A Sweet Potato Smoothie Bowl is a perfect way to start your day.
With a side of protein, it will keep you full and energized all morning.
It’s also Paleo, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, vegan, Whole30-friendly* and can be nut-free as well. Plus it’s not necessary to add any sweetener so they’re refined sugar-free as well.
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Sweet Potato Smoothie Bowl
It’s easy to make and, even better, easy to make ahead of time.
It requires only a few ingredients. You can customize it a million different ways.
And, best of all, it’s delicious. Thick, creamy and slightly sweet, plus all your favorite toppings in one bowl!
You really only need 2 ingredients: sweet potatoes and your choice of milk (I stick with unsweetened nut milks or coconut milk to keep it dairy free).
You’re just cooking sweet potatoes until they’re soft and then blending them with milk.
So easy your cat could do it! (It’s about time your cat started earning its keep.)
I prefer steaming the sweet potatoes in the microwave but you can steam them on the stove instead.
Even better, once you learn how to make them you won’t even need a recipe anymore. You just have to keep in mind the ratio: 2 parts sweet potato to 1 part milk.
For me and my American measurement-using brain, that means 2 cups of cubed, cooked sweet potatoes for 1 cup milk. That gives me the exact level of thickness I want.
You can play around with it to find your preferred level of consistency but I would start with this ratio and see what you think.
*Apologies. Even though this recipe is Whole30 compatible (if you use Whole30-friendly non-dairy milk), smoothies and smoothie bowls are discouraged during a Whole30. Not banned completely, but discouraged.
What you need for this Sweet Potato Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes
- 2 1/4 cups dairy-free milk of your choice
Equipment:
- a cutting board
- a chef’s knife
- a vegetable peeler
- a large, microwave-safe bowl (with either a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap)
- a colander
- a blender or food processor
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
How to make a Sweet Potato Smoothie Bowl
Peel the potatoes, trim off the ends and cut into a medium dice. You should end up with about 4.5 cups of diced sweet potatoes.
Add to a microwave-safe bowl and pour in 1/4 cup water.
Cover with a lid or plastic wrap but make sure there’s an opening for steam to escape.
Microwave until soft, stirring every 5 minutes (about 10 minutes total).
Drain and let cool completely (you can put them in the fridge to speed up the cooling process).
See recipe for alternative stovetop steaming method.
Using a blender or food processor, add about half the sweet potatoes, half the milk and half the salt.
Blend until smooth.
Add in any optional mix-ins (see below) and blend again.
If it’s too thick, keeping blending in water, a couple tablespoons at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
Pour into a bowl and continue with the remaining ingredients.
Depending on the size of your blender or food processor, you might need to add less than half of the ingredients.
Once done, refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until fully chilled.
Pour into bowls, add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
How to customize your sweet potato smoothie bowl
This is where it gets fun.
While I’m perfectly happy with a smoothie bowl made of just sweet potatoes and almond milk, there’s so much more you can do with them!
So I make enough of the base to eat all week and once I pour some into my bowl I stir in spices (cinnamon, ginger, etc.) and then add my toppings. Some ideas:
- Sweet potato pie spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice.
- Savory spices like turmeric and curry powder (yes, you can go a little more savory with these)
- Granola
- Nuts like almonds, cashews, pecans, pistachios, macadamias or hazelnuts
- Crunchy things like cacao nibs, hemp seeds or chia seeds
- Fresh fruit like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, sliced banana or chopped figs
- Toasted unsweetened coconut flakes or shredded coconut
Some of my favorite combinations include:
- Cinnamon and ginger with pecans and blueberries
- Turmeric and curry powder with pistachios and toasted unsweetened coconut
- Plain with granola, cacao nibs and sliced bananas
Extra ideas:
- If you want to bump up the sweetness and potassium, blend in 1-2 bananas with the sweet potatoes
- If you use collagen peptides, add that in when blending the sweet potatoes and milk
- Blend in your favorite protein powder to make it even more filling
Other smoothie and breakfast ideas:
- Sweet Potato Protein Smoothie
- Morning Glory Smoothie
- Chocolate Tahini Smoothie
- Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
- Vanilla Coconut Chia Pudding
- Matcha Chia Pudding
Sweet Potato Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes
- 2¼ cups dairy-free milk of your choice (almond, cashew, coconut, etc.)
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- water, if necessary
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes, trim off the ends and cut into a medium dice. You shouldend up with about 4.5 cups of diced sweet potatoes.
- Add to a microwave-safe bowl and pour in 1/4 cup water. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap but make sure there's an opening for steamto escape. Microwave until soft, stirring every 5 minutes (about 10 minutes total).
- Drain and let cool completely (you can put them in the fridge to speed upthe cooling process).
- Using a food processor or high-speed blender, add about half of the sweet potatoes, half of the milk and half of the salt. Blend until smooth. Add in any optional mix-ins (breaking apart the banana to add in later batches) and blend again. If it's too thick, keep water a couple tablespoons at a time until it reaches your desired consistency. Pour into a bowl or container and continue to blend in batches. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
- Pour into bowls and add any toppings, if using. Then dig in!
Notes
- mashed bananas
- spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, turmeric and/or curry powder
- protein powder (might have to add more liquid)
- collagen peptides (might have to add more liquid)
- granola
- nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, macadamias, pistachios, etc.)
- cacao nibs
- hemp seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
- toasted unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut
- fresh fruit like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, sliced bananas or chopped figs
Heather | Hug For Your Belly says
Yummmmm, saving to my Pinterest!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Awesome! Let me know if you make it. π
Jeff the Chef says
Wow! This is one of the most interesting posts I’ve come across in some time. I’m a big fan of hot breakfast, and I swear I could’ve lived and died and never thought to have sweet potato for breakfast, but now that you lay it out this way, I can’t believe I’ve never had it before! It sounds perfect!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Thanks! Also a fan of hot breakfasts over here, but sometimes I need to change it up. Plus since it’s ready to go I can get to the eating part faster. π
Megan Stevens says
Yummy and beautiful! Love the blueberry one and the chocolate with the bananas and nuts!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Sometimes I combine all those toppings on one bowl. π
Hope says
Such creative and delicious looking smoothie bowls. Im loving the sound of the spices that are added in. That bowl with blueberries on top is calling my name!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
It’s yours!
STACEY CRAWFORD says
Wow, I love it! Like a sweet potato pie in a bowl that you eat with a spoon.
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Exactly!
Carol Little R.H. @studiobotanica says
What a creative recipe! Packed with good nutrients and filling too.
I must try this.. Is there a reason that you steam instead of roasting in oven? That’s normally how I prepare sweet potatoes, so wondering…
TUVM!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Good question. I love roasting them, but between heating up the oven and then the roasting time, it takes much longer. I do sometimes cook them in my Instant Pot, but I’ve been making these bowls with steamed potatoes for so long that I knew how to create the measurements, the ratio, etc. I’ll probably get around to using roasted potatoes at some point and update the recipe.
Jennifer Fisher says
Well this is a great idea! I’m loving the looks especially of that one with coconut and pistachios on top, yummy-yummy
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Then I’ll save that one for you. π
Zuzana says
Smoothie bowl from sweet potatoes? What a great idea. You always come up with the best recipes.
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Aw, thanks! π
linda spiker says
What a fabulous fall breakfast. I never thought of putting sweet potatoes in a smoothie, but I LOVE them so why the heck not!?
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Exactly! One more way to enjoy them.
Joni Gomes says
Huge fan of sweet potatoes but have never thought to use them for a smoothie! Loved the addition of the collagen peptides!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Any way I can get my collagen, I do. π
Meredith says
I can’t believe it is this easy to make sweet potato smoothie bowls! These are definitely going to be on our regular breakfast rotation. Thank you!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Right? SO easy.
easyketodishes says
I am saving this smoothie bowl recipe for my paleo “cheat” days from keto. I love sweet potatoes, and I am so excited to try it in a new way!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Oh, cool! Good idea.
RecipesFromTheHomestead says
OH MY!! I love sweet potatoes! I need this smoothie bowl in my life!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
I agree with you. π
Tarah says
I’ve seen the idea of sweet potato smoothie bowls before but didn’t pay it much mind until I came across this recipe – oh my! Soooo many different variations for mix-ins and toppings!!!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
So many options! It can be different every day!
ChihYu says
Love this bowl, especially that it features sweet potatoes! So many great nutrients and textures!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Exactly! Thanks.
Raia Todd says
I love sweet potatoes in my smoothies. They make them so thick and creamy!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Exactly! Glad to meet a fellow sweet potato smoothie lover. π
Erin says
I would have never thought to make a sweet potato smoothie! But it’s such a great idea. I’ll see if my kid will go for it! π
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
I will find any and all excuses to eat sweet potato. π
tina says
I love smoothie bowls! Never tried one with sweet potato before, this sounds delish!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
It’s definitely a little heartier than your typical fruit smoothie bowl, but that’s why I like it. π