Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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Decadent and savory, these Mashed Sweet Potatoes are lightly seasoned and flavored with butter, garlic, and heavy cream. The perfect indulgent side for any savory meal!

Mashed sweet potatoes in a bowl garnished with parsley.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

4.5 from 4 votes
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Author: Kim
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Additional Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste (divided)
  • 1 garlic clove, small in size, halved
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

Instructions
 

  • Rinse, dry, peel (optional), and dice the sweet potatoes.
    2 pounds sweet potatoes
  • Place the sweet potatoes and garlic in a large pot, and cover them with water by about 1 inch. Add 1 teaspoon of salt, and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are fork tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.
    1 garlic clove
  • Drain off the water, and return the potatoes to the pot. Add the heavy cream, butter, remaining salt, and pepper.
    2 tablespoons heavy cream
    2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes to your desired consistency.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. See post for storage options.

Notes

*The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of about ½ cup of the mashed sweet potatoes. Actual calories will vary.
 
*For more information and tips, please refer to the post.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 136kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 389mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 16231IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 1mg
The finished mashed potatoes in a bowl.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

The easiest dishes are usually the tastiest. Take for example, these mashed sweet potatoes! Not only are they scrumptious, they’re also wonderfully easy to prepare. All it takes is a small list of  ingredients and a few minutes of your time for a filling side dish to grace your family table. These sweet potatoes are perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just a regular Thursday night dinner. 

Sweet potatoes tend to get overlooked when it comes to the side dish department. Or they’re relegated to the dessert table by being smothered in sticky marshmallows. Well, we’re here to bring them to the dinner table and bring this underrated dish to the main event. You can even make a vegan version by substituting the heavy cream and butter. 

Mash up these sweet potatoes with our savory suggestions or customize them with your own. Make them savory or make them sweet – either way these nontraditional mashed potatoes can’t be beat!

Mashed Sweet Potatoes compliment an array of dinners and dishes. Serve alongside some of our favorites like our oven roasted Apple Cider Marinated Pork Loin or our mouthwatering Boneless Skinless Baked Chicken Breast Recipe. Add these mashed sweet potatoes to the top of a Shepherd’s Pie in place of regular mashed potatoes.

How To Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes

  1. To prep your sweet potatoes, start by rinsing, drying, peeling (optional) the potatoes. Once cleaned, dice the potatoes into chunks or cubes.
  2. Place the sweet potatoes and garlic into a large pot and cover them with water by about 1 inch. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are fork tender, usually about 10 to 12 minutes.
  3. Drain off the water and return the sweet potatoes to the pot. Add in the heavy cream, butter, remaining salt, and pepper.
  4. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes to your desired consistency.
  5. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve hot.
Collage showing how to make mashed sweet potatoes.

Tips and Variations

  • Peel the sweet potatoes or keep the skin on for added texture (our personal preference).
  • To reduce the fat in the dish, consider using milk or half and half in place of the heavy cream.
  • Top these sweet potatoes with fresh chopped parsley or even sauteed onions.
  • For a sweet alternative, skip the garlic and sprinkle in some cinnamon sugar add a dollop of cinnamon butter. Top with honey butter and chopped walnuts or candied pecans.
  • Add chopped bacon and a drizzle of maple syrup for a unique flavor pallet. 
  • Add some spice to your sweet potatoes with some chopped jalapeños, red pepper flakes, or sriracha. 
  • Top with gruyere cheese for savory and melty goodness.
  • Make sure to adjust the amount of butter and heavy cream to reach the desired consistency.
A top-down view of the finished mashed potatoes.

Storage and Reheating

Refrigerator: You can store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating: These Mashed Sweet Potatoes can be reheated in the microwave, oven, or on the stovetop. Cook until warmed through.

Check Out More Of Our Favorite Sweet and Traditional Potato Recipes:

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4.50 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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