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Mashed sweet potatoes in a bowl garnished with butter and thyme.
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5 from 7 votes

Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Most mashed sweet potato recipes boil the sweet potatoes, and while that is a good approach, it takes a long time, and you lose most of the flavor in the boiling water. My recipe here cooks them in a pot along with a bit of butter and heavy cream. The result is a super creamy sweet potato mash that comes together in under 30 minutes.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Aysegul Sanford

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 4 pieces, extra for topping if preferred
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 2 pounds sweet potatoes 3 medium-sized , peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup optional
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon pecans as garnish - optional
  • 1 teaspoon fresh herbs thyme or parsley, chopped - optional

Instructions

  • Place butter, heavy cream, sweet potatoes, maple syrup, salt, and black pepper in a medium-sized saucepan with a tight fitting lid.
    Person pouring in heavy cream into saucepan.
  • Stir well to combine.
    Person mashing sweet potatoes with a potato masher.
  • Cook, stirring occasionally, over low heat until sweet potatoes are soft (almost falling apart), 15-20 minutes. You can check doneness by inserting a knife into a sweet potato. If it comes in and out easily, it should be ready to mash.
    Person checking the doneness of a sweet potato cube with a knife.
  • Using a potato masher (or a fork), mash the potatoes. Taste for seasoning and add in if necessary.
    Person mashing sweet potatoes with a potato masher.
  • Place in a bowl or a plate (like I did) and garnish with pecans and/or butter.
    Mashed sweet potatoes in a bowl garnished with butter, thyme, and pecans.

Notes

  • Yields: This recipe yields approximately 4-5 cups of mashed sweet potatoes, enough to serve 4 people. The nutritional values below are per serving.
  • Make-Ahead: You can prepare the mashed sweet potatoes 1 to 2 days in advance of serving. Simply let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • Reheat: There are a few simple ways to warm them up:
    • Stovetop: Warm them gently over low heat with a splash of cream or butter until they reach your desired consistency. Stir frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
    • Oven: Place them in an oven-safe dish, cover loosely with foil, and let them warm up for about 10-15 minutes. 
  • Freezing: You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2 months. Just thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat to enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 343kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 565mg | Potassium: 791mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 32640IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 1mg

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