This Whole30 sweet potato casserole with pecans is a must for any Whole30 Thanksgiving table! With no sweeteners and a cinnamon pecan-date topping, you might end up eating the leftovers for breakfast (we did!). This Whole30 sweet potato casserole is naturally sweetened and just so delicious. A new Whole30 Thanksgiving classic!
Alright, serious question. One that defines who you are at your core, what matters to you, what makes your life worth living.
Burnt marshmallows on your sweet potato casserole or nah?
This might surprise you, but I’m totally anti-burnt marshmallows. I dig them, sure! But bagged puffs of corn syrup and tetrasodium don’t really sing to me. Fresh marshmallow cream brûléed? Now we’re talking. Hell yes.
But the marshmallows-or-nah debate has proved divisive in my family. First, we had vegans, so that was a no. Then we had a few too many “extra burnt” occasions. My mom ends up making half with, half without. So when I started hosting Thanksgiving years back, I came up with an idea to please everyone.
Sweet potato casserole bar.
Genius, right? Here’s my vision: plain sweet potato casserole, fortified with quality butter and a tiny bit of sweetener and salt, ready to be topped with homemade marshmallows, candied pecans, compound butter (with parsley, garlic, and shallots!), real maple syrup, fresh thyme, dried cranberries – you dream it up, and I’ll put it on the bar, my friend.
Now I just need to get around to doing it.
This year I wanted something different, though: a Whole30 sweet potato casserole with absolutely no sweeteners, finished off with a pretend praline topping. Pecans, ghee, cinnamon, and a bit of chopped dates for good Whole30-indulgence measure. It’s magical.
In fact, I made this Whole30 sweet potato casserole for my very-non-Whole30 best friend and mom for a little early Thanksgiving (life of the food blogger), and it was their favorite dish out of everything! Not sure how they could even top the magic that is my Whole30 green bean casserole, but hey! That just really says something about this Whole30 sweet potato casserole.
The banana and the eggs fortify the sweet potatoes and their texture, adding a bit of sweetness and firmness to the dish. You can leave out the dates in the praline topping if you wish, but I highly recommend putting them in there. Just be careful not to eat the whole bag while you’re cooking. That just might turn everything into a Whole30 disaster!
Because of the bananas, this dish is best made fresh; chilled overnight, it can get a little bit brown. Still tastes great, but the oxidation of the bananas kinda blocks the visual appeal.
To make this Whole30 sweet potato casserole, I used…
Whole30 Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan-Date Topping (Paleo)
Ingredients
Filling
- 3 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon Whole30-compliant vanilla powder optional
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 ripe banana mashed
- 1 spray spray coconut oil or other Whole30-compliant spray cooking oil
Topping
- 1/4 cup ghee
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch pumpkin spice
- 1/4 dates diced
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
Instructions
- Stir together all sweet potato casserole ingredients. In a small bowl, combine all pecan-date topping ingredients until well combined and coated.
- Spray 9x9" pan with cooking spray. Spoon sweet potato casserole into pan and spread topping evenly over surface. Bake at 350º F for 30 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She’s been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.
Averie Ball says
Can i use frozen banana for this? Also wondering about the vanilla extract?
Averie Ball says
I mean previously frozen banana of course… not frozwn at the time of mixing.
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
Sure! Also, vanilla extract would be delicious!
Sam says
What is the breakdown for this recipe (mash + topping)? All the ingredients are listed together so I don’t know which is just for the topping!
Amelia Camurati says
Edited to correct this. Thanks for the heads up, Sam!
Maggie says
Correct me if I’m wrong, but coconut sugar is still added sugar which is not allowed on Whole30. Can I make this without the coconut sugar?
Gladys says
If I omit using the eggs and banana in this recipe, would it still turn out similar in taste and texture?
Cheryl Malik says
It will be similar but not quite the same. It won’t be as sweet and the texture will be less firm but it should work!
Gina says
Can you double this recipe? I have a big family!
Cheryl Malik says
Absolutely!
Kelly Moss says
Hi! How many does this serve? Thanks so much!
Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says
At least four! 🙂
Amber says
Would it be okay to make this on Friday and re-heat on Sunday for Easter dinner? I will be traveling so Friday is the latest I will be able to make it
Cheryl Malik says
Yes!
Ryann says
Hi! we made this last year and it was a hit so I’m making it again this year. I was hoping to make it ahead (maybe the day before) and heat it the day of. Do you think this could work? Any suggestions? Thanks!
Amy says
I just went to go make this and realize I don’t have vanilla powder. I have vanilla extract- will that work even if it’s not necessarily whole 30? (I don’t mind if it’s not). If so, how much would you say? Thanks!
Lynette says
Are you able to leave out the banana? I sometimes have a sensitivity to bananas, but this seems to be the best recipe I found for this casserole.
Cheryl Malik says
Yes! You absolutely could. The banana gives it a bit of sweetness that you’ll otherwise miss, but I think it would be fine 🙂
Karly says
Okay, YUM! Whole 30 or not, this casserole looks phenomenal. Such a great, healthy addition to the holiday spread!
Cheryl Malik says
Thanks, Karly!! It definitely belongs on any Thanksgiving table in my opinion 🙂