Any casserole-type dish, I pretty much love. This one has a fancy name though 😉 AND it has bacon in it, so….that’s reason enough to try this out. PLUS you can say you made a soufflé and sound all fancy! Ha! It’s so easy to make – always a plus.
This dish has been something I brought to family dinners for years. However, it’s only recently been paleo-fied and doesn’t taste a bit healthy! It’s not filled with tons of brown sugar or marshmallows, and the eggs make the texture AMAZINGGG. I love sweet potatoes, but their texture can be somewhat dense and just. gets. old. This soufflé is like scoops of sweet pillows with bacon on top. Is there anything better?
Peel and cook the sweet potatoes. I used my Instant Pot. I peeled them, chopped them into 1 1/2"-2" chunks, added 1 cup of water and cooked them for about 8 minutes. BOOM.
Once your sweet potatoes are cooked, combine them with the remaining ingredients with the exception of the crumble ingredients. You should get a light orange, somewhat runny consistency.
To make the crumble, combine your flour, butter, sugar, and bacon. USE COLD BUTTER. The crumble consistency will change if you use melted or room temperature. It will still taste delicious, it just won't be as crumbly. 🙂 It takes a few extra minutes to combine it all, but it's worth it!
Pour your sweet potato mixture into a deep baking dish. I used one that was about 4" deep. If you use a more shallow one, it will change the consistency a bit and cook quicker.
Top with your crumble and bake for 35-40 minutes until it's deep brown.
...that topping, though. **drools**
Let the soufflé rest for a good 20 minutes. If you don't it will fall apart slightly when you serve it. Again, it'll still be delicious...just not as pretty. 🙂
ENJOY!!
This is probably one of my favorite casseroles to make. Then again, anything buffalo chicken sounds great to me anytime! The original casserole is filled with TONS of cheese and milk. That was great and all, but it was so heavy. Delicious, but heavy. I knew I had to change the original up!
The eggs add a fluffiness to the casserole and also help to bind everything together, but if you’re sensitive to eggs, they are not entirely necessary. See the recipe note for a substitute. Honestly, besides the different texture from the spaghetti squash, it tastes like the original. It’s still rich, creamy, and cheesy – if you decide to sprinkle some on top!
So, next time you’re craving buffalo chicken wings, but don’t want all of the grease and carbs, give this hearty dish a try! It’ll surprise you!
Your spaghetti squash can easily be cooked in your microwave in about 15 minutes. Simply cut it in half, lengthwise, and put it face down on a microwave-safe dish. It may need more or less time, depending on the size you have. When it's ready, you'll be able to easily shred it with a fork. My preferred cooking method: 8 minutes High Pressure in my Instant Pot!
After cooking your squash, I drain out as much liquid from it as possible. You can use cheesecloth or a fine strainer.
As for your shredded chicken, cook that on your stovetop, in your Instant pot, or use leftover rotisserie chicken. If you're cooking boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, and you've never tried shredding chicken with a handheld or stand mixer, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND TRY IT!
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together milk, yogurt, buffalo sauce (more depending on how much heat you like), eggs, and seasonings.
To the liquid, add squash and chicken and combine.
Pour casserole mixture into a 13X9 baking dish and top with shredded cheese, if desired.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges start to brown.
Allow casserole to cool 5-10 minutes before serving.
Top with extra buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and green onions!
Recipe Notes
*If you are not using eggs, you can substitute 3 tbsp of arrowroot powder to thicken up the sauce. Whisk the powder in with the milk and seasonings.