

The ultimate vegan loaded sweet potato – packed with kale, black beans, and topped off with a homemade green goddess dressing. Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. I’m excited to bring some new life today to the most popular recipe on my blog, including a brand new video (see below)!
This recipe was created on a whim a few years ago. Steve was working late and I was left to fend for dinner by myself. I wanted something that fit the following criteria:
- Fit for a table of one
- Healthy
- Warm, comforting & grounding (in Ayurveda, root vegetables like the sweet potato are thought to be grounding – I talk more about Ayurveda principles in Nourish Your Namaste)
- Easy to make
- Filling & satisfying
- Delicious (obvs)
I had sweet potatoes and kale at home already so I was inspired to build on that and create the ultimate loaded sweet potato. At first, I bought Annie’s Green Goddess Dressing (and that would be a great substitute if you don’t want to DIY) but the next time I made these I went all out and made my own homemade (vegan) Green Goddess Dressing, chock full of all the fresh herbs and silky avocados. I love hearing from you guys about how much you dig this recipe. I think one of the reasons it’s so popular is because it’s satisfying (hearty, different textures and flavor components) AND satiating (meaning it’s going to fill you up thanks to the fiber, healthy fats and plant-based protein!).I just can’t get enough of the sweet flavor from the sweet potato, the savory component of the garlicky kale and the tanginess and creaminess of the green goddess dressing. No wonder it’s my go-to weeknight meal for the fall and winter months when I gravitate towards root vegetables!

Vegan Loaded Sweet Potato
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 sweet potatoes 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
The ultimate vegan loaded sweet potato – packed with kale, black beans, and topped off with a homemade green goddess dressing. Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 bunch kale, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- Green Goddess Dressing to serve
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a fork, poke multiple holes into sweet potatoes. Place potatoes in oven and bake for about 45-60 minutes, or until tender.
- In the meantime, heat olive oil over medium-high heat in medium saucepan. Add garlic and cook for 60 seconds, or until fragrant. Add kale and toss to coat. Add 1/4 cup water and cover for 3-5 minutes. Remove cover, toss kale, reduce heat to low, and cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until kale is desired texture, adding more water as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cut sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. Top with sautéed kale, beans and Green Goddess Dressing.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Easy
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Vegan
Keywords: vegan loaded sweet potato, vegan sweet potato, sweet potato with black beans, sweet potato with green goddess dressing
What are some of your favorite sweet potato toppings or pairings?
This post was originally published in October 2014. The recipe has been completely retested and photos updated (and video added!) to give you the most delicious and beautiful content!
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Loved this dish, so simple, had to make some modifications, used dried basil and cilantro instead of the fresh, but it was delicious. My 12 year old who is a very fussy vegetarian, liked this dish a lot. A nice combo of flavour and texture. Thank you! Shelley
That’s wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Shelley! So glad you and kiddo enjoyed it 🙂
the link for the green goddess dressing doesn’t work. Do you have an updated link by chance? I’ve used this recipe for awhile and just realized you made your own dressing!
Thanks for the heads up, Krystal! All the links to the dressing should now be working in the post! You can also search for it on my blog by typing dressing into the search box.
Do u cook the black beans?
I didn’t but you could warm it up in the pan with the kale if you prefer them to be warm.
This was very good. Even my 15 month old devoured his plate then ran to my husband, mouth open, saying “aahhhh” waiting for more. Everything was perfect, preparation was easy.
That’s amazing!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi there! I’m studying to be a dietician and I am so inspired by your website and incredible recipes! Thank you for doing this and sharing with all of us. 🙂
This dish looks absolutely amazing! I was looking for a recipe for a dinner I’m sponsoring of 25 people and I was curious if this would be filling enough if I pair it with a light salad and your delicious looking key lime ice cream sandwiches?
Thanks!
Thank you so much! Yes, it definitely would be filling enough!
just made these last night. I didnt have all the ingredients to do the green goddess dressing recipe so I just used Annies vegan goddess dressing. These were SO good. I wasnt sure I would finish them bc it was so much food, but both me and my partner cleaned our plates. This ones going into regular rotation in our house.
Awesome! So glad you and your partner enjoyed ’em!
Kara this is a stunner! what a great meal idea
Thanks, Brynn!
How come recipe says 4 sweet potatoes but the instructions say “poke multiple holes into both sweet potatoes” implying that there are just 2 potatoes?
Just a typo! It’s fixed now. Thanks for pointing out!
This might end up as lunches for my hubby and I next week! I’d bet we could prep and pack these ok.
Nice! Yes, they do pack well and you can prep ahead of time for the week!
Yum, looks great! This is just about my favorite kind of “just me for dinner” this time of year!
Yes! Thanks, Rebecca!
Sounds so amazing, I’m always looking for more easy, meatless meals 🙂
Thanks, Lauren!
This looks amazing!
Thanks, Abbie!
Sweet potatoes have become such a comfort food for me, I’ll definitely give this recipe a try!
Awesome! Enjoy, Nazima!
Love the video – and this easy recipe! I gotta try your Green Goddess dressing!
Thanks, Whitney! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Sounds absolutely amazing! Especially that dressing – Yum!
Thanks, Katie! That dressing is my everything.
I’m all over the green goddess dressing! yum!
Thanks, Lindsey!
I’ve been wanting sweet potatoes lately! This looks perfect! I love the green goddess dressing!
Yes! Thanks, Emily!
Just so beautiful! Looks delicious
Thanks, Ginger!
Hi! I love this recipe and was going to make it for dinner tonight – I don’t have time to make your green goddess dressing, and I picked up Annie’s regular goddess dressing because the Green Goddess Annie’s wasn’t vegan – do you think the regular Annie’s goddess dressing will taste okay with this?
Not sure if you have tried it before or could recommend a different vegan one I can buy. Thank you so much! 🙂
Totally! The first time I made it I used Annie’s Green Goddess dressing and then was inspired to make my own version. Enjoy!
I can’t wait to make this loaded sweet potato! It has everything that I love!
Yay! Enjoy, Denise!
Thanks for sharing this idea! I’m going to season my black beans, add chopped onion and jalapeño and use guac instead of goddess dressing to make them kinda like tacos!
I made this last night and it was absolutely delicious! I only added a tiny amount of water though to the kale and garlic and let is simmer on very low heat covered till kale cooked enough. But really loved this! Thanks!
Thanks, Anne! So glad you enjoyed!
Oooooo I’m all ears, Elizabeth!! That sounds aaahhhmmaaaazing.
Loved this recipe.. I used spinach instead of kale and love the possibilities of what to throw in here!
Glad you enjoyed it, Mary!
This is a staple for me! It’s quick (if I bake up a few potatoes at once) and easy to assemble for work lunches or nights that I just don’t feel like cooking. And, most importantly, it’s yummy!
Awesome, Michelle! So glad to hear it’s become a staple for you! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
I’m whipping this up for dinner tonight but I’m also looking for ways to add tons of veggies into my breakfasts. Obviously the sweet potatoes could be made the night before, but would the kale bean filling last in the fridge to be reheated in the morning?
Absolutely, Emily! You could definitely repurpose for breakfast in the AM.
Made it today….. me and my partner enjoyed it very much,,,, thanks for recipe much appreciated 🙂
So glad you and your partner enjoyed it, Shane! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Made this for the first time tonight and it was AMAZING! I added onion and mushrooms to the kale mix and it really hit the spot.
I’m not vegan, or even a vegetarian. But I do have IBS, and finding yummy recipes that are dairy, red meat, mayo, gluten, AND soy free is harder than one would expect.
Long story short, thanks for the new staple!
Hey Samantha, so glad you loved this! And mushrooms and onions are great add-in ingredients! I bet those meaty mushrooms made it that much more satisfying. I have IBS too so I totally get where you’re coming from.
Thank you so much for the amazing, yet simple recipe! Tasted great and filled me up for dinner. The dressing was fantastic as well!
You’re welcome, Melissa! So glad you enjoyed it!
Made this tonight on my way out the door and it was so, so good! Thank you for sharing. The green goddess dressing is amazing. I can’t get enough.
I’m SO glad you enjoyed, Kaley! You’re very welcome 🙂
I made this last night and we all really enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing. I had to use spinach instead of kale and since I couldn’t make the sauce I added a can of diced tomatoes with garlic and onion to the black beans with cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and a bit of cinnamon. I already look forward to making this again. It came together so quickly it will likely be a staple from now on. 🙂
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Michell! Your substitutions sound fantastic! Especially the cinnamon! Yum!
i made this delicious meal for school girls at Arundel school , harare Zimbabwe, my goodness they enjoyed it .
That’s wonderful. So glad they enjoyed it.
I just made this for dinner it was super delicious
Awesome! So glad you liked it, Tanisha!
So I found this on Pinterest and have to say this meal was delicious and satisfying. I just moved so I am always looking for recipes that are not only easy , but nutritious. Thank you.
So glad you found it, Lois! Hope you’re beginning to settle in to your new digs!
Made this tonight! Delicious 🙂 Thank you. Will definitely be making it again…
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed, Sharon!
My Husband and I made this tonight and totally enjoyed every bite! We added sweet corn, which someone previously suggested. This meal definitely made our meal list!
So glad you and your husband enjoyed! I’ve been having this meal on repeat all week 🙂
Found this last week and I love it! Has now become a weekly dish in my house, thank you!!
Woohooo! Thrilled to hear that, Angela! Glad it’s becoming a weekly staple for you.
I tried this for the first time many months ago and I just wanted to let you know that it is now a dinner staple of mine! So easy to make, delicious, and satisfying. I like adding corn to mine for a little bit of extra sweetness, texture, and color!
Thank you, Kara!
Awesome, Kellie! So happy to hear it’s a dinner staple for you now. And Corn sounds like a delicious addition!
That dressing! All of this looks so good. I make loaded sweet potatoes ALL THE TIME but I’ve never thought of putting any kind of dressing on it! Pinning this to try soon. I’m in love with your blog and all your recipes so I’m sure this one is just as good as the others!
Thanks SO much, Megan! Let me know how it turns out!
I’ve been looking for some new vegan recipes to spice up our dinners! I made this tonight and also your Green Goddess dressing – absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for sharing it! I plan on making this when my in-laws come for a visit (who insist that a meal isn’t a meal without meat) – I think that it will definitely fill them up!
Awesome! So glad you liked it, Eliza! You’re right – this meal will be sure to fill them up 🙂
Wow… thank you so much! This will be the second time this week I’ve made this dish! It is so tasty and healthy. Love it!
Awesome!! So glad you’re loving it, Sharon!
Love this. So simple. I didn’t have green goddess but made humus a little on the wet side and used this for the dressing. Excellent. Thanks
Yum! Hummus would be a great substitute for the dressing. Thanks, David!
Found this on Pinterest and made it tonight! It is great! I’m in college, so I substituted some things based on what I had available. I added some corn, a little chicken, sauteed spinach instead of kale, and avocado instead of the dressing. Thanks for the recipe!
Awesome, Mikayla! So glad you found it! Love those substitutions too – YUM!
I make the same thing all the time, but a southwestern version with avocados, corn, black beans, and cumin! Thanks for the idea of green goddess dressing! BRILLIANT.
But instead of baking the sweet potatoes for that long in the oven, I submerge one sweet potato at a time in a bowl of water and microwave it for about 3 minutes. It basically does the same thing in a fraction of the time!
Mmmmm…love me some southwestern inspired eats! And great tip for cooking the potatoes in the microwave – thanks for sharing!
Made this tonight and it was so delicious and left me feeling great. I added some fresh diced tomatoes and because I didn’t have the dressing in my kitchen I eliminated but it was delicious regardless. Thanks for the recipe.
Awesome. Thanks, Katie! So glad you enjoyed it! Fresh diced tomatoes sounds like a delicious addition.
This looks amazing. Potatoes are this Vegan gals FAVORITE. So I’m excited to re-create this lovely meal tonight. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome! Glad you like it, Hannah. Enjoy! Let me know how they turn out!
This was the best meal I have ever had ! I loved every bite and it couldn’t have been easier to bring together. I’m looking for more on this site. Thanks.
Made this tonight with a few tweaks and it was dee-lish. I didn’t use water; instead I just stir fried the garlic, onion and kale after adding cumin, paprika, chill seeds and cayenne to the mix. Tasted awesome. I also served it with fresh chopped tomato and some creme fraiche on top. Will definitely make again!
YUM! I love those flavor combinations, Ellie. Thanks so much for sharing! I’ll definitely have to try your version soon.
I found this recipe off of Buzzfeed, and I have to say, it blew my mind! This is delicious. Thank you so much for sharing!
Awesome! So glad you found it and enjoyed it, Lauren!
Do you happen to have the nutrition facts for this meal, it looks divine!!!
I wish I did, Kelli! Unfortunately, I don’t have a nutrient analysis software, otherwise I’d share them with you!
Hey I just made this for dinner tonight. I’m by no means experienced in the kitchen but this was a good recipe :). Thanks. Tastes really good too!
Hey Tim – so glad you gave the loaded sweet potato a whirl and enjoyed it!
oh my gosh Kara, this looks heavenly!! I love recipes that serve one or two, sweet potatoes, and you! 🙂
Haha, thanks, Meme! xo
I need to make this. I just created a sweet potato soup, so I have a few extra spuds looking for a new way to be consumed. Gorgeous photos … and great ingredients! Pinning now!
Thanks, Liz! I hope that sweet potato soup is going to be on your blog soon – would love to try it!