Not sure which side to bring to Thanksgiving? Need a simple vegetable side for dinner tonight? Do you like traditional foods with a bit of a twist? Mashed Sweet Potatoes are for you!
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Why You’ll Love This Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
- Sweet and Savory. This mashed sweet potatoes recipe has a touch of chipotle chili powder for smoky heat, balanced by maple syrup for sweetness. The combination is fantastic and makes this recipe taste special enough for a holiday! (If you want something that leans sweeter, check out Sweet Potato Souffle).
- Healthy Sweet Potatoes. Skip the gobs of brown sugar and marshmallows in favor of maple syrup and Greek yogurt to make them extra creamy. Now you’ll have more room for Pumpkin Pecan Pie!
- A Fun Alternative to Mashed Potatoes. Yes, we all love our mashed potatoes (especially the Best Mashed Potatoes recipe), but sweet potatoes are delicious and deserve their turn (Mashed Butternut Squash is another tasty twist).
- A Year-Round Recipe. These mashed sweet potatoes are also versatile enough to be an excellent option outside of the November and December holiday season. You can serve them with a wide range of proteins, including Baked Chicken Breast, Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, Baked Salmon, and more.
- Perfect for Making Ahead. Another perk of these easy mashed sweet potatoes is that they can be made in advance. Reheat them in a casserole pan in the oven or gently on the stovetop. See “Meal Prep Tips” below for more.
Tip!
No room on the stove or in your oven? Check out these Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes instead.
5 Star Review
“Very easy and tasty recipe! Will definitely be making it again!”
— Kyla —
How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes
The Ingredients
- Sweet Potatoes. With natural sweetness and oodles of nutritional value, sweet potatoes are a fantastic addition to any meal. Mashing the sweet potatoes is an especially tasty and crowd-pleasing way to serve them. Have extra? Try Sweet Potato Cornbread!
- Half-and-Half. A must for rich and creamy mashed sweet potatoes.
- Spices. For smokiness, I used chipotle chile powder. For coziness and warmth, I used nutmeg and cinnamon.
- Greek Yogurt. I used Greek yogurt as a sweet potato mash healthy swap, but you can use sour cream instead if you prefer.
- Maple Syrup. Instead of making mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar, I opted to use maple syrup. It naturally sweetens the potatoes and elevates their flavor.
- Butter. A mashed potato staple! No one can resist that decadent buttery flavor.
The Directions
- Boil the Potatoes. Cut them into similarly sized chunks, then boil until tender and drain.
- Season. Add the half-and-half and spices to the cooked sweet potatoes.
- Mash. Don’t overdo it, or they’ll be tough and gummy.
- Stir and Finish. Add the yogurt (or sour cream), syrup, and butter. Don’t overwork the sweet potatoes. Garnish and ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
- Vegan Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Use vegan yogurt and butter in place of the dairy and swap the half-and-half for full-fat coconut milk to make this recipe vegan.
- Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Want your sweet potatoes to lean a little more savory? Skip the maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add garlic powder and additional fresh thyme or rosemary.
- Potato and Sweet Potato Mash. Start with the savory mashed sweet potatoes variation above and swap half the sweet potatoes with Yukon gold potatoes.
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes With Marshmallows. If you insist. Fold a handful (or two) of mini marshmallows into the sweet potatoes after adding the yogurt, syrup, and butter. (You might want to cut back on the syrup too!)
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate sweet potatoes in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat, in a casserole dish in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in the microwave.
- To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Meal Prep Tip
- To Prep in Advance. You can fully prepare the mashed sweet potatoes 1 days in advance, then rewarm them on the stove or in a baking dish in the oven.
- Easy Meal Prep Tip. For easy mashed potatoes any night of the week, make a big batch and freeze leftovers in an ice cube tray. Transfer the frozen sweet potato cubes to a freezer-safe ziptop bag. Grab sweet potato cubes as desired and reheat from frozen.
What to Serve with Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Holiday Classics. If you’re serving these sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving, set them on the table with the Thanksgiving Turkey, Turkey Gravy, Cranberry Orange Sauce, and Cornbread Stuffing.
- Chicken. Making mashed sweet potatoes for a weeknight? You can’t go wrong with simple recipes like Pan Fried Chicken Breast, Baked Bone In Chicken Breast, or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
- Pork. Plate your sweet potatoes with Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin or Breaded Pork Chops.
- Vegetables. Fall veggies like Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Air Fryer Cauliflower go particularly well with these mashed sweet potatoes.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Saucepan. A must-have in every kitchen.
- Potato Masher. My go-to tool for mashing potatoes. It can help you achieve chunky mashed sweet potatoes or creamy mashed sweet potatoes.
- Measuring Spoons. This double-sided set of magnetic measuring spoons is easy to store.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Peel the Potatoes. While Garlic Mashed Potatoes can be a skin-on or skin-off affair, sweet potato skins are thicker and not very pleasant in mashed potatoes. While I don’t mind leaving the peels on sweet potatoes when making baked Sweet Potato Fries, Sweet Potato Wedges, or Roasted Sweet Potatoes, when it comes to mashing them, it is better to peel the sweet potatoes before boiling.
- Roasting Option. If you’d like to avoid peeling, you can bake the sweet potatoes, then scoop out the flesh. Because they’ll be sweeter this way, you may be able to cut back on the maple syrup a bit, too.
- Use Orange or Red Sweet Potatoes. Purple and white sweet potatoes are starchier and less sweet than their orange and red cousins. This means they don’t mash into the same creamy, dreamy consistency you get with orange and red sweet potatoes.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
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Ingredients
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes about 6 potatoes
- 4 teaspoons salt divided
- ½ cup half-and-half
- ½ teaspoon chipotle chile powder (reduce to 1/4 teaspoon if sensitive to spice; increase to 3/4 to 1 teaspoon for more of a kick)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅓ cup whole milk plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter diced
- Chopped fresh thyme
Instructions
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 1-inch cubes. Place in a large saucepan and cover with cool water so that the water covers the potatoes by 1 inch. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Continue simmering, adjusting the heat as needed, until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, then return the potatoes to the pot.
- Add the half and half and chipotle chile powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and remaining 3 teaspoons salt.
- Mash to your desired consistency.
- Immediately add the Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and butter. Stir until evenly combined. Taste and adjust spices and salt as desired.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and top with thyme. Enjoy warm.
Video
Notes
- TO STORE: Refrigerate sweet potatoes in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat, in a casserole dish in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- TO MAKE AHEAD: Up to 2 days in advance, peel, cut, and boil the sweet potatoes. Refrigerate them in an airtight storage container until you’re ready to finish the recipe.
- For easy mashed sweet potatoes any night of the week, make a big batch and freeze leftovers in an ice cube tray. Transfer the frozen sweet potato cubes to a freezer-safe ziptop bag. Grab sweet potato cubes as desired and cook directly from frozen.
Nutrition
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Sign Me UpFrequently Asked Questions
To make sure your potatoes aren’t watery, don’t overcook the potatoes. It’s also important to drain the potatoes completely once you’re done boiling them to avoid having unwanted water lingering in your pot.
Yes, you can make these mashed sweet potatoes vegan. Use dairy-free alternatives for the half-and-half, Greek yogurt, and butter.
It is very healthy to boil sweet potatoes! This cooking method does not require any extra oils, saving both calories and fat.
Very easy and tasty recipe! I cut the recipe in half since it’s just my husband and I at home, and there was still enough leftover for another couple of meals. I did cut down on the maple syrup. Will definitely be making it again!
Great to hear, thanks Kyla!
Delicious! We love these sweet potatoes. I added a bit more cinnamon and maple syrup coz I like it to be sweeter.
Yay, thank you Athena!
Made this today for Canadian Thanksgiving, and am definitely anxious to make it again in November! Delicious!
So glad you enjoyed it, Danielle! Thank you!