Our 21 Best Vegan Sweet Potato Recipes
Rich, earthy, savory, and sweet, vibrant-colored yams and sweet potatoes are a fall-time staple. And going vegan doesn't mean you have to miss out on holiday favorites, like sweet potato casserole or creamy whipped potatoes. Whether you're making them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, we've got you covered with 21 of our favorite ways to use them all up—no dairy included!
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich1/21Shingled Sweet Potatoes With Harissa
Harissa lends both a spiciness and an earthiness to this gorgeous sweet potato dish. With pistachios, sesame seeds, and fennel seeds as toppings, who needs marshmallows?
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog2/21
Roasted Sweet Potato and Delicata Squash With Cranberry Agrodolce
The sweet and sour cranberry sauce for this holiday-ready side does double duty: it looks stunning (and tastes great) drizzled over roasted delicata squash and sweet potatoes, but it’s also an excellent over whatever meat-free main course you choose. (If you're cooking for strict vegans, be sure to double-check that the sugar you're using qualifies.)
- Photo by Nicole Franzen3/21
Za'atar Sweet Potatoes and Garlicky Kale
These sweet potatoes are coated in sumac, thyme, and sesame seeds before roasting until they're perfectly crisp and tender. Topping them with sautéed garlic and kale makes them extra flavorful.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova4/21
Baked Sweet Potatoes
This simple preparation of sweet potatoes can become the base for lunches and weeknight meals. Cube and add to a soup or salad, or simply leave in halves and top with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton5/21
3-Ingredient Sweet Potato Casserole With Maple Pecans
Maple syrup pumps up the flavor of puréed sweet potatoes and provides a sweet glaze for extra-peppery candied pecans in this classic Thanksgiving side.
- Photo by Alexandra Shytsman6/21
Sweet Potato–Tahini Dip With Za'atar
The base of this dip—mostly sweet potatoes and tahini—is fresh and simple. Homemade za'atar (a Middle Eastern spice blend) really helps all the flavors stand out.
- Photo by Katie Newburn7/21
Purple Sweet Potato Soup With Salted Mushrooms
Blending antioxidant-rich purple sweet potatoes with coconut milk makes dish soup creamy, rich, and delicious. The roasted salty mushrooms make a great crispy topping—if you don't snack on them all straight out of the oven.
- 8/21
Sweet Potato Turnovers with Sweet Kraut
The turnovers are filled with candied whipped sweet potato, and the kraut garnish offers a nice bright note from the sweet Riesling. If you want to go all out, try serving them with a dollop of vegan sour cream whipped with a little sweetener and fresh orange zest.
- Photo by Peden + Munk9/21
Roasted and Marinated Root Vegetables
This technique is perfect when you’re cooking for friends and family because it takes way less time than roasting the vegetables whole—thirty to forty minutes tops—and they can be roasted ahead, which just means they spend more time hanging out in their tasty marinade in the fridge. Then they’re ready to be tossed back in the pan to be crisped up again—or not. They’re delicious at room temperature, or even served cold. It’s the kind of thing you want to have in your back pocket. (Note that you'll want to use a vegan sugar, not honey, for anyone avoiding animal products.)
- Photo by Katie Newburn10/21
Sweet Potato Julius
Traditional orange Julius gets an upgrade. It's a winning combination: light and refreshing with pops of citrus, yet dense and filling because of the sweet potato. Leave out the optional honey (or sub another sweetener) to keep it vegan.
- Photo by Tara Donne, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell11/21
Spiced Sweet Potato and Parsnip Tian
With apple cider, Aleppo pepper, and fresh thyme, this pretty dish offers a lighter take on your usual Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole. Swap the regular butter with a dairy-free variety to make it vegan.
- Catherine McCord12/21
Vegan Whipped Coconut Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are delicious on their own, but whipping them with coconut milk makes them creamy and fluffy. Add a touch of maple syrup to boost the sweetness, a hint of cinnamon for perfect autumnal flavor, and a sprinkle of shredded coconut for the ultimate Thanksgiving side dish.
- 13/21
Sweet Potato and Sage Pancakes
These wheat-free pancakes are sweetened with nothing but homemade, sugar-free applesauce—but a drizzle of maple syrup to serve certainly isn't a bad idea.
- 14/21
Thyme-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Soft and tender on this inside and crispy on the outside, this slightly spicy, herby side dish is both deeply satisfying and nutritious. The best part? Your oven will do all the work.
- Photo by Jon Edwards15/21
Maple Sweet Potato Bread
Who doesn't love the taste and color of sweet potatoes and yams? The fact that they're packed with vitamins and minerals is just an added bonus. This bread is sweet enough for dessert and savory enough for dinner.
- 16/21
Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, and Sage
You can never have too many potatoes at Thanksgiving—this holiday side showcases Yukon Gold potatoes, red-skinned sweet potatoes, and tan-skinned sweet potatoes all in one dish.
- William Abranowicz17/21
Spiced Sweet Potato and Roasted Broccoli Toasts
These little toasts get a smear of sweet potato, then earthy broccoli, crunchy pistachios, and bright fresh herbs. They're great for a party, since you can cook the vegetables early in the day.
- Photo by Stephen Hamilton18/21
Roasted Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup
There are some flavors that beg to be paired—sweet potatoes and ginger are in that category. This smooth, puréed soup is rich and comforting, ideal for fall evenings.
- John Kernick19/21
Roasted Sweet-Potato Rounds with Garlic Oil and Fried Sage
Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet enough when caramelized in the oven. Here, we skip the brown sugar and "savorize" them with garlic oil instead. Sage leaves—too potent and fuzzy to eat fresh but mellow when fried—serve as a lovely garnish for this autumnal side dish. For vegan eaters, leave off the goat cheese, which is optional anyway.
- Jonathan Lovekin20/21
Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Fresh Figs
This unusual combination of fresh fruit and roasted, caramelized vegetables is sure to be a fan favorite. The balsamic reduction makes the dish even prettier.
- Joanne Murphy21/21
Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup
Coconut milk makes a fantastic creamy base for all the other robust flavors in this slightly spicy soup. Choose firm sweet potatoes with orange flesh for their vibrant color.
Joe Sevier
Joe Sevier
Joe Sevier
Joe Sevier