Creamy sweet potatoes are a savory-sweet side dish full of buttery smooth flavor. These mashed sweet potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to any meal and are made with just 3 ingredients aside from salt and pepper.

bowl of Mashed Sweet Potatoes with spoon

Why this recipe works

This mashed sweet potatoes recipe is slightly savory and a perfect base for any flavor additions. While sweet potato casserole is our go-to for the holidays, mashed sweet potatoes are a great year-round dinner side that compliments all sorts of dishes.

Easily make them sweeter with warm fall spices, a drizzle of maple syrup, or a sprinkle of brown sugar, or elevate the savory by adding garlic powder, onion powder, or even a hint of paprika.

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overhead view of a bowl of Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

SWEET POTATOES – Choose sweet potatoes that are firm and void of any bruises. To mash, you can use an electric mixer, food processor, immersion blender, or a hand masher.

How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Peel and dice the sweet potatoes into 1 inch cubes. Add to a pot with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil and cover for 10 minutes or until fork tender. Drain the sweet potatoes of excess water and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Add the milk, butter, salt, and pepper to the bowl and use a hand mixer to quickly mash the sweet potatoes.
Transfer to a serving bowl and smooth with the back of a spoon to create ridges. Top with two pads of butter and fresh parsley. The butter will melt into the ridges ensuring a silky, buttery drizzle in every spoonful.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

How do I store leftover mashed sweet potatoes?

Store the sweet potatoes in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave.

How do I make them sweeter?

To make them sweeter, add a bit of brown sugar, fall spices like cinnamon, or drizzle on some maple syrup.

Serving Suggestions

Mashed sweet potatoes complement fish very well like cod, salmon, and walleye as well as poultry, pork, and red meat. They’re highly versatile and really do go with so many different main courses. You can spice them up with warm seasonings like cinnamon for a sweeter taste or go the more savory route by adding onion powder, garlic powder, or paprika. Serve them along with vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, green beans, or Brussel sprouts.

More Side Dish Recipes

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This post originally appeared on this blog on November 1, 2021.