Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes with cinnamon and brown sugar are a delicious alternative to regular mashed potatoes.  Blend perfectly cooked sweet potatoes with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and half and half to create the most flavorful sweet potato side dish to go along with just about anything.

Looking for more sweet potato side dishes? You can also try our Sweet Potato Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows, Spicy Roasted Sweet Potatoes, or these Sweet Potato Fries.

Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

If you love sweet potatoes but have never tried mashed sweet potatoes then you are in for a real treat.  This recipe easily earns its spot next to regular mashed potatoes at the Thanksgiving dinner table.  This sweet potato mash is buttery, creamy, and has just a hint of cinnamon to compliment the brown sugar.

We have gone beyond simple instructions to provide you with tips on different ways to mash sweet potatoes, flavor variations, and substitutions as well as the best freezing and reheating methods.  Give this recipe a try and let us know what you think!

If you’re wondering what to make with Mashed Sweet Potatoes, be sure to try our Oven Baked BBQ Chicken, Oven Baked Chicken Breast, Honey Mustard Chicken, or some of our favorites such as Turkey, Crockpot Rump Roast, or Kalua Pork.

How to Mash Sweet Potatoes

First, you’ll need to cook your sweet potatoes.  This can be done by either boiling (as demonstrated in this recipe) or baking your sweet potatoes at about 400 degrees for 45 minutes – 1 hour.  

Once they are cooked, you have a few ways to mash your sweet potatoes:

• We highly recommend using a potato ricer if you want the lightest and fluffiest Mashed Sweet Potatoes.  They are inexpensive and easy to use and perfect if you like your smooth mashed potatoes.
• You can also use a hand potato masher, which is probably the simplest method and great for lumpy mashed potato lovers.  This way, you can mash your potatoes directly in the pot or bowl and you have a lot of control over how chunky or creamy you want them.
• A third method uses a standing electric mixer with a paddle attachment.  This is the fastest way, but be careful not to overmix, or you’ll end up with a gummy mess.  Gummy mashed potatoes are often the result of overmixing, so keep a close eye on them if you go this route.

Key Ingredients

• Sweet Potatoes – you want to look for small to medium-sized sweet potatoes with copper, red or orange skin.  For this recipe, we recommend removing the skin.
• Butter – you can use salted or unsalted butter for this recipe or olive or avocado oil if you want to be a little healthier.  You’ll need some for mashing into the veggies and some for a garnish.
• Half and Half – you can also use milk or heavy cream.
• Brown Sugar – we like to use light brown sugar, but you can use dark brown sugar if you’d like a stronger molasses flavor.
• Cinnamon – This is an optional but delicious flavor to add.
• Parsley – if you add parsley as a garnish, you’ll want to be sure and use fresh parsley.

How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes

1. Boil the sweet potatoes. Place the diced sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until fork tender.
2. Mash. Drain, then return the potatoes to the pot and add in the butter, half and half, brown sugar, and about 1 teaspoon of salt. Mash sweet potatoes with a potato masher or potato ricer, getting out all of the largest chunks and mashing as chunky or smooth as you like.
3. Serve. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired, then scoop the Mashed Sweet Potatoes into a serving dish.  Finish with a pat of butter and chopped parsley if desired.  Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

• Garlic and Herb Sweet Potato Mash – for a more savory version, try heating about 1 tablespoon of olive oil or butter in a saute pan and adding 1-2 teaspoons of fresh minced garlic along with 2 tablespoons of your favorite herbs (we recommend sage, rosemary, and thyme).  Saute for about 2 minutes until fragrant, then mix into your Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
• Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes – instead of brown sugar, you can add pure maple syrup for a different flavor profile.  
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Bacon  – cook homemade bacon bits (or better yet, make a batch of Candied Bacon to chop up!) and sprinkle a generous amount over the top of your Mashed Sweet Potatoes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing and Reheating Instructions

• Refrigerator: store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: cool them to room temperature before transferring to freezer bags. Press them so that they lay flat and freeze for up to 3 months. 
• How To Reheat Sweet Potato Mash on the Stovetop:  Transfer to a small saucepan and reheat over low-medium, stirring occasionally and adding extra butter or a touch of milk if needed.
• To reheat in the Microwave: transfer to a microwave-safe dish and reheat based on your microwave’s settings (either half-power, defrost… whatever works best).  Make sure to stop and stir occasionally and add butter as needed.
• To reheat in the Oven: Reheating any type of mashed potatoes in the oven is simple if you already have it set at 350 degrees for something else.  Just put the frozen potatoes into a covered baking dish, place them into your preheated oven, and heat for about 30 minutes, or until warm.  Once warm, you can mix in any additional butter or milk that you would like.

More Delicious Sweet Potato Recipes

• Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
• Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
• Best Sweet Potato Fries
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping
• Chili Spiced Sweet Potato Chunks
• Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole

More Easy Mashed Potato Recipes

• Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
• Gruyere Mashed Potatoes
• Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
• Holiday Mashed Potatoes
• Root Vegetable Mashed Potatoes
• Twice Baked Potatoes
• Twice Baked Potatoes Casserole
• Cheesy Holiday Potatoes
• Mashed Red Potatoes
• All of our Potato Recipes
• More Side Dish Ideas

These Mashed Sweet Potatoes are buttery and creamy with just a hint of cinnamon to compliment the brown sugar. They make a simple and delicious alternative side dish to regular mashed potatoes.