This side dish is a delicious swap for our favorite mashed potatoes!
Mashed Sweet Potatoes are beautifully simple and pair well with almost any main dish. An easy side with boiled sweet potatoes mashed with butter and some warm spices.
A creamy texture and buttery flavor (and not too much sweetness) makes this a healthy side.
While many recipes for mashed sweet potatoes (or Sweet Potato Casserole) have added ingredients like marshmallows or pecans, I prefer mashed sweet potatoes to be smooth and creamy.
Three simple ingredients (and a little salt and pepper) are all it takes to make these easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes! No need to add extra ingredients when you have such a naturally sweet and flavorful veggie! These easy mashed sweet potatoes are the perfect side for Roasted Pork Tenderloin or Bacon Wrapped Chicken along with a side of steamed veggies!
How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Making mashed sweet potatoes is really easy! If I have a lot of time, I make Baked Sweet Potatoes and scoop them out to make mashed potatoes. A quicker method is to boil the sweet potatoes but I prefer the consistency of baked if possible. Once cooked (either boiled or baked) and very well-drained, the sweet potatoes can be mashed.
- Start by adding butter to cooked mashed potatoes.
- Mash using a hand masher or a hand mixer (per the recipe below).
- Heat the cream/milk and add a bit at a time while mashing (you may not need all of the cream).
- Once mashed, season with salt and pepper and serve (with more butter of course).
Optional Additions
This mashed sweet potato recipe can be made sweet or savory depending on additions.
Sweet: Add a pinch of brown sugar, honey, or even browned butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon or even a pinch of pumpkin pie spice.
Savory: Add a clove of garlic to the potatoes as they boil or stir in some roasted garlic while mashing. Stir in some fresh thyme or other fresh herbs.. Add in a sprinkle parmesan cheese or a spoonful of sour cream.
How Long to Boil Sweet Potatoes for Mashing
Sweet Potatoes, when cut into small chunks, take a relatively short amount of time to boil, 15-20 minutes or until tender when poked with a fork. Older sweet potatoes may need extra time. If you’d prefer (or you’ve got a roast in the oven).
If you’d like, you can bake sweet potatoes instead of boiling and mash them once cooked. No need to peel before baking, simply bake whole sweet potatoes, cut in half and scoop out the soft flesh.
How to Mash Sweet Potatoes
- Drain very well to ensure they’re not watery.
- Sweet potatoes mash best while they’re warm.
- Heat the cream before adding it to the potatoes.
- Mash sweet potatoes with a hand masher for a more rustic consistency (aka a bit less smooth).
- Use a hand mixer or immersion blender for a smoother consistency.
Got Leftovers?
Fridge: Mashed sweet potatoes will last about 4 days in the fridge in a container or covered with plastic wrap.
Freezer: To freeze, scoop smashed sweet potatoes into a plastic freezer bag. Press them out into a flat square and freeze. This will help ensure the potatoes defrost and reheat evenly! When you reheat them, add about a tablespoon of milk per cup of sweet potatoes and place them in the oven to reheat.
Add Leftover Sweet Spuds to These Recipes
Sweet potatoes blend well with many ingredients! Use the leftovers to top Shepherd’s Pie for an amazing twist on a classic! Use sweet potatoes in Potato Cakes or Duchess Potatoes in place of regular potatoes. They can be used pretty much anywhere you’d use regular potatoes!
More Sweet Potato Faves
- Sweet Potato Casserole – perfect for Thanksgiving Dinner
- Classic Sweet Potato Pie
- Sweet Potato and Apple Casserole – Reader favorite!
- Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
- Sweet Potato Salad
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Brown Sugar Roasted Sweet Potatoes – sweet & savory
- Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes peeled
- ⅓ cup butter cut into 4 pieces
- ⅓ cup half and half or milk, warmed
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Dice potatoes into 2" chunks.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and boil until tender, about 15 minutes.
- Drain well and allow to sit in the strainer for a few minutes to make sure all water evaporates.
- Add butter to the potatoes and mash with a potato masher. Add cream or milk a little bit at a time to reach desired consistency. You may not need all of the cream.
- Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot and top with a dash of cinnamon if desired.
Notes
- If you prefer a sweeter mashed potato, add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar along with the butter.
- Sweet potatoes can be baked in the oven instead of boiling. Cook at 400°F for about 1 hour or until fork tender.
- Drain very well to ensure they're not watery.
- Sweet potatoes mash best while they're warm.
- Heat the cream before adding it to the potatoes.
- Mash sweet potatoes with a hand masher for a more rustic consistency (aka a bit less smooth). Use a hand mixer or immersion blender for a smoother consistency.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
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How about marshmallows on top
If adding marshmallows, we use this sweet potato recipe so they get a little toasty.
About how many cups does one recipe make?
It makes about 8 cups of mashed sweet potatoes.
I would love to make this recipe but how much salt do you put in the water to make it ‘salted water’?
Hi Koko, to make ‘salted water’, I would add 1-1.5 teaspoons of salt for every 8 cups of water. (Depending on your personal preference, of course!)
Remove skin or leave on?
The sweet potatoes are peeled.
This was amazing! If you’ve ever tasted Boston Market sweet potatoes, this is by far the closest I have ever tasted to their recipe! Delicious!
1/2 & 1/2 subs well for cream. I liked a little herbes de Provénce on mine. The bride loved it as is. Subtle and silky… Dang!
OMG Holly! I am in love These mashed sweet potatoes blew my mind! I used half n half and added brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice as suggested. Can’t wait to make them again. Thank you for sharing such a tasty side dish!
I am so glad you loved this recipe Jessica!
Delicious!
Hi Holly, easy and delicious recipe,
I appreciated
Keeped
Thanks, Milena! Glad you are enjoying it ❤️
I went to Applebee’s a few years ago and had their maple pecan mashed sweet potatoes.
And let me tell you, they were really delicious.
Please don’t knock it until you try it.
nice recipes
Hi Holly! It’s been awhile since I made mashed sweet potatoes, so I went searching for a quick and easy recipe. I made these last night- with the boiled potatoes, and it was so yummy! Thanks for sharing all your tips. We served it with ham and it was the perfect side dish.
So glad you enjoyed them Julianne! <3
With my homemade sweet potatoes, I add butter and sugar free maple syrup since we’re both diabetic. Yummy!
Yummy additions Gwen!
hello I’m an italian follower of yours.
Love your recipes.
I have a blog myself of a few days and Id love to do some of your recipes and post on my blog.Could I do that with a tag that is taken from your page? Thanks
Claudia
Thank you Claudia! Please review the Spend With Pennies policies. Good luck with your blog!
I add brown sugar and cinnamon when I mash the sweet potatoes – no milk or cream. Top with butter…. delicious!
That sounds delicious Sue! Thanks for sharing.