy-free and still taste like it should.

What is Sweet Potato Casserole?

The sweet potato casserole originated from the South of the United States, and it is basically a casserole that has a filling which includes cooked and mashed creamy sweet potatoes, milk, eggs, butter, vanilla and some kind of sweetener, and then topped with a crunch pecan streusel topping.

This classic side dish is almost always served at the holiday table during Thanksgiving day (and sometimes Christmas), and anytime you think of Thanksgiving, you can be assured that this casserole isn’t too far away.

Is Sweet Potato Casserole a Dessert or a Side Dish?

If it sounds decadent, it’s because it definitely is. Oozing with all the flavors associated with fall and thanksgiving, sweet potato casserole is a must-have holiday favorite at your Thanksgiving table.

The big question is: Is it a side dish or a dessert? That’s kind of debatable.

Due to the sweetness of the casserole and the ingredients used, which are very similar to the popular sweet potato pie dessert, a large number of people consider it a dessert (especially when it has a marshmallow topping), and serve it alongside pecan pie.

However, there are many who deem it a sweet side dish to be served alongside mains and other sides. There are also those who consider is a bit of both.

Whatever category you put it in, you definitely want to have it at your holiday dinner this Thanksgiving and holiday season.

A gluten-free and dairy-free version!

Since sweet potatoes are naturally sweet, and a typical recipe for this casserole tends to be loaded with ingredients such butter and milk, I wanted to create a gluten-free and dairy-free version that even Celiacs and those with gluten allergies and lactose intolerances can also enjoy. Because everyone should be able to join in and feast, right?

I used coconut oil in place of butter and almond milk instead of normal milk, but even with these two tweaks, you wouldn’t be able to tell that this recipe is both gluten-free and dairy-free! And hey, it tastes just like traditional sweet potato casserole, so if you don’t say anything, no one else at the table would know!

Why This Recipe Works:

• Simple Ingredients: Let’s face it, planning Thanksgiving dinner can be stressful enough, so a recipe with simple ingredients is more than welcome. And this one’s exactly that. You can easily get these ingredients at any grocery store (but you might already have them at home).

• Easy to Make: No complicated steps to make this perfect side dish. Just mixing, layering and baking. That’s it.

• Totally Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free: This healthy sweet potato casserole recipe is totally gluten-free and dairy-free, so even those on a gluten-free diet or have gluten or lactose intolerances can indulge without any worries. And, the best part is, even those without intolerances will love it, no questions asked.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required to make this gluten-free sweet potato casserole recipe.

(For exact measurements and quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Ingredient Notes/ Substitutions:

• Sugar: I used light brown sugar, but feel free to use normal white sugar, dark brown sugar, or even coconut sugar if you prefer. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I recommend that you use Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute with zero glycemic index and does not raise blood sugar).

• Coconut Oil: I prefer using refined coconut oil in my cooking and baking because it has a neutral taste, as opposed to extra virgin coconut oil (which has a strong coconut taste and smell). You can also use vegan butter in equal quantities. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use normal dairy butter in place of coconut oil.

• Almond Milk: I like to use my 5-minute homemade almond milk for this recipe, but feel free to use other non-dairy milks such as cashew milk, rice milk, soy milk, or coconut milk. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, go ahead of use normal dairy milk in equal quantities.

• Eggs: In this case, eggs are essential as a binder for the sweet potato filling, to help give it more form and texture without making it dense, so I wouldn’t recommend leaving it out. 

• Pecans: Pecans are traditionally used in the sweet potato casserole topping, but if you don’t like the taste of pecans, feel free to swap them out for walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds as you prefer.

• Cinnamon: The ground cinnamon really adds a beautiful fall flavor. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can also use pumpkin pie spice instead.

How to Make Sweet Potato Mash: 

To prepare the mashed sweet potatoes for this sweet potato casserole, you can either bake them in the oven or in the microwave. 

(1) In the oven: Prick the sweet potatoes with a fork all over, and then bake unpeeled sweet potatoes in the oven for 45 minutes at 425F until they are tender enough to be pierced easily with a fork. Slice sweet potatoes into half length-wise, and then scoop out the flesh and mash it with a fork or potato masher.

(2) In the microwave: Prick the sweet potatoes with a fork all over, and then cook the unpeeled sweet potatoes for approximately 5 minutes on high per medium potato (if you use 3 large sweet potatoes like I did, it’s approximately 15 minutes in the microwave). Slice sweet potatoes into half length-wise, and then scoop out the flesh and mash it with a fork or potato masher.

How to Make Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Casserole:

1. Preheat and Grease

Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish or baking dish. Arrange the rack to the middle position.

2. Prepare the Sweet Potato Filling

In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, melted coconut oil, eggs, almond milk, and vanilla together. Mix very well until everything is evenly distributed (you can use a hand mixer or electric beater).

3. Prepare the Pecan Topping

In a medium bowl, combine the chopped pecans, melted coconut oil, ground cinnamon, and sugar. Mix well until pecans are evenly coated with the oil, sugar and cinnamon.

4. Transfer Filling to Casserole Dish

Pour the sweet potato mixture into the previously greased casserole dish and spread it out evenly with a spatula.

5. Distribute Topping

Spoon the pecan crumble mixture evenly over the top of the sweet potato filling.

6. Bake

Bake sweet potato casserole for 35 minutes, tenting with aluminium foil during the last 10 minutes to prevent the pecans from burning.

7. Serve and Enjoy!

You can serve this favorite Thanksgiving side hot or warm, or if you have leftover the next day, serve it cold! You can enjoy serve this delicious sweet potato casserole for breakfast on Christmas morning!

Helpful Tips/Tricks:

• Swap Pecans for Other Nuts: If you prefer, you can either swap out the pecans for other nuts, or top with marshmellows instead.

• Prevent Topping from Burning: To prevent the pecan topping from burning, you can cover the casserole with aluminium foil (shiny side up) in the last 10 minutes of baking.

Recipe FAQs:

Other Thanksgiving Recipes:

• Easy Skillet Cornbread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Easy Cornbread Stuffing (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Jalapeño Cornbread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Crispy Hasselback Potatoes (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Lemon and Parmesan (Gluten-Free)
• Soft Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls (Dairy-Free)
• Easy Rosemary Cornbread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• Easy Cornbread Muffins (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• French Toast Casserole (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
• 23 Last Minute Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes

Favorite Recipes for the Holidays:

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

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