Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Name: Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 ½ lbs. sweet potatoes (peeled and cooked); ⅓ cup milk (or almond or cashew milk); 4 Tbsp. butter (or vegan buttery sticks, softened); ¾ - 1 tsp. salt (to taste); Parsley (finely chopped, optional); ¼ cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar); ½ tsp. cinnamon; ¼ cup toasted pecans (coarsely chopped); 4 Tbsp. Homemade Garlic Herb Butter; ¼ cup pure maple syrup; 4 oz. cooked bacon (crumbled)

These creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes can be sweet or savory, and make the perfect side dish for any comforting meal. It is quick and easy to boil, bake, or cook sweet potatoes in an Instant Pot, then mash them to a smooth consistency. Season this dish with garlic and herbs, cinnamon and brown sugar, or give them a twist with maple and bacon, holidays just got a lot more delicious.

A bowl full of creamy mashed sweet potatoes that are savory with garlic and herbs.

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 even with all of these variations, I realize that I do not make them mashed nearly enough!

Not only is this recipe quick and easy to make, but there are a TON of flavor variations you can try.

You can choose to make them completely Whole30, Paleo, and even vegan.

Or you can naughty-them-up a bit with some crumbled bacon or brown sugar.

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

If you happen to have any leftover, use them up in this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie.

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this mashed sweet potatoes recipe include:

Sweet Potatoes. You will need about 2 ½ pounds, or 4-5 medium to large-sized 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 cashew 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.
Salt. Add as much or as little as you prefer.

How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes

The basic steps for making healthy mashed sweet potatoes are simple to follow:

Cook the 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 water then bring it to a boil. Reduce to medium-high heat and cook for 12-15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. This is the quickest and easiest method.

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.

Mashed Instant Pot sweet potato on a white plate.

Mash Them Up

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.

Hand using a potato masher to smash sweet potatoes in a glass bowl. — Mash with a potato masher.

Mashed sweet potatoes in a food processor. — Mash with a potato masher.

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.

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.

Bacon crumbled on top of a quick, easy, healthy side dish recipe for sweet potato mash.

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.

Easy and vegan mashed sweet potatoes recipe with brown sugar and cinnamon using Instant Pot potatoes.

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!

A white bowl full of easy, healthy, and Paleo mashed sweet potatoes recipe for a Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish.

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.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already vegetarian and gluten-free as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

Dairy-Free: Use almond, oat, soy or cashew milk as well as a butter alternative.
Vegan: Select a plant-based milk and butter.
Whole30: Swap the butter for clarified butter or ghee and choose a dairy-free milk.
Paleo: Make these potatoes creamy with ghee or clarified butter and coconut milk.

Healthy mashed sweet potatoes recipe using boiled or baked potatoes.

FAQs

Is it better to peel sweet potatoes before boiling?

Peeling potatoes before boiling is not necessary, however peeling and cubing them will reduce the cooking time.

Are sweet potatoes healthier than mashed potatoes?

Sweet and regular potatoes are quite similar when it comes to nutrition. The biggest difference is that sweet potatoes contain more vitamin A and regular potatoes have more potassium.

Why are my mashed sweet potatoes lumpy?

If your mashed potatoes are lumpy they were likely not cooked enough. The potatoes should be tender before mashing by hand or in a food processor.

Expert Tips

Adjust to taste. Start with minimal milk and add more to reach your desired consistency.
Bake for flavor. Roast the potatoes in the oven for a deeper and sweeter taste.
Wait to peel. Cook the potatoes whole to easily remove the skin once done.
Get the best texture. Use a food processor for the most creamy and tender mashed potatoes.
Prep ahead. Make this dish in advance to save time during the holidays.