This post features a recipe for sweet potato breakfast bowls. This delicious breakfast is Paleo and Whole30 friendly and also gluten-free. Sweet potato breakfast bowls are a great grain-free alternative to oatmeal.
Embarking on a Whole30 when a big plate of eggs and vegetables isn’t quite your cup of tea first thing in the morning can be challenging. While I did learn to enjoy plain scrambled eggs for breakfast during Whole30, I also made some new breakfast discoveries that have become new staples in our house along with our old favorites of smoothies, oatmeal and overnight oats.
First up was chia pudding. Chia fever has definitely calmed down a little over here but we’re still eating it once or twice a week. It’s especially great for a make ahead, pack it and take it breakfast on the go.
Our new favorite is sweet potato breakfast bowls with a side of scrambled eggs. It’s become an awesome replacement for oatmeal on those cold mornings when you want something warm and comforting. One thing we really love about this breakfast is that it’s extremely filling but doesn’t sit heavy like oatmeal sometimes can and powers us through to lunch with no problem.
I first came up with this meal idea when I came home mid-afternoon from traveling to find the fridge pretty bare. There were some leftover baked sweet potatoes so I decided to make a meal/snack out of them. I had long seen people top baked sweet potatoes with almond butter in blog and Instagram land so I decided to take it a step further and doctor it up some more. I mashed the potatoes with some banana, cinnamon and ghee and then topped it with almond butter. The result was delicious and I instantly thought to myself it would be a great breakfast option.
And this is how mashed sweet potato breakfast bowls were born. Many of you have asked how I make them so I wanted to post a quick overview.
I usually bake my sweet potatoes at night while the oven is on for whatever I’m cooking for dinner. My secret to soft, “steamed” sweet potatoes is to wash them in water, lightly dry but leave them damp, poke some holes and wrap them with foil. Since they’re damp and wrapped in foil you get a nice steaming effect that yields awesome potatoes with the perfect texture. I usually bake them at 400 on convection bake for about 45-60 minutes. Baking time totally depends on the size of the potato.
The next morning you can get creative! I usually do straight up sweet potato and banana but sometimes add mashed or pureed winter squash or pumpkin if I happened to have baked one of those too. I’ve tried it mixed with acorn squash, a pie pumpkin and kabocha squash. I also tried canned pumpkin once but it wasn’t my favorite. I also always add kosher salt and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice and sometimes add raisins, chia seeds and groud flax. Depends on my mood! 🙂
I want to take a second to share one key thing. I highly, highly recommend mashing your banana and sweet potatoes with a fork rather than pureeing them. It’s nice to have some texture. It’s a little too baby food-esque to puree.
As far as toppings for your sweet potato breakfast bowl go, you can keep it as simple as the nut butter of your choice (I’m an almond butter fan for this combo) or add things like raisins, unsweetened shredded coconut and cacao nibs.
You have to trust me that this is a really good breakfast (or snack). I’m super serious about us choosing to eat it after Whole30. My fiance asks for it with some eggs almost every morning and we get really bummed when we run out of sweet potatoes. We have been going through them so quickly!
Here’s my general recipe. Remember you can get as creative as you want with it!
Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowls
PrintSweet Potato Breakfast Bowls {Paleo + Whole30 Approved}
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 People 1x
Description
A recipe for sweet potato breakfast bowls that are Paleo and Whole-30 approved and a great grain-free alternative to oatmeal.
Ingredients
- 2 small to medium sweet potatoes, baked and mashed
- 1 banana, mashed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- Dash of salt
- Optional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon ground flax
- Splash of coconut or almond milk (to either stir into the sweet potato mixture to thin it a bit or drizzle on top
- of finished bowl)
- Roasted and mashed pumpkin or winter squash (note, I usually cut back on the amount of sweet potato I
- use if I add this)
- Raisins
- Optional Toppings:
- Almond butter or nut butter of choice
- Raisins
- Unsweetened shredded coconut
- Cacoa nibs
- Coconut cream
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mash together the sweet potatoes, banana, cinnamon and salt.
Add optional ingredients of your choice. - Reheat in a small pan or in microwave.
Finish with toppings of your choice and serve.
Notes
If your sweet potato mixture seems a little thick or dense, use some coconut milk or almond milk to thin. The texture of the sweet potatoes can vary greatly depending on the potato. For best texture results, bake potatoes in oven and not microwave.
I’d love to hear about your favorite non-egg and/or unconventional breakfast ideas!
Sweet potato bowl!!! That is totally a must try!!! I can’t get behind normal chia pudding, but anything potato has my name written ALL over it!
Me too! Hope you like it!
You should try topping the sweet potato/banana mixture with tahini and sea salt!! its amazing. or coconut butter is incredible as well.
As far as breakfast goes…I am an egg girl for sure but have had oatmeal the past couple days after a longgg hiatus and forgot home amazing and comforting it is!
During the work week, smoothies are my breakfast because I work out before work and that is all there is time for and its easy to transport!
Thanks for the ideas! Those sound amazing!
Yum! I’ve been eating baked sweet potatoes with almond butter for a while and it’s my favorite!! I’ll have to try mashing it with banana. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! It adds a little natural sweetness!
I love this idea! I like something quick and easy in the mornings (and usually on the sweeter rather than savory side)!
It works well if you need to take breakfast to-go too!
I am obsessed with sweet potatoes right now. For the last several weeks I’ve had roasted sweet potato with avocado and central market peach salsa (all mixed together)for lunch nearly every day. I have never tried it for breakfast, but it sounds amazing and I think I will!
Yum!! That sounds amazing!
I keep thinking about making this one morning instead of oatmeal since you started posting it! I know I would like it with peanut butter for sure.
It’s pretty hard to go wrong, especially when you put peanut butter with it!
i am very intrigued by this especially your comment about it being hearty but lighter than oatmeal. i swear i ate oatmeal for breakfast like for 3 years every day a few years ago and all of a sudden it seemed to be to much. i decrease my portion and changed my mix ins but it just seems like i have such a hard time finding the right combo to not feel stuffed but to feel full. like i feel bloated full when i have it now. i often feel like i can eat 20 sweet pots when i roast them in cubes for dinner so maybe those wouldn’t have the same effect. i eat eggs for breakfast almost daily so i have no real ideas for mixing it up. if i had all the time in the world i would make huge scrambles each morning with lots of veggies, eggs and cheese !
I will definitely be trying these in the morning! I’m not an egg girl so this is awesome 🙂
Inspired by you, I tried a sweet potato bowl (in a tupperware, since I had to take it on the go!) for breakfast last week. I added unflavored, unsweetened protein powder so I wouldn’t need a separate protein source. So good!! Loved the raisins for a bit of texture. I screen shotted a bunch of your whole 30 meals since I’m planning to do my 2nd one soon. Your meals always look so delicious! I wish you could cook for me haha!
Kacie, I’d love to know what kind of unflavored, unsweetened protein powder you use!
jumping in…i like raw organic whey for plain, unflavored and unsweetened.
LOVE this idea! Sweet potatoes are the BEST…I love them savory and sweet and nut butters on top are DELISH!
I can’t wait to try this out for breakfast!! I used to make a little sweet potato, banana mug cake for deserts with some egg white, coconut oil and coconut flour…was so delicious and healthy! I love this combo.
Yum! I love that idea!
These are such a great idea to fill in that warm oatmeal bowl craving. I am definitely going to try this. Sweet potatoes are so cheap as well which is great! I think lots of almond butter on top and cacao nibs sounds amazing 🙂
I am loving having smoothie bowls again since being off of the whole 30. Its so nice to change it all up again!
The sweet pot bowls sound delicious! I’ve made some porridge-like bowls using canned pumpkin, almond butter, shredded coconut,raisins, and mashed banana. The coconut gave it a nice consistency. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for this idea! I am now totally obsessed with sweet potatoes and almond butter!!!!!!!! Just added some chia seeds today and loved the added crunch.
I never thought about Chia seeds – Hemp hearts would also by yummy 🙂
I made this for breakfast today – I loved it! I used coconut oil instead of ghee. I am on day 10 of whole 30. Your posts inspired me to give it a try! I can’t believe the difference in my food cravings already. Thank you so much!!!
ummm…amazing!!!!!!!! so creative and awesome replacement for oatmeal…I needed this to mix up my morning routine!
I seriously cannot thank you enough for this recipe! I am on my second whole 30, and will probably keep this one going a little longer. I am SO SICK of eggs! Lol! But I am not the person who can just eat “non breakfast type” foods in the morning. I think this recipe is going to save me! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Thanks Shasta! We’re pretty in love with it, even post Whole30.
Yum!! Thanks for the tutorial 🙂 Do you leave the sweet potato skin on in these bowls?
I made a sweet potato “mug” this AM (I eat breakfast in my office) – just sweet potato and almond butter (will add banana next time) and OMG – it was DELICIOUS!!! thanks for the info – i NEVER would have thought about doing this, but I am so glad I did!
Yay, glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
This has given me additional ideas to try. I typically eat blueberries on my sweet potatoes and sometimes add leftover grilled meat. Another favorite is black beans and salsa.
I discovered sweet potato bowls for breakfast in my own only what I do is make like a nest out of the sweet potato and put some ghee on the nest then two raw eggs. Cover it and put it in the microwave two or three minutes until the white part of the egg is cooked. I will have to try your idea with almond butter sounds good. I had baked wedges the other night with a little tahini drizzled on it and it was delicious.
I just tried this & I think its my new favorite breakfast!! We’ve done a few rounds of whole 30 & always struggle with egg exhaustion, and finding something to make ahead for breakfast. This was quick & amazing.
Yep these are life.
Love this recipe! I love the bananas, cinnamon, salt, cashew butter, sliced almonds and raisins. Many thanks!
I was inspired by this post to make my own variation of sweet potato lunch bowls! I used sweet potato, almond butter, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg, topped with pecans, raisins, and a few mini marshmallows 😀 BEST LUNCH EVER!
Does this freeze well?
I have never tried freezing them but banana gets kind of weird when it’s frozen so not sure how great it would work out.
Wow – these are incredible! I left the skin on the potatoes to add a bit of texture to the final product. So delicious!