Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These Simple Mashed Sweet Potatoes are made with smooth cream, salty butter and warm spices, these potatoes are tasty enough to be served with just about anything.

Y’all these mashed sweet potatoes are something else! They are beyond creamy, buttery, silky smooth and jazzed up with warm spices. They are so good, you can eat a big ole bowl on their own. However, they are the ultimate sidekick with anything you want to serve them with. Y’all get ready to make my mashed sweet potatoes recipe a permanent part of any dinner menu you dream up. Get into it.

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Classic and smooth mashed sweet potatoes recipe with butter melting on it ready to serve

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Five star review

โ€œThis recipe is PHENOMENAL. Everyone that I make it for raves about it, and itโ€™s so easy. Thank you!!โ€

โ€”JULIA

Seriously yโ€™all, I LOVE ME SOME sweet potatoes! They can be made savory or sweet, they can be fried or baked but, most importantly, they can be mashed.

With a few simple ingredients, you can make some bomb mashed sweet potatoes that are a rave-worthy side dish. And the whole thing couldn’t be easier boos. Let’s get to (minimal) work!

The Lowdown of the Best Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Closeup of Jocelyn in pink dress smiling

Cuisine Inspiration: Southern comfort

Primary Cooking Method: Boiling and Mashing

Dietary Info: Dairy-packed; Gluten-Free

Key Flavor: Sweet, Buttery, Silky Smooth

Skill Level: Easy y’all (No Sweat Fam!)

With just a few ingredients and straightforward directions, you can create this sweet mashed potatoes recipe in no time with no fuss. We are just boiling, mashing and mixing boos!

This sweet potato mash has everything you love in a mashed potatoes dish. The potatoes are silky smooth, rich and buttery and whipped to straight up velvety perfection. Could anyone possibly turn this down?

From an easy side dish to the star attraction, this mashed sweet potato recipe fits any menu you can dream up.

Ingredients you’ll need to make this Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe

  • Sweet Potatoes: These are naturally sweet and full of flavor tasting even better when mashed to creamy perfection.
  • Salted Butter: Everything tastes better with butter baby! It adds richness and so much flavor y’all.
  • Light Brown Sugar: Brown sugar has a molasses, caramel-like flavor that plays with the sweetness of sweet potato perfectly.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream: Adding a bit of heavy cream makes our potatoes a more creamy and indulgent consistency.
  • Flavor Enhancers: Cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and of course, salt, are the true MVPs of this sweet potato recipe. Their addition adds so much warmth and layers of essence without being overwhelming.

How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potato cubes with spices, sugar and butter ready to mash
1
Boil those sweet potatoes in a pot with water until they’re “fork-tender” then add in your flavor goodies except the liquid.
sweet potatoes being mashed up to serve
2
Mash those potatoes and flavor enhancers then add in cream little by little.
Sweet potatoes mash being mashed with a hand masher
3
Mix and combine until they are the texture and consistency you like (nice and smooth boos). Then add butter for serving it up.

What to Serve Them With Sweet Potato Mashed Potatoes

Buttermilk fried chicken with a hint of smoked paprika is the vibe you need for this menu.
The best green bean casserole recipe with spoons digging in
Green bean casserole has the greens you need in a creamy, savory, flavorful package.
A close up of super flaky biscuits close up
Flaky biscuits will go perfectly with green beans, sweet potato mashed potatoes and fried chicken.
slices of brown sugar pound cake on a green cake stand on a white background
Brown sugar pound cake is the perfect way to end this delish Southern supper.

Recipe Substitutions

  • Salted Butter: Feel free to use unsalted butter here and add in a bit more salt to bring those flavors out.
  • Light Brown Sugar: Swap in dark brown sugar for more molasses flavor or use maple syrup or honey. You can also make homemade brown sugar if you have molasses and granulated sugar around.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream: Sour cream or even half-and-half is also a good option. You can add in more butter to increase the richness overall.
  • Ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg: Replace with a pumpkin pie spice blend or use ginger or allspice instead.

Recipe Variations and Additions

  • Vegan: Swap out the heavy cream for thick oat or coconut milk and the butter for your preferred plant-based butter alternative.
  • Bacon it Up: Sprinkle some candied bacon bits over the top to add in some smoky salty savory vibes.
  • Spice it Up: I love a kick so adding in some cayenne or red pepper flakes brings a little heat.
  • Add Marshmallows: Get into some sweet potato casserole vibes by adding some marshmallows on top and torching them up.

Expert Tips and Tricks

  • Mash While Hot: This helps get that creamy smooth texture we love.
  • Do You!: I like to add my liquid to the mix gradually while mashing together until I get the consistency I enjoy.
  • Season it Up: Taste before you serve them up. Add any additional salt to the mix you need.
  • Make It Easy: If you wanna save some time, use a hand mixer. Just don’t go overboard making the potatoes super gummy.
Sweet potatoes mash being mashed with a hand masher

How to Store and Reheat Sweet Mashed Potatoes

Pop the leftover sweet mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, I would suggest simply using a microwave. A couple minutes on high-heat will keep your mash intact.

If you donโ€™t have a microwave, stovetop will work just fine. Use a non-stick sauce pan and add a bit of milk or butter. Give it a stir often to be sure the potatoes wonโ€™t stick to the bottom and burn.

How long will sour cream mashed potatoes last in the fridge?

They can stay in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can I freeze mashed potatoes made with sour cream?

Yep for sure boos. You can but just know that the texture will definitely change and not be as smooth. To freeze, transfer the completely cooled leftovers to a large gallon freezer bag, remove all air then seal and add the date. Keep frozen for up to 5 months.ย Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I pick sweet potatoes for this recipe?

Look for red/orange sweet potatoes such as garnet, jewel or beauregard. These varieties offer the perfect amount of sweetness and a gorgeous color as well.

Can I bake the sweet potatoes instead of boiling?

For sure boos. Just know that it will take a longer time to get the dish ready but the pay off in roasting is it deepens the flavor adding some caramelization to the mix.

Can I make these mashed sweet potatoes ahead?

For sure boos. You can make and pop in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just reheat with the instructions above.

Now I know I talked your ear off about this mashed sweet potato recipe but it is a hit boos. And an easy one at that! You can whip this up super fast with just a few ingredients. Let’s get to it!

More Potato Recipes

Classic and smooth mashed sweet potatoes with butter melting on it ready to serve

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These Simple Mashed Sweet Potatoes are made with smooth cream, salty butter and warm spices, these potatoes are tasty enough to be served with just about anything.
4.86 from 14 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes up to 2 lbs/ (about 4 sweet potatoes), peeled and cut into 1โ€ pieces
  • 3 tbsp salted butter plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream up to 1/2 a cup based on your preference
  • dash of nutmeg

Instructions

  • Fill a large pot with sweet potatoes and water about an inch higher than potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until fork tender, about 15-20 minutes. Completely drain potatoes and place back into the pot.
  • Next add butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and begin to mash.
  • Add in cream in intervals, continuing to mash using a hand masher or hand mixer. Add as much as you want to get to the texture and consistency you enjoy. Once potatoes are completely smooth, serve with butter.

Notes

To reheat, I would suggest simply using a microwave. A couple minutes on high-heat will keep your mash intact.
If you donโ€™t have a microwave the stovetop will work just fine. Use a non-stick sauce pan and add a bit of milk or butter. Give it a stir often to be sure the potatoes wonโ€™t stick to the bottom and burn.

Nutrition

Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 90mg | Potassium: 301mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 12308IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg
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Filed Under:  Fall Recipes, Potatoes, Side Dishes, Stovetop, Thanksgiving, Winter Recipes

Comments

  1. Believe it or not I have been married 56 years and have never made sweet potatoes from scratch. Always used canned. Canned was good but I now want to make a larger quantity. Your recipe seems perfect for what I’m looking for. Adding the brown sugar is a plus. Of course marshmallows are a necessity for me. Adding some finely chopped pecans seem like a good idea. Some recipes add crushed pineapple. In the future maybe. Thanks for sharing your recipe. **

4.86 from 14 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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