Mashed Sweet Potatoes are the perfect combination of simple and sophisticated. They’re a quick and easy option for weeknight dinners and a great way to elevate your holiday table.
Made with only 3 ingredients (not including salt and pepper), these savory mashed sweet potatoes are gluten-free, vegetarian, and Whole30 compliant. They’re a great alternative to traditional Mashed Potatoes and a go-to for potlucks or holidays.
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite vegetables because they’re so flavorful and versatile. If you’re looking for other sweet potato recipes to feature this fall, try my Sweet Potato Casserole or Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
Ingredients Needed
- Sweet Potatoes — You’ll need 2.5 lbs. of sweet potatoes peeled and diced, which is about 2 large or 4 to 5 medium potatoes.
- Butter — I use salted butter. You can also use ghee as a Whole30 substitution.
- Parmesan — To make this recipe Whole30 or Paleo, you can omit the parmesan cheese or use a substitution.
Instructions for making mashed sweet potatoes
- In a large pot of salted water, bring water to a boil and then add the diced sweet potatoes.
- Cook until the sweet potatoes are fork tender.
- Drain the sweet potatoes and return them to the pot or transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Then, add in the butter, parmesan, and salt and pepper.
- Mash the sweet potatoes to your desired consistency. If you like a chunky texture, use a potato masher or a fork. Stir all the ingredients well. If you prefer a creamier texture, use an electric hand mixer on low speed or a food processor.
- Transfer the mashed sweet potatoes to a serving bowl and top with more butter.
- Add a garnish of fresh herbs if you’d like, then serve and enjoy!
What To Serve with Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Savory protein: Mashed sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish for meat with complementary flavors, like my roasted pork tenderloin or easy roasted turkey leg.
Thanksgiving dinner: This recipe also makes a wonderful addition to your holiday table. For a complete Thanksgiving spread, serve it with garlic butter turkey breast, garlic butter green beans, cranberry orange sauce, and gluten-free cornbread.
Recipe Variations
Rich and creamy: To make these mashed sweet potatoes even more decadent, add a splash of heavy cream, Greek yogurt, creamy coconut milk, or a dollop of sour cream, similar to my creamy savory mashed sweet potatoes recipe.
Vegan: With just a couple of substitutions, you can easily make this mashed sweet potatoes recipe vegan. Swap out the butter for your preferred plant butter or coconut oil and use nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese.
Sweet: To make it sweet, use ingredients like maple syrup, cinnamon, almond milk, brown sugar, and top with marshmallows.
More Seasonal Side Dishes
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
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Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs. sweet potatoes about 2 large, peeled and diced
- salt for boiling water
- 3 tablespoon salted butter you can use ghee for Whole30
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup Parmesan omit it if you're doing Whole30 or paleo.
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil then add sweet potatoes and salt.
- Cook until potatoes are tender.
- Drain cooked sweet potato and add in butter, salt and pepper and Parmesan.
- Mash with a potato masher. Texture will be chunky. If you don’t like the chunky texture, you can use an electric hand mixer blend on low speed. Blend until smoother and creamy.
- Serve warm topped with more butter if desired.
Tips
- It’s faster to boil the potatoes when diced than to leave them whole.
- Use a fork or potato masher for a chunky texture, and an immersion blender or hand mixer for a smooth texture.
- Store uncooked sweet potatoes in a cool dry pantry for 7-10 days.
- Be careful not to overwork the sweet potatoes and make them sticky.
- Boil the sweet potatoes in chicken or vegetable broth for more flavor.
- To store: Place leftover savory mashed sweet potatoes in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- To reheat: You can reheat the mash in the microwave or stovetop with a splash of liquid to help loosen it up.
- To freeze: Freeze mashed sweet potatoes in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
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