Healthy Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole is a handy Thanksgiving side when the oven is already packed.
The sweet potatoes cook right in the slow cooker until they’re soft enough to mash, so there’s no boiling or draining to deal with.
Applesauce keeps the filling moist and adds some sweetness without making the casserole overly sugary.
Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla give it that familiar holiday flavor, and the pecan oat topping adds a little crunch.
This is also an easy one to keep warm while the rest of dinner finishes. Once it’s done, switch the slow cooker to WARM and leave it there until everyone is ready to eat.
It works well with turkey, ham, stuffing, green beans, and the usual Thanksgiving favorites. And since it doesn’t need any oven space, that’s one less dish competing for room on a busy holiday.
Why You’ll Love This Healthy Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Keeps the Oven Free
Thanksgiving oven space disappears fast. Cooking the entire casserole in the slow cooker leaves room for turkey, rolls, stuffing, or another baked side.
Sweet Without Going Overboard
There’s brown sugar but applesauce is part of the sweetness and keeps the mashed sweet potatoes moist. It has the familiar holiday flavor without relying on a marshmallow topping.
A Little Crunch on Top
Pecans and rolled oats give the soft sweet potato filling some texture. The topping stays simple and doesn’t require a separate baking step.
Easy to Keep Warm
The slow cooker makes serving easier when dinner timing shifts. Once the casserole is finished, switch the slow cooker to WARM until it’s time to eat.
Ingredient Substitutions
Milk
Unsweetened almond milk or another plain, unsweetened milk can replace the low-fat milk.
Pecans
Chopped walnuts can be used instead of pecans. The flavor will be slightly different, but they provide a similar crunch.
Brown Sugar
Light brown sugar works best for the classic flavor, but dark brown sugar can be substituted for a stronger molasses taste.
Old-Fashioned Oats
Quick oats can work in the topping if that’s what is available. The topping will have a slightly finer texture.
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Healthy Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Recipes are written with one action per step for accessibility. Short lines. Fewer rereads. A calmer kitchen on mobile or desktop.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup low-fat milk
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoon old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
- nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Coat the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the sweet potatoes in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are very tender.
- Mash the sweet potatoes directly in the slow cooker until mostly smooth.
- Add the applesauce, ⅓ cup brown sugar, milk, 2 tablespoons melted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir until evenly blended.
- Stir the pecans, oats, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon melted butter together in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle the pecan topping evenly over the sweet potatoes.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the topping is warm.
- Serve warm.
Notes
Tips and Tricks
Cut evenly – Keep the sweet potato cubes close to 1 inch so they soften at about the same rate. Check at three hours – Slow cookers vary quite a bit. Start checking the potatoes at the 3-hour mark so they don’t overcook unnecessarily. Adjust the texture – Mash less for a slightly chunky casserole or continue mashing for a smoother filling. Keep it warm – After the casserole is finished, use the WARM setting until serving time rather than continuing to cook it on HIGH.Storing and Reheating
Refrigerator – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Microwave – Reheat individual portions in the microwave until hot, stirring or rotating as needed. Oven – Cover the casserole and reheat at 350°F until warmed through. Remove the cover for the last few minutes if the topping needs to dry out slightly. Slow cooker – Larger portions can be reheated on LOW, stirring occasionally, until hot.Nutrition
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