Healthy Sweet Potato Gratin Recipe (2024)

by Lindsey Johnson
75 · · Updated · Post may contain affiliate links.

I'll be honest - I've never been a fan of marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes. I know, I'm probably in the minority with that sentiment, but hey, it's honest.

Instead, we like a more savory sweet potato gratin to accompany our Thanksgiving feast. This year I'm including this healthy sweet potato gratin on our menu.

Healthy Sweet Potato Gratin Recipe (1)

Healthy Sweet Potato Gratin Recipe

Typically gratins include loads of butter, cream and cheese. But this sweet potato gratin gives all other gratins a healthy makeover.

It still has cheese - just enough to be delicious. Leeks and fresh sage are added for extra flavor in place of butter and cream.

Healthy Sweet Potato Gratin Recipe (2)Leeks, if you haven't used them before, are in the onion family. They add a great onion flavor without being too overpowering.

A hint of fresh nutmeg adds another little something to the dish. The sweet potatoes are very thinly sliced and layered with the leeks. The flavors meld together as the gratin bakes.

Healthy Sweet Potato Gratin Recipe (3)This is really easy to make - it can also be made the day before and reheated. Another plus when you're busy doing other meal prep and don't want to worry about it.

What's your favorite way to enjoy sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving?

Healthy Sweet Potato Gratin Recipe (4)

📖 Recipe

Healthy Sweet Potato-Leek Gratin

A healthier version of a classic potato gratin made with leeks for extra flavor and topped with grated Parmesan.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time55 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course: side

Cuisine: American

Keyword: sweet potato

Servings: 8

Author: Lindsey Rose Johnson

Cost: $15

Equipment

  • Large bowl

  • Skillet

  • 8"x11" baking dish

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
  • 2 medium leeks white and tender green parts only, thinly sliced crosswise
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon finely minced fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and sliced ⅛-inch thick
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.

  • Place leeks in a very large bowl of water. Separate them into rings and swish around in water to loosen the dirt. Strain off the water and rinse briefly, then allow excess water to drain off. (A salad spinner works great for this.)

  • In a 10-inch skillet, heat 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add leeks. Cook, stirring frequently, until leeks start to soften. Add a little water, if needed, to prevent them from burning. Season with a little salt and pepper. Add the minced fresh sage, and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

  • Lightly oil the bottom and sides of an 8- by 11-inch baking dish. Arrange ½ of the sweet potato slices over the bottom of the baking dish. Season well with salt and pepper. Top with half of the leeks and sprinkle with a little freshly grated nutmeg. Repeat with remaining sweet potato slices and leeks, again seasoning well with salt and pepper, and a sprinkle of fresh nutmeg.

  • Cover the top of the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove from oven and uncover. Sprinkle cheese over the top. Raise the oven temperature to 450°F and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

This is really easy to make - it can also be made the day before and reheated. Another plus when you're busy doing other meal prep and don't want to worry about it.

Adapted from: Martha Stewart

Photos by Ana Stanciu

75

Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Audry says

    This is probably one of the best sweet potato recipes I have ever had. I will definitely be making this again! Thank you!!

    Reply

  2. Dsayko says

    If you were going to make this a day ahead, would you bake until before adding the cheese and do the cheese after you reheat the next day?

    Reply

    • Lindsey Johnson says

      You could do that, certainly. But it's also fine to make it all the way and reheat, or if you wanted, you could just prep it and bake the next day.

      Reply

  3. Jill Symes says

    Been looking for a recipe for using up sweet potatoes. Being from Wales I am used to leeks and put them in lots of things - fab in a quiche with cheese and bacon. Gonna try this tmro with the Sunday roast.

    Reply

  4. Rebecca L says

    My grocery store doesn't carry leeks. What would you suggest as a substitute - just slice a yellow onion?

    Reply

    • Lindsey Johnson says

      That would be fine! You could also sub green onions. Or you can just leave them out.

      Reply

  5. Nancy says

    My sister-in-law made the sweet potato gratin a couple of months ago and it was delish. I'm trying it today and Thanksgiving day.

    Reply

  6. Amy Anderson says

    I tried this tonight and it's AMAZING!! Thank you for this!

    Reply

  7. Eileen Wolf says

    I'm not a big fan either of marshmallow topped sweet potatoes dishes, so we're both in the minority. I feel like I'm eating a dessert rather than a side dish. I was asked to bring a sweet potato dish on Thursday, so I'm looking forward to trying this. Leeks are one of my favorites.

    Reply

  8. Katherine says

    My mouth is watering just looking at the pictures. I'm very excited to try this. Plus it's not expensive to make. Thanks for the idea.

    Reply

  9. Rebecca says

    Love this idea! These look so sophisticated. Pinning this!

    Reply

    • Lindsey Johnson says

      Thanks, Rebecca!

      Reply

Healthy Sweet Potato Gratin Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest way to eat sweet potatoes? ›

Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. Up to 92% of the nutrient can be retained by limiting the cook time, such as boiling in a pot with a tightly covered lid for 20 minutes.

What is a healthy alternative to butter on sweet potatoes? ›

For something smoky, tangy, and nicely salty, smear some plain Greek yogurt on your sweet potato, then layer with smoked fish, scallions, and briny capers. Roast whatever mushrooms you have until crispy. Thin some tahini, adding a little yogurt for creaminess. Or mix hummus and yogurt, and spread on your potato.

Which is healthier baked sweet potato or boiled sweet potato? ›

Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato. Boiling may theoretically be best, but sweet potatoes are so incredibly healthy that the actual best way to prepare them is whichever way will get you to eat the most of them!

Can diabetics eat potatoes au gratin? ›

Potatoes Au Gratin is a classic dish, and one you may remember eating at Granny's house. That's probably why it's one of our most requested Christmas side dish recipes. Those creamy, classic flavors are just unbeatable, and now they are fit for your diabetes diet, too!

Are sweet potatoes more fattening than regular potatoes? ›

Sweet potatoes contain more calories, carbohydrates and fat than regular boiled potato, but the regular potato had more protein. Perhaps unsurprisingly, boiled sweet potatoes contain more than 14 times the amount of sugar of regular boiled potatoes (11.6g compared to 0.8g per 100g).

Can I eat sweet potato everyday? ›

Sweet potatoes are full of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber to support your eye, digestive and heart health. They're generally safe to eat daily, especially if you eat them with calcium to prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones. There are so many fun and tasty ways to eat sweet potatoes.

What tastes like butter but is healthy? ›

"However, we need to step back and decide if there's something even better." Nut and seed butters, such as almond or sunflower, are naturally rich in heart-healthy fats and also contain fiber and protein, which are not found in butter substitutes. You can also try mashed avocado, hummus, or extra virgin olive oil.

What can replace butter in au gratin potatoes? ›

WHAT ARE BUTTER ALTERNATIVES FOR BAKING?
  1. MARGARINE. Margarine is a fat that is made mostly from vegetable oil that's flavored to taste like butter. ...
  2. SHORTENING. Shortening is 100% fat, made from hydrogenated vegetable oils. ...
  3. OLIVE OIL & VEGETABLE OIL. ...
  4. COCONUT OIL. ...
  5. PUMPKIN PURÉE. ...
  6. APPLESAUCE. ...
  7. GREEK YOGURT. ...
  8. BANANAS.

What can I use instead of butter in yams? ›

Butter in Most Delicious Candied Yams: We have made this recipe dairy free by using olive oil instead of butter.

Are yams healthier than sweet potatoes? ›

Although both veggies are very close in fiber, protein, vitamin C, and magnesium, sweet potatoes are the healthier option because they are lower in overall calories, lower in carbohydrates, and higher in beta carotene (vitamin A).

Is microwaving sweet potatoes healthy? ›

It's really the best way. Microwaving sweet potatoes cuts down cook time by 45 to 55 minutes, and, according to a 2018 study, helps maintain the potato's nutritional value. All cooking methods cause foods to lose some of their nutrients, but the quicker your potato cooks, the more nutrients it will retain.

Is a sweet potato a carb or protein? ›

Sweet potatoes are mainly composed of carbs. Most of the carbs come from starch, followed by fiber. This root vegetable is also relatively low in protein but still an important protein source in many developing countries.

What are the 5 worst foods for blood sugar? ›

10 Worst Foods for Your Blood Sugar
  • KETCHUP. ...
  • WHITE PASTA. ...
  • BAGELS. ...
  • ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS. ...
  • FRUIT JUICE. ...
  • ENERGY BARS. ...
  • LOW-FAT SWEETENED YOGURT. ...
  • SPORTS DRINKS AND ENERGY DRINKS. Energy drinks and sports drinks carry all the woes of fruit juice with the added no-no of more sugars.

What color potato is best for diabetics? ›

Sweet potatoes are one of the best types of potato for people with diabetes, as they are low-GI and contain more fiber than white potatoes. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of calcium and vitamin A. Carisma potatoes, a variety of white potato, are another lower-GI option.

Can diabetics eat bananas? ›

A person with diabetes can enjoy bananas in moderation as part of a balanced diet. The vitamin, mineral, and fiber content of bananas may even offer health benefits for people with diabetes, as long as an individual does not eat excessive portions.

Are sweet potatoes healthier cooked or raw? ›

Cooking methods like boiling or baking can cause some loss of water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins. Eating raw sweet potatoes can help preserve these nutrients. 2. Enzyme activity: Raw sweet potatoes contain enzymes that can aid in digestion.

Is it healthier to steam or bake sweet potatoes? ›

Steaming is also one of the best ways to keep sweet potatoes' nutrients intact; their naturally high vitamin, potassium, fiber, and beta-carotene content won't be burned off in a steamer basket. Both boiling and steaming also keeps the potatoes' glycemic index down, meaning less of a blood sugar spike for you.

What's the best way to eat sweet potatoes? ›

Top 10 Ways To Enjoy Sweet Potatoes
  1. Bake, Roast, or Steam 'em! Pick a cooking method and enjoy!
  2. Mash 'em! ...
  3. Top Your Salad. ...
  4. Sweet Potato Fries. ...
  5. Grill 'em! ...
  6. The New Potato Salad. ...
  7. Sweet Potato Pancakes! ...
  8. Add a Twist to Your Sandwiches. ...

Is it better to steam or bake sweet potato? ›

Steaming sweet potatoes preserves more of their nutrients and is a faster alternative than baking.

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