Cooking sweet potatoes in the slow cooker makes them extra moist and sweet! Top with black beans, corn, avocado, spices, and smoky cashew cream for an easy and healthy meatless meal.
Yewguyz.
I’m doing like a fusion of a toe tap and a jump squat right now (I just wrote squart, that should be a word) over the fact that you can make sweet potatoes in the slow cooker.
And it’s not just that you can make them. You can make them scrumptiously! You know how baking an orange spud in the oven yields a super sweet juicy thang? Yeah, I know. Salivating over here. You too? Better be.
So it’s that on steroids. Like melt in your mouth, fall off the nonexistent bone kind of good. I cooked three big fat organic ones for about two and a half hours on high and they were perfection. Low for more like six to eight hours is an equally viable option.
The reason we’re making sweet potatoes in the slow cooker today is because Gina said to. Gina is queen.
I met the wonder woman behind Skinnytaste last year at Fresh Coast Retreat and I was nothing short of blown away by how genuinely kind and down to earth she was. You can’t not adore her. Sweet as coconut sugar, that gal.
It comes as no surprise that she has written not one but TWO best-selling cookbooks! Goals. Major, major goals, people.
Her most recent gem, Skinnytaste Fast and Slow, features 140 super convenient, tasty, and of course healthy recipes to satisfy your deepest darkest cravings. Eighty of the recipes cook in 30 minutes or less and the other 60 are done in the slow cooker. Prepare for the slow cooker to become your bestie. Did you know you can make flourless chocolate brownies in the slow cooker? I die.
As far as the equipment goes, I use this super simple slow cooker, but if you want to get fancy, people (including Gina!) adore this Hamilton Beach one.
While this a isn’t a plant-based book, there’s an entire section called “Meatless Mains,” including recipes like Coconut Veggie Curry, Zucchini “Meatballs,” Slow Cooker Channa Masala, and of course these Slow Cooker Loaded “Baked” Sweet Potatoes! The beginning of the book is also home to a cornucopia of avocado toast recipes which you know warms my soul to the core.
I couldn’t wait to share this recipe with you guys because it makes such an easy, quick, healthy meal that’s totally customizable to your preferences. This specific recipe has a Mexican/southwest vibe going on with the black beans and corn, but you could easily go with whatever beans, veggies and sauce tickle your fancy. Sweet potatoes make a pretty baller base for just about anything if you ask me.
Helloooo, beta carotene!
Gina’s version includes a bit of cheddar and Greek yogurt which I swapped out for a drizzle of smoky cashew cream. Again, use whatever you prefer.
As long as it’s supported by a base of juicy sweet potato, you’re destined for greatness.
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Cooking sweet potatoes in the slow cooker makes them extra moist and sweet! Top with black beans, corn, avocado, spices, and smoky cashew cream for an easy vegan and gluten-free meal.
Ingredients
For the sweet potatoes:
- 4 medium sweet potatoes (about 7 ounces each)
- 1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup corn, fresh or frozen
- 1/3 cup canned tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp chopped scallions
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
For the smoky cashew cream:
- 1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked for 30 minutes
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- 1–2 tsp hot sauce
Instructions
- Wash and dry sweet potatoes. Place them in slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours (mine were done after a bit less than 3 hours on high).
- Place cashews in a bowl of warm water to soak.
- In a medium bowl, combine the black beans, corn, tomato sauce, scallions, cumin, cayenne, and salt.
- Drain cashews and place in high-speed blender (I used my Nutribullet) with the rest of the cashew cream ingredients, blending until smooth. Season to taste and set aside.
- Remove the potatoes from the slow cooker and cut each lengthwise 3/4 the way through. Pull apart to create opening and gently mash flesh with a fork. Divide the bean filling among the potatoes and gently mix it into the potato flesh.
- Top potatoes with avocado, cilantro, and cashew cream.
Notes
Lightly adapted from the Skinnytaste Fast and Slow cookbook by Gina Homolka
Monica says
everything about this recipe is perfect. I need to make it!
Alexis says
Do it! Let me know how you like it.
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} says
Oooh I love it! What a great easy dinner idea. Going to have to add this book to my ever-growing cookbook library. :)
Alexis says
It never seems to stop growing, does it! :)
Ashley says
OK. This is no joke like the recipe of my dreams. All of my favorite things inside a slow cooker! I didn’t think things could get any better than the enchilada cashew cream but this might give that a run for its money.
Alexis says
Girl SAME. Still kinda freakin out about this recipe I want to eat it every night.
Megan @ A Continual Feast says
I’m always looking for easy + healthy recipes and this one looks great! Love how you can customize it with different toppings!
Alexis says
Yes!! Literally anything on top of sweet potatoes is delicious. Last night I put curry spice, cinnamon, and a drizzle of coconut oil.
Gidde says
This looks amazing and so easy to make! I just have a few questions.
Do you place the sweet potatoes in the slow cooker by themselves? Do you add water or coat the inside of the slow cooker with oil?
Do you use seasoned tomatoe sauce or something like crushed tomatoes?
Can I use roasted unsalted cashews or will they not absorb enough water?
Alexis says
Hi, Gidde!
Simply place the sweeet potatoes in the slow cooker by themselves, I used regular canned tomato sauce but you can really switch it up based on your personal preferences, and for the chasers the raw cashews is what is going to give you the smooth creamy texture for the sauce. Let me know how it turns out :)
Sarah says
Yum! What a fab vegetarian recipe idea. I’ll have to try this on my next Meatless Monday! Such a great alternative to refined tortilla wraps too.
★★★★
Athina simolaris says
I made this tonight! The BF thought I was insane for putting the potatoes in the crock, but low and behold, they came out great! 3 pots took 3 hours and the big boy took 4. I realized I forgot an ingredient – the tomato sauce, but the show went on and the recipe was still delish. Love the sauce. I am so obsessed with all of the cashew sauce recipes now that I was brave enough to try them – can’t get enough! :) Thanks grllll
★★★★★
Alexis says
All this talk of your lil’ sweet potato babies has me drooling! Cashew sauce is such a game changer. Thanks for making!
Emmanuel says
I just found this recipe and am going to try it today!! :) Thanks so much!
★★★★★