Sweet Potato Spaghetti Casserole {Grain Free, Lower Carb}

Healthy sweet potato spaghetti casserole! Lighten up a classic comfort food dish with this grain free spaghetti casserole; made from spiralized sweet potatoes! Pack it full of protein and veggies and you’ve got yourself a simple wholesome gluten free meal in no time! Plus it’s amazingly delicious, of course!

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, hearty food is a 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 meat and cheese. 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.

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, but still healthy, SWEET POTATO SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE.

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. And of course, you can always just use gluten-free noodles. Spaghetti casserole, three ways.

Just spiralize a veggie….

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

Make sure you have a binder. I used non dairy cream, cream cheese, and egg. Don’t worry, I gave non dairy options too!

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 the sauce is my favorite part.

Cotter Crunch

Yields 5

Sweet Potato Spaghetti Casserole {Grain Free}

15 minPrep Time

30 minCook Time

45 minTotal Time

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Ingredients

2 peeled sweet potato (4.5 cups spiralized)
2 oz cream cheese (see notes for non dairy option)
2/3 cup almond or coconut milk
1 egg
1 egg white
1 tbsp 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 pimento (I used a jar)
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2/3 cup cooked sausage
1 cup spinach leaves
5 oz feta or cheese of choice (see notes for non dairy option)
4-5 basil leaves for topping
optional black pepper seasoning on top

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F
Peel your sweet potatoes then spiralize them. Comes out to about 4.5 cups.
Place sweet potato noodles in a bowl and steam in microwave for about 1 minutes.
THen add 1 tbsp oil and your garlic, onion salt. Toss so that the noodles are lightly coated.
In another bowl, mix your cream cheese, eggs, and milk.
Lightly coat a casserole dish with oil or coconut spray. Then layer your ingredients.
First add noodles, then chicken sausage, then spinach.
Next add your cream cheese/egg mix.
last add your tomato sauce and feta.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. Check noodles if you can.
Top with basil and black pepper and any additional sea salt or garlic if you desire.

Recipe Type: casserole

Notes

If you cannot eat feta/cheese, then add 1/4 to 1/3 cup nutritional yeast instead.

Instead of cream cheese you can use non dairy butter, cashew cheess, or non dairy cream cheese but consistency might be a little different.

http://www.cottercrunch.com/sweet-potato-spaghetti-casserole-grain-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

Want more gluten free noodle dish ideas? Here ya go!

Rice noodle salad