Cotter Crunch

Healthy Gluten Free Recipes One Bite at a Time!

Spiralized Sweet Potato Spaghetti Casserole

124 Comments

Jump to RecipePrint RecipeRate Recipe

Healthy Spiralized Sweet Potato Spaghetti Casserole! Lighten up a classic home cooked comfort food dish with spiralized sweet potatoes! A simple wholesome gluten free/grain free spaghetti casserole ready in no time. Protein rich and veggie packed.  

Spiralized sweet potato spaghetti casserole! An easy to make spaghetti casserole dish made with spiralized sweet potatoes! Grain Free, gluten free, Healthy!

Just letting you know thisSweet Potato Spaghetti Casserole recipe was originally published in 2015. I retested, rephotographed, updated content. Now I am republishing it for you today! I hope you enjoy. Thank you for following Cotter Crunch Y’all!.

I think I mentioned this before, but did you know that I grew up in a house full of boys? Yes, I have 3 older brothers, no sisters. I’ve been surrounded by boys on my life.  In fact I married a man who only has a brother. That being said,  Healthy yet Hearty Recipes are big deal and a must. And casseroles are a necessity!

One of our favorite hearty comfort foods growing up was spaghetti casserole. Although, being the youngest and only girl, if I didn’t get a piece of this casserole at dinner, I wouldn’t get any at all later. Brothers don’t share food.  Especially food with meaty cheesy goodness.  I remember each time my mom would make this spaghetti casserole, I’d stand waiting in the kitchen, praying that I’d beat my brothers for the first piece. Did I mention that my brothers like carbs, and cheese, and meat? So you can imagine the “pieces” they would take. Not a small square, but rather a whole plate full. Veggies? Ya, those did not exist on their plates.

Spiralized sweet potato spaghetti casserole! An easy to make spaghetti casserole dish made with spiralized sweet potatoes! Grain Free, gluten free, Healthy!

The funny thing is, when I asked my mom what was actually in it years later, I was shocked. Sure, it was simple ingredients but also pretty unhealthy. Doesn’t that always happen? Realizing a favorite childhood meal is really not so homemade or healthy. Haha! Heck, my husband’s favorite childhood meal was spaghetti or beans on toast. That’s a thing in New Zealand, carbs on carbs. Needless to say, we all have our favorites and our taste buds have their memories.

Over the next few weeks I’m going to try to take some of our favorite childhood comfort foods and give them a little grain free or gluten-free makeover. For me, it’s the best of both worlds. Being able to relive some of our homemade comfort foods but also being able to recreate and share with others healthier gluten-free options. Plus it doesn’t hurt that these recipes can hide extra veggies in the dish. We all know we need extra veggies during the winter anyways.

Speaking of, today’s recipe. Let’s get to it!  Hearty, yet healthy, SPIRALIZED SWEET POTATO SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE.

Spiralized sweet potato spaghetti casserole! An easy to make spaghetti casserole dish made with spiralized sweet potatoes! Grain Free, gluten free, Healthy!

What I like about this dishes that you can make it in a variety of ways. You can make it more starchy with spiralized sweet potato noodles, or you can make it lighter with squash or zucchini (Zoodles). And of course, you can always just use gluten-free noodles. Spaghetti casserole, three ways.

Just spiralize a veggie….

Spiralized sweet potato spaghetti casserole! An easy to make spaghetti casserole dish made with spiralized sweet potatoes! Grain Free, gluten free, Healthy!

Add your favorite mix-ins to give it more bulk, and flavor. Chicken sausage, olives or pimentos, basil, etc.

Make sure you have a binder. I used non dairy cream/milk, sour cream, and egg. But don’t worry, I also gave non dairy options!

Then all you do next is bake! You can even make it vegetarian friendly. But I will admit, the chicken sausage is probably my favorite part.

OK I lied, twirling the noodles in a bowl my favorite.

 P.S This what the spaghetti casserole (vegetarian version with pesto) looks like before you add eggs and bake it. So basically you are totally allowed to eat it as a “deconstructed” casserole. Haha!

Print
serving spoon in a kale pesto sweet potato spaghetti casserole

Spiralized Sweet Potato Spaghetti Casserole

★★★★★

4.1 from 22 reviews
  • Author: Lindsay Cotter
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Lighten up a classic home cooked comfort food dish with spiralized sweet potatoes! A simple wholesome gluten free/grain free spaghetti casserole ready in no time. Protein rich and veggie packed.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 peeled sweet potato (4.5 cups spiralized)
  • 2 oz cream cheese or 1/4 to 1/3 cup sour cream (see notes for non dairy option)
  • 1/2 to 2/3 cup almond or coconut milk (drinking milk works great).
  • 1 egg and 2 egg whites whisked
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp garlic (minced)
  • 1/4 tsp onion salt or sea salt (dash of garlic/salt for after baking as well)
  • 2 oz diced olives or pimentos (drained if using canned)
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce
  • 2/3 cup cooked sliced gluten free sausage (chicken sausage, chickpeas, or any gluten free breakfast sausage all work)
  • 1 cup greens (spinach or kale)
  • 5 oz crumbled cheese – Parmesan or Feta work great. (see notes for non dairy option)
  • 4–5 basil leaves for topping
  • optional black pepper seasoning on top
  • Optional 2 –3 tbsp pesto mixed with spaghetti noodles before baking

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. Peel your sweet potatoes then spiralize them. Comes out to about 4.5 cups.
  3. Place sweet potato noodles in a bowl and steam in microwave for about 1 minutes or on stove top for 5 minutes, until potato noodles are al dente.
  4. Then add 1 tbsp oil and your garlic, onion salt. Toss so that the noodles are lightly coated. To make more flavorful, feel free to toss the cooked sweet potato spaghetti noodles in a pesto before placing in casserole dish.
  5. In another bowl, mix your sour cream (or cream cheese), whisked eggs, and milk.
  6. Lightly coat a casserole dish with oil or coconut spray.
  7. Layer your ingredients. starting with noodles, then chicken sausage, olives or pimentos, then spinach or kale greens.
  8. Next add your cream cheese/egg mixture. then add tomato sauce and crumbled cheese (parmesan or feta work great).
  9. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. Check noodles for tenderness if you can.
  10. Optional: Top with fresh basil, black pepper and any additional sea salt or garlic.

Notes

DAIRY FREE RECIPE NOTES

  • For Dairy Free: If you cannot eat feta/cheese, then add 1/4 to 1/3 cup nutritional yeast instead.
  • Instead of cream cheese or sour cream, you can use a non dairy yogurt or cream cheese but consistency might be a little different.

TO MAKE MEATLESS:

  • Feel free to replace the sausage with 1 cup cooked chickpeas for meatless option

Nutrition shown below for casserole with lean chicken sausage

  • Category: main, dinner
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 249
  • Sugar: 3.1g
  • Sodium: 678.5mg
  • Fat: 14.8g
  • Saturated Fat: 6.7g
  • Carbohydrates: 14.1g
  • Fiber: 2.5g
  • Protein: 15g
  • Cholesterol: 61.7mg

Keywords: spaghetti casserole, spiralized sweet potatoes, sweet potato noodles, healthy pasta, kid friendly, gluten free

This dish would be great for a family dinner, potluck, or even a brunch. It’s also makes for a great recovery meal with the balance of healthy gluten free starches, proteins, and fat. Hearty eater’s won’t even know that the main carb in this dish is a vegetable.  Which makes it more fun to serve and watch the expression on their face. Come on, you know you love tricking people into healthy eating.

Spiralized sweet potato spaghetti casserole! An easy to make spaghetti casserole dish made with spiralized sweet potatoes! Grain Free, gluten free, Healthy!

 

Well, you know I’m going to ask…

Favorite childhood comfort food? Have you ever made a spiralized sweet potato casserole?

A Lightened up #homecooked dish!  Spiralized Sweet Potato Spaghetti Casserole. #grainfree

Click To Tweet

Cheers,

signature1

 

 

 

 

 

Healthy Spiralized Sweet Potato spaghetti casserole! Lighten up a classic comfort food casserole with spiralized sweet potatoes! A simple wholesome gluten free meal ready in no time. Protein rich and veggie packed. www.cottercrunch.com
Pin
Tweet
Share
Email
1K Shares

If you liked this post, you might like...

Irish Cream Gluten Free Banana Bread {Dairy Free}
Easy Beef Stew with 6 Ingredients
Chickpea Pancakes with Harissa Yogurt Sauce
QUICK Spiralized Apple Kimchi Salad with Beef

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Rate & Comment

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  2. YUM! I still haven’t done the spiraled sweet potato thing yet but it sounds delicious! I used to love when my mom made chili mac (noodles with spoonfuls of chili and ketchup-I swear it was better than it sounds!) and mac and cheese with tuna.

    Reply

  6. Holy crap this looks freaking amazing. I think I am ordering a spiralizer tonight.
    And I totally feel you on the “not-so-homemade” family food traditions. But I come from a family of 6 kids, so the parents fed us what we would eat and that was that! 😉

    Reply

  8. I love that you used sweet potato noodles. I have to get brave enough to try sweet potatoes in my spiralizer, because omg yum! I do look back on some of my favorite childhood food memories and yes, it makes me so sad to know how unhealthy they are. But my palate has changed and I would love to recreate them now a bit healthier. Oh mac and cheese where you at!!

    Reply

  9. I’m loving casseroles as the weather cools. Plus, since I spend all of my evenings going to and fro with the kids, it’s a perfect thing to prep in advance and pop in the oven later!

    Reply

  15. The casserole of my dreeeeeeams!! Gahh, I love this idea of sweet potato noodles all cozied up with sausage and cream cheese! Healthy comfort food at its finest right here!

    Reply

  16. This is such a good idea for a series I’m excited!
    That casserole looks so freaking good and I think it’s cool because it can be a blueprint for so many other casseroles (mexican noodle casserole, greek noodle casserole, asian noodle … you get it.)

    Fave Childhood Comfort Foods:
    PBJ
    My Mom’s spinach casserole.

    Still my faves.

    Reply

  19. Oh how did I not think of this?!? A year or two ago we got hooked on spiralized sweet potato noodles in pad thai or just with a cinnamon sage butter sauce but I haven’t made a “traditional” spaghetti. Makes sense, sweet potato chili is amazing!

    Reply

  25. First let me just say, I know I have issues- and the reason I say that is because I don’t like spaghetti – it makes me gag – it reminds me of eating worms – but Sweet Potato Spaghetti I am on board with! Now I need to get me a spiralizer – either that or I move next door to you 🙂

    Reply

  27. I love your idea to give comfort food classics a healthy makeover! I can’t wait to see what you come up with, because you sure are starting this series with a BANG! This sweet potato spaghetti casserole looks killer!! I love chicken sausage, so I’m sure that would be my favorite part too (and twirling the noodles!) This is fabulous! Pinned! Cheers, girlfriend! P.s. sorry you grew up with boys! I have a sister, so I always wanted brothers, but I didn’t really think about how they would have hogged the food! 😉 no bueno!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  29. Love how you “healthified” a comfort food casserole! My family would probably even love this one, since sweet potatoes are so darn good! 🙂

    Reply

  32. Those sweet potato noodles look dreamy! Beautiful shot.
    My fav comfort food growing up was so strange…a big pile of creamy mashed potatoes with creamed corn and sausage. I always requested this meal on my birthday as a wee one, ha!

    Reply

  37. Holy moly, I need this! Love everything about this dish. My mom used to make a spaghetti casserole too that I absolutely loved, but I am sure it was pretty unhealthy as well! Hah.

    Reply

  39. You know I’ve never made a spaghetti casserole – I don’t know why not!! I’ve been really using my Spiralizer lately – this is such a great idea. Gorgeous photos, too!! I just want to dive in! 😀

    Reply

    • I have one with different blades. for slices and all! It’s from a kitchen store here. It was so worth the extra $ too! The hand spiralizer doesn’t work very well. which one do you have?

      Reply

  45. I love sweet potatoes! I do have a spiralizer that I don’t get enough use out of so I want to try this!

    When you say “steam in the microwave”, do I need to add water to it?

    Reply

  48. Cheesy casseroles are DA BEST!!!!! I love them the more cheese you add. The cheese really brings all the ingredients together, and I bet the sweet potato noodles are an incredible base to it.

    Reply

  52. I wouldn’t consider consuming an entire head of a spaghetti squash by myself a crime….unless if I meant to purchase it for another person! Anyhow, I love these casseroles that use the good old spaghetti squash! Not being able to eat eggs, I probably will have to figure out a way to replace them, but I’m hoping that if I maintain enough thickness, everything should be good! Then again, I don’t mind it if the casserole falls apart as long as it’s tasty!

    Reply

  53. This looks yummy. I’m curious though….what do you do with the sausage? Slice it? Or remove the casing & crumble it?
    Thanks

    Reply

  56. This is really delicious! I’m new to a gluten & wheat free diet, so I was happy to find something that tasted very similar to a baked ziti since I am missing pasta. I chose the cream cheese route, used 2 whole eggs and milk instead, added a little mozzarella to the parmesan and broiled at the end. Will definitely make again and again, thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

freebie!

Nourishing Superfood Bowls Cookbook 5 Free Recipes Sneak PeekSign up & get 5 FREE RECIPES from my Nourishing Superfood Bowls Cookbook

1K Shares
Pin
Tweet
Share
Email