A delicious Sweet Potato Casserole for One topped with a brown sugar Bacon Pecan Streusel. This easy sweet and savory mini sweet potato casserole is made in a ramekin and is great for a single serve or small batch Thanksgiving dessert.
Jump to RecipeSolo Quarantine Thanksgiving recipe here!
Well I’m going to be “celebrating” Thanksgiving alone at home, so this is the first of all the small batch recipes that are going to be happening.
In all honesty though, this combination of sweet, salty and crunchy was so good I immediately regretted having made just the one batch.
Recipe development is such a risky game. You “experiment” with small quantities and then wish you’d made more, or go for the big batch and end up wasting ingredients when it fails.
Ingredients for Sweet Potato Casserole for One
wiwhole grain rolled oats, whole wheat flour and sugar-free brown sugar replacement. The other ingredients are super simple too and just pantry staples:
For the Mini Sweet Potato Casserole Filling
This easy and healthy recipe is made with almond milk to add the creaminess to the filling, and has no butter like the usual ones.
- Mashed Sweet Potato! I used the fresh version and baked it in the oven, but you can also used canned yams for this this sweet potato casserole
- Almond Milk to keep this ramekin “casserole” dairy free, but you can use any other milk too if you don’t have the non-dairy requirement
- Maple Syrup: Use a stevia or monk fruit sweetened syrup for a sugar free recipe
- Pure Vanilla Extract
- Cinnamon for the warmth and coziness
- A pinch of Nutmeg
And for the Brown Sugar, Bacon and Pecan Streusel
The bacon pecan streusel topping for this single serve sweet potato casserole is also made with healthier ingredients like almond flour and not normal flour, making it a great gluten free recipe.
- Low Sodium Bacon
- Chopped Pecans for some extra crunch
- 1:1 Sugar-free Brown Sugar Substitute for a healthy brown sugar bacon pecan crumble, with no added sugar. I used the one from Swerve, but regular brown sugar would be the alternative.
- Almond Flour got a gluten-free and Paleo topping
- Melted Butter or Coconut Oil for the Paleo option
How to make Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole in a Ramekin
Since this is a single serving sweet potato casserole recipe, it’s even easier – if not just as easy – as a regular version.
- Start with preheating your oven to 400°F.
Now cook your bacon:
- Place a skillet over medium heat, and put the bacon on the cold skillet and let it fry for about 8 or 10 minutes depending till it’s crispy.
Set the bacon aside on a plate lined with paper towel. Chop it up later.
- Whisk together all the single serve casserole recipe ingredients in a bowl with an electric hand mixer: mashed sweet potato, almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Transfer the mix to a lightly greased ramekin.
- In another bowl, make the brown sugar bacon pecan streusel topping: whisk the chopped bacon, pecans, almond flour and brown sugar.
Then add in the melted butter or coconut oil and mix.
- Sprinkle the topping on the casserole
- Bake for about 25 minutes.
I’d say let it cool a bit first, and then go indulge.
I love this sweet and savory sweet potato recipe as is, but you can add on some vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if that’’s your thing!
Tips for the best Sweet & Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
- Use a cold skillet to fry the bacon
Adding it onto a hot skillet might make it spurt as soon as you place it on.
- Get that electric hand mixer!
You could try mashing the sweet potato with a fork and then mixing in the other ingredients, but the casserole filling won’t be as smooth this way.
- Make sure to use melted butter – or coconut oil
You want the bacon and pecan crumble topping ingredients to get evenly mixed with the almond flour.
Alternatives for Sweet Potato Casserole with Bacon and Pecans
A small batch sweet potato casserole for two
Double up the quantity, use two ramekins instead of one – perfect for an intimate Thanksgiving or Fall date night!
Bourbon and Sweet Potato Casserole?
Go for a slightly boozy option and pour in a splash of bourbon in the mashed sweet potato mixture.
Switch up the brown sugar bacon pecan topping
Some other great options for the topping would be to use some walnuts instead of the pecans, or even almonds!
You could also replace the almond flour with rolled oats, or the melted butter with coconut oil.
Marshmallows?
If you’re not too concerned about the sugar-free part of this recipe, feel free to use a marshmallows on top to make it more like a classic sweet potato casserole.
How to store and reheat single serve sweet potato casserole
I know this is a singe serve, and will likely be gone in one sitting, but just I would highly recommend making a few a time because if you’re like me, you’re going to want more the next day.
For make ahead or leftovers, store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Meal prep dessert I’d say!
To reheat, microwave the casserole for about 45 seconds or a minute depending on the power.
For longer-term storage, this mini recipe is freezer friendly too – you can freeze it for 2-3 months in freezer-safe containers. Thaw it in the fridge, and then reheat in the microwave.
Some more Easy Sweet Potato Desserts to make this Fall:
- Sweet Potato Pie Baked Oatmeal
- Fudgy Sweet Potato Turtle Blondies
- Crispy Sweet Potato Protein Waffles
- Sweet Potato Protein Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips
Sweet Potato Casserole for One with Bacon Pecan Streusel
Ingredients
Filling:
- ½ cup Mashed Sweet Potato, 140g, from about ½ large, See notes to prep
- 1½ Tbsp Almond Milk
- 1 tsp Maple Syup, Sugar free recommended
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
- ⅛ tsp Cinnamon
- Pinch of Nutmeg, 1/16 tsp
Topping:
- ½ strip Bacon, Reduced Sodium
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Pecans, 7g
- 2 tsp Almond Flour, or other
- 1 tsp 1:1 Sugar-free Brown Sugar Substitute, or brown sugar
- ½ tsp Melted Butter or Coconut Oil, 5g
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a 1-cup (8oz) ramekin or oven-safe dish with cooking spray.
- Place bacon on cold skillet or nonstick pan, heat to medium and fry for about 8-10 minutes until both sides are crispy.
- Transfer to plate lined with paper towel and press. Let cool and chop into pieces. Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine mashed sweet potato, almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Use an electric hand mixer to beat until smooth.
- Transfer to ramekin or small baking dish.
- In another bowl, mix chopped bacon, pecans, almond flour and brown sugar substitute.
- And melted butter and use a fork to form heavy crumbs.
- Evenly sprinkle topping on top of sweet potato.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until top is slightly golden brown.
Notes
- Use Garnet or Jewel sweet potatoes. They are orange-reddish on the outside, and mildly sweet.
- To make mashed sweet potato:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Wash and scrub sweet potato and piece all over with a fork about 10 times.
- Bake for about 35-45 minutes.
- Gently squeeze with an oven mitt to test if cooked. Return to oven at 10 minute intervals if firm.
- Fridge: 3-4 days in an airtight glass container. Reheat in microwave for 20-30 seconds until warmed through.
- Freezer: 3-4 months wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving. Reheat in the microwave as above.
- Servings: 1 cup, 8oz | Serving size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250kcal
- Fat: 10.7g | Saturated fat: 2.5g
- Carbohydrates: 35.5g | Fiber: 6.8g | Sugar: 9.9g
- Protein: 5.6g
[…] Sweet Potato Casserole for One with Bacon Pecan Streusel […]