Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Reasons to love the easy slow cooker side dish

1. Made with just 4 simple ingredients — couldn’t be easier!
2. No need to stand next to the stovetop boiling yams. Just dump, cook, and mash in the slow cooker.
3. Frees up valuable oven space during busy holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
4. The mash turns out sweet, creamy, and fluffy every time — simply perfect.
5. Mash and serve straight from the slow cooker for less mess and fewer dishes.

How to make mashed sweet potatoes in slow cooker?

You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.

Cooking time

For perfectly soft and mashed sweet potatoes, cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours in your slow cooker. The exact cooking time can vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of your potato slices and the brand of your crockpot. If your slices are thicker than ½ inch, you may need to add 30–60 minutes of cooking time.

You’ll know the sweet potatoes are ready when they’re fork-tender and easily mashable — no need to transfer to another bowl!

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.

Tips for Success

• Mash while hot for the creamiest texture — sweet potatoes mash best when warm and soft.
• This recipe uses 3 pounds of yams, serving approximately 6 people. If you're making it for a crowd during Thanksgiving or Christmas, simply double the ingredients and add about 1 extra hour of cooking time in the slow cooker.
• Add milk gradually. Sweet potatoes vary in moisture content, so start with less liquid and add more as needed to reach your desired consistency.
• Taste and adjust. Feel free to adjust the seasoning or brown sugar based on your taste — some like it sweeter, others prefer a more savory.
• Slice evenly. Thicker sweet potato rounds will take longer to cook, while thinner slices cook faster and may break down more easily.
• Storage. The sweet potato mashed potatoes will last about 4 days in the fridge in a container or covered with plastic wrap.
• Freezing and Reheating. Scoop crockpot sweet potato into a plastic freezer bag. Seal well and freeze for up to 2 months. When you reheat them, add a dash of milk and heat them over low heat in the crockpot.

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.