Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes are the easiest side dish for Thanksgiving or a holiday meal. Just dump, cook, and mash in your crockpot!
If you are looking for more sweet potato side dishes, try our sweet potato biscuits or the sweet potato souffle next!
Why You'll Love This Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes
After my healthy mashed sweet potatoes became a popular Thanksgiving side, I knew I had to create a crockpot version!
Just add the sweet potatoes, brown sugar, and butter to the crockpot and let it do the work! It’s an easy, hands-off side dish, and you can keep the mashed sweet potatoes warm until you’re ready to serve. Just as easy as my instant pot mashed sweet potatoes.
-maria doss
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Tips for Success
- Mash while hot: Sweet potatoes are easiest to mash when they’re warm and tender.
- Serving size: This recipe uses 3 pounds of sweet potatoes and serves about 6. For a crowd, double the ingredients and allow about 1 extra hour of cooking time.
- Adjust to taste: Add more brown sugar for sweetness or adjust the seasonings as you like.
- Slice evenly: Cut the sweet potatoes into even slices so they cook evenly.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezing and reheating: Freeze in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat on Low in the slow cooker with a splash of milk to restore the creamy texture.
FAQ'S
For soft, easy-to-mash sweet potatoes, cook them on High for about 4 hours or Low for 6 hours. The exact time may vary depending on how thick you slice the potatoes and your slow cooker model. If your slices are thicker than ½ inch, they may need an extra 30–60 minutes.
To check if they’re ready, pierce a slice with a fork. It should slide in easily, and the sweet potatoes should be soft enough to mash without much effort. If they are not ready, give them an additional 30 minutes before checking again.
A slow cooker is a great way to keep mashed sweet potatoes warm until dinner without taking up stove space. Here’s how to keep them creamy and prevent them from drying out.
1. Grease the slow cooker. Lightly coat the insert with butter or nonstick cooking spray to keep the sweet potatoes from sticking around the edges.
2. Add hot mashed sweet potatoes. Transfer the potatoes to the slow cooker while they’re still hot. Slow cookers are designed to keep food warm, not heat it quickly from cold.
3. Use the Keep Warm setting. Cover with the lid and set the slow cooker to Keep Warm. If your model doesn’t have this setting, Low may work, but check the temperature to make sure the potatoes don’t overheat.
4. Stir occasionally. Keep the lid on as much as possible, but stir gently about once an hour. If they start to look dry, stir in a splash of warm milk or cream, or a little butter, to bring back their creamy texture.
For the best texture, keep the mashed sweet potatoes warm for about 2 hours, and follow your slow cooker’s instructions for safe holding times and temperatures.
More Easy Side Dishes
Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 3 lbs sweet potatoes
- 6 tablespoon unsalted butter sliced
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ to ½ cup whole milk warmed
- 2 to 4 tablespoons packed brown sugar (use as desired)
Instructions
- Prep. Spray the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray. Wash and peel the sweet potatoes, cut into ½-inch thick slices and add them into the slow cooker.
- Cook. Add 6 tablespoon sliced butter, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and 2 tablespoon of water. Stir well, cover, and cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 6 hours.
- Finish. Add ¼ cup warm milk, 2 tablespoon brown sugar and mash well using a potato masher. Give them a taste and add more salt, brown sugar or milk if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
How to make mashed sweet potatoes in a slow cooker?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
Substitutions and Variations
This mashed sweet potatoes recipe is super versatile — you can make it sweet, savory, or somewhere in between depending on your preferences. Here are a few easy ways to switch it up:
- Add Fall Spices: For a cozy, sweet twist, mix in ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice.
- Make It Refined Sugar-Free: Swap the brown sugar for pure maple syrup for a naturally sweet option.
- Go Savory with Cheese: Skip the brown sugar and stir in shredded cheddar or Gruyère for a rich, savory version.
- Vegan & Dairy-Free Option: Use vegan butter or coconut oil in place of butter, and substitute with plant-based milk like almond or oat milk for a creamy texture without milk.
More mashed potato recipes for Thanksgiving
Looking to round out your menu with cozy and crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving vegetable side dishes? These creamy, flavorful mashed potato options are must-try additions to your list of go-to Thanksgiving recipes — easy to make and guaranteed to disappear fast!
- Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes are perfectly seasoned, so fluffy, and simply irresistible! No boiling required—simply slice the sweet potatoes, let your pressure cooker work its magic, and mash them right in the pot for easy cleanup.
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are buttery, perfectly seasoned, so fluffy, and simply irresistible! It is ready in under 25 minutes, you can't resist devouring it straight from the Instant Pot.
- Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes are irresistibly rich, buttery, and ultra-creamy—absolutely delicious! These homemade mashed potatoes are a crowd favorite, easy to make, and the perfect addition to any meal.
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Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
