Creamy, buttery and wonderful combination of sweet and salty is what mashed sweet potatoes recipe is all about. This savory sweet potatoes mash recipe is yummy side dish with almost any meal. Serve it with chicken, pork, beef, fish or even vegetarian meal, it pairs perfect!

sweet potato mash served with cubes of butter in white bowl

This is no fuss recipe. Simple, true to it’s flavors and delicious all the way. No need for extra fancy ingredients like marshmallows, pecans or crumb. Simply cook sweet potatoes, add in some flavors and seasonings, mash it. That’s it! It’s easy!

Why Do You Need To Make This Recipe?

Sweet potatoes are generally healthier choice than normal potatoes. It’s fiber-rich and has high Vitamin A.
People watching diet include sweet potatoes in their meal, it makes feel satiated and leave you full and satisfied. It’s low carb, gluten free and perfect choice of side dish.
It’s no fuss recipe, easy to make and you’ll not need any fancy ingredients.
You can make it sweet or savory. We love it in savory form and you’ll find this recipe leaning towards savory. Don’t forget to check flavor variations below.
Want a break from regular mashed potatoes recipe? Try this interesting version of mashed potatoes.
This will definitely be a show stopper on your dinner table!
Kids approved (my kids loved it), adults would go for second and third servings. Take my word!
Recipe works as great side dish with almost any meal, with meat, seafood or vegetarian meal.
Roughly chop potatoes, boil, mash, add flavors and seasonings. That’s it – ready in 4 simple steps!

Ingredients Needed

Here’s the list of ingredients you’ll need to make savory version of sweet potato mash.

Yukon Potatoes – adding Yukon potatoes along with sweet potatoes are completely optional. I love the texture and taste Yukon potatoes add to the dish. Feel free to skip Yukon potatoes completely.

If you have been a regular reader here, you know that I love flavors. Bland food does not appeal to me. Most of the recipes you won’t find onions, garlic and bay leaves added to make mash sweet potatoes. All three ingredients enhances the dish with flavor and taste.

How To Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Prep Work:

Using a peeler peel potato skin and dice all potatoes. You can dice them roughly about 1 inch cubes. Peel and dice Yukon potatoes as well if using. You can leave out Yukon potatoes and go ahead with only sweet potatoes. Your choice.

Peel onions and cut into halves.

Mince garlic clove.

Boil:

In a large pot add diced potatoes, onions halves, bay leaves, salt and water. Bring it to boil on medium high heat.

sweet potato and yukon potato added to cooking pot

boiling potatoes in large pot to make sweet potato mash

Once water starts boiling reduce flame to medium low and boil potatoes uncovered for about 9 to 11 minutes or until potatoes are tender (fork passes through and comes out of the potatoes easily).

boiling potatoes in large pot to make mashed sweet potatoes

sweet potatoes cooked until tender in large pot to make mashed sweet potatoes

Remove pot from stove. Remove onion and bay leaves from the pot.

onions and bay leaves removed from pot after cooking sweet potatoes

Drain potatoes in colander. Let potatoes sit in colander for couple of minutes so all water drains out and potatoes are dry.

Mash:

Using hand masher or potato ricer mash potatoes. When half done add softened butter, salt and pepper to taste, minced garlic. Continue to mash.

butter and seasoning added to mashed sweet potatoes

Add in sour cream and mash until it reaches it desired consistency.

sour cream added to the pot of mashed sweet potatoes

Serve:

Serve it mash potatoes as side dish with any meal. It’s great side dish for family gatherings and on holiday dinner table.

How Do You Cook Sweet Potatoes?

There are many ways to cook sweet potatoes that can be used to make mash. You can simple, peel, dice and boil them in water. Or cook whole sweet potatoes in instant pot.

Roast whole sweet potatoes in oven, peel off skin and use it to make mash.

Or microwave whole potatoes and mash it.

How Long To Boil Sweet Potatoes For Mash

Depending on the type of potato and it’s cut, the time can vary. You want to boil it until potatoes are tender. If potatoes are old, it’ll take longer time to boil. If potatoes are cut into bigger chunks, time to boil will be longer too.

I used newly harvested sweet potatoes from my garden(got few tiny potatoes and one giant palm sized potato from the plant). I cut them into 1 inch cubes and it took about 11 minutes until sweet potatoes were tender.

Best Way To Mash The Potatoes

Fork – using fork to mash sweet potatoes will give you coarser mashed potatoes.
Potato Ricer – If you have potato ricer, you definitely want to use it. Using potato ricer will give you creamier texture potatoes without lumps.
Electric Hand Mixer – You can use electric hand mixer too.
Hand Masher – Or go the traditional way and use hand masher. You’ll need to invest some time and hand muscle power to mash boiled potatoes using hand masher. Typically it may not lead to the creamiest textured potato mash, but hey potatoes are delicious any ways. I don’t mind the mash at all.
Food Processor – If none of the above is your chosen option, your last resort would be to run it for few pulses in food processor. I wouldn’t recommend this, as it alters the texture of the mash and that’s not my favorite texture.

Mashed Sweet Potato Flavor Variations

Make it savory or sweet in flavors, either way it’s guaranteed to taste great. Choose whichever suits your taste buds better.

Savory Flavors:

Garlic & Herbs – This recipe is exactly that. It’s savory flavoured mash with garlic and fresh herbs. Along with that onions and bay leaves are added to enhance the flavors a bit more. And trust me, it’s one of the best savory mashed potatoes you’ll ever make!

Bacon & Chives – Mashed potatoes generously sprinkled with crispy bacon and chives can’t go wrong. Potatoes and bacon are heavenly combination together, agree?!

Spicy – balance the sweetness of sweet potatoes by adding in some spicy flavors. Smoked paprika, chili powder, hint of coriander powder can be used to make it spicy.

Sweet Flavors:

Brown Sugar & Cinnamon – make this mash a bit more sweeter with brown sugar and generous pinch of cinnamon powder.

Caramelized Apples – saute sliced apples in butter until it’s caramelized. Top potato mash with caramelized apples.

Maple, Brown Butter & Pecans – Brown the butter, stir in maple syrup in it. Pour generously over mashed potatoes along with chopped pecans.

How To Store Leftovers

Got leftovers? Don’t worry, you can easily store potato mash for couple of days in fridge or freeze it for longer storage.

Store leftover sweet mash in bowl, cover with cling film and store for 4 days in fridge.

OR Divide leftover mash into individual serving portions, transfer to freezer friendly zip lock bags, press to flatten and squeeze out all air. Freeze for couple of months.

How To Reheat Frozen Mash?

Thaw frozen mash overnight in the fridge. Add few tablespoons of milk to frozen mash, and reheat it on stove top, or in microwave. Add in little butter too to make it creamier.