Best Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe - Evolving Table (2024)

These creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes are like a sweet potato casserole and regular mashed potatoes collided! They can be prepared sweet or savory, and make the perfect side dish for any weeknight or holiday meal. It is quick and easy to boil, bake, or cook the potatoes, then mash them to a smooth consistency.

Best Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

There is one vegetable in my house that is consumed on the regular – sweet potatoes! (Case in point: I have over 25 Sweet Potato Recipes to share.)

Sometimes I make a Sweet Potato Hash…

Or I bake sweet potatoes, boil sweet potatoes and even air fryer sweet potatoes!

But recently my new obsession has been this mashed sweet potato recipe!

Not only is this recipe easy to make with simple ingredients, but there are a TON of flavor variations to try.

Keep them plain with a bit of butter and salt, or you can up-level the flavor with some crumbled bacon, heavy cream and fresh thyme, or a little brown sugar.

And bonus – they make a wonderful side dish recipe that can be meal prepped ahead for your Thanksgiving menu or holiday table!

If you happen to have any leftover, use them up in this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie. Extra whole sweet potatoes? Try out this Sweet Potato Pie Recipe and BakedSweet Potato Friesnext!

Ingredients

• Sweet Potatoes. You will need about 2 ½ pounds, or 4-5 medium to large-sized, whole sweet potatoes. Garnets have a red-purple skin and are used in sweet potato pies and mashes. Jewel is another variety that mashes well and tastes great in mashed potatoes and casseroles. Beauregards are the most common type found in grocery stores and can be boiled, mashed, and baked. Avoid yams, as they are too starchy and won’t give you the creamy texture you need. (Learn more about the differences of Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes here.)
• Milk. Between ¼ to ⅓ cup of regular milk is mixed in to reach your desired consistency. Make this recipe vegan and dairy-free with almond, oat, soy, or coconut milk.
• Butter. Regular butter definitely gives this recipe an incredible flavor.However, if you are dairy-free or vegan you can substitute with vegan buttery sticks or oil. You can even mix in sour cream if you don’t have any butter available.

How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Please see the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and more detailed instructions.

1. Cook the Sweet Potatoes

When making mashed sweet potatoes you can cook the potatoes by boiling, baking, or using a pressure cooker.

• To boil sweet potatoes simply fill a large pot with peeled and cubed potatoes and enough water to cover them. Bring it to a boil and reduce to medium-high heat. Boil for 12-15 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
• Baking Sweet Potatoes takes a bit longer but gives a wonderful, toasted flavor. Poke holes in whole potatoes before wrapping in foil and baking at 400°F for 40-60 minutes.
• Cooking Instant Pot sweet potatoes will give you tender potatoes in a short amount of time. Pierce whole potatoes and place in the pressure cooker with water and cook on high for 16-22 minutes. (This is my favorite method!)

2. Mash the Potatoes

There are 3 different ways you can mash sweet potatoes, much like with regular potatoes.Each will give you a slightly different level of creaminess.

Food Processor – This is the preferred method since it will give you a super creamy and tender texture. A large, 10-12 cup food processor is recommended.

Electric Mixer (Or Stand Mixer) – Another great method that does not require much arm work.If you like clumps in your mashed potatoes, then this will be the best method for you.

Potato Masher – By far the most labor intensive method, but also the most traditional.Much like if you mixed it in a stand mixer, you will get a slightly clumpier finished product.

Add the Flavor

The sweet potato mash recipe does taste great with just milk, butter, and salt.But you can add in a few more ingredients to really up-level your flavor game.

Garlic & Herb

Another great savory option is simply swapping out the regular butter for homemade garlic butter. Add a sprinkle of chopped fresh herbs just before serving!

Cinnamon, Brown Sugar & Pecans

If you prefer them sweet, then adding cinnamon and brown sugar will be your way to go!

Mix in the brown sugar and cinnamon while mashing and garnish with toasted pecans.

Maple Bacon

The combination of cooked bacon with pure maple syrup will give you a perfectly sweet and savory flavor profile.

Simply add the syrup to the food processor before puréeing then top with the bacon to serve.

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: Boil, bake, or cook the potatoes in a pressure cooker up to 3-5 days in advance. Or make the complete recipe and refrigerate until ready to heat and serve.
• To Store: Keep mashed sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• To Freeze: Seal in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 4-6 months.
• To Reheat: Add the mashed potatoes to a pot on the stove over medium to medium-low heat with a touch more milk or water. You can also microwave until warm.

FAQs

What to Serve with Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These mashed sweet potatoes are so delicious, try them as a side with one of these recipes:

• Air Fryer Nuggets
• Salmon Burgers
• Lemon Garlic Baked Salmon
• Baked Honey Mustard Chicken
• Filet Mignon

More Sweet Potato Recipes

Sweet potatoes are so versatile! Give one of these recipes a try next time you’re craving them:

• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
• Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
• Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger
• Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Hashbrowns
• Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
• Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie