Mashed Sweet Potatoes (2024)

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!

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 outSweet 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, includingBaked 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.

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

1. Boil the Potatoes. Cut them into similarly sized chunks, then boil until tender and drain.

2. Season. Add the half-and-half and spices to the cooked sweet potatoes.

3. Mash. Don’t overdo it, or they’ll be tough and gummy.

4. 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.

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.

• 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 bakedSweet Potato Fries,Sweet Potato Wedges, orRoasted 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.