Not sure which side to bring to Thanksgiving? Need a healthy vegetable side for dinner tonight? Do you like traditional foods with a bit of a twist? Mashed Sweet Potatoes are for you!

Sweet potatoes are my favorite Thanksgiving side. Fact.

I’d even pick Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole or Glazed Sweet Potatoes over these perfect parmesan Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.

That said, I also feel a holiday meal doesn’t feel complete without some version of mashed potatoes involved.

My family’s solution is to serve sweet potatoes AND Crockpot Mashed Potatoes (we really never can get enough starch).
If you are cooking for a smaller group or want to leave room for other sides (e.g. Cauliflower Casserole, Healthy Green Bean Casserole, or any of these Thanksgiving recipes), making mashed sweet potatoes is a tasty 2-fer that covers both your mashed potato and sweet potato casserole needs!

This is a sweet-and-savory sweet potato recipe.

It has a touch of chipotle for smoky heat and maple syrup for sweet balance.

The combination is fantastic and makes this recipe taste special enough for a holiday.

Mashed sweet potatoes are also healthy and versatile enough to be an excellent option outside of November and December.

You can serve sweet potatoes with a wide range of proteins, including Baked Chicken Breast, Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, Baked Salmon in Foil, and more.

Tip!

No room on the stove or in your oven? Check out these Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes instead.

How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Another perk of easy mashed sweet potatoes is that they can be made in advance.

Reheat them either in a casserole pan in the oven, or gently on the stovetop. See “Meal Prep Tips” below for more.

To Peel or Not to Peel?

While I don’t mind leaving the peels on sweet potatoes when making baked Sweet Potato Fries, Sweet Potato Wedges, or Roasted Sweet Potatoes, when it comes to mashing them, it is better to peel the sweet potatoes before boiling.

If you’d like to avoid peeling the sweet potatoes, you can roast them, then scoop out the flesh.

The best creamy mashed sweet potatoes in a bowl

The Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes. With natural sweetness and oodles of nutritional value, sweet potatoes are a fantastic addition to any meal. Mashing the sweet potatoes is an especially tasty and crowd-pleasing way to serve them.
Half-and-Half. Rich and creamy mashed potatoes are a must.
Spices. For smokiness, I used chipotle chile powder. For coziness and warmth, I used nutmeg and cinnamon.
Greek Yogurt. I used Greek yogurt as a sweet potato mash healthy swap. It creates a creamy texture and tangy flavor, but also adds protein and calcium.
Maple Syrup. Instead of making mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar, I opted to use maple syrup. It naturally sweetens the potatoes and elevates their flavor.
Butter. A mashed potato staple! No one can resist that decadent buttery flavor.

The Directions

Peel, cut, and boil the sweet potatoes.

Add the half-and-half and spices.

Mash the sweet potatoes.

Butter and Greek yogurt in a bowl of sweet potato vegetables

Stir in the yogurt, syrup, and butter.
Serve the potatoes in a bowl with thyme. DIG IN!

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate sweet potatoes in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat, in a casserole dish in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in the microwave.
To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Meal Prep Tip

To Prep In Advance. Up to 2 days in advance, peel, cut, and boil the sweet potatoes. Refrigerate them in an airtight storage container until you’re ready to finish the recipe.
Easy Meal Prep Tip. For easy mashed potatoes any night of the week, make a big batch and freeze leftovers in an ice cube tray. Transfer the frozen sweet potato cubes to a freezer-safe ziptop bag. Grab sweet potato cubes as desired and reheat from frozen.

What to Serve with Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Air Fryer

Air Fryer Pork Chops

20 mins

One Pot Meals

Cranberry Chicken

30 mins

Grilling

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

25 mins

A bowl of mashed sweet potatoes with herbs

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Saucepan. A must-have in every kitchen.
Potato Masher. My go-to tool for mashing potatoes. It can help you achieve chunky mashed sweet potatoes or creamy mashed sweet potatoes.
Measuring Spoons. This double-sided set of magnetic measuring spoons is easy to store.

The Best Saucepan

This saucepan is high-quality, heavy-duty, and ideal for so many different recipes. It’s an investment piece you’ll have for years to come!

Get on AMazon

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Don’t wait for Thanksgiving to try these smoky, maple-kissed mashed sweet potatoes.

This recipe is easy enough for dinner tonight—plus I always wish we ate Thanksgiving food more than once a year anyway!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Make Sure My Mashed Sweet Potatoes are Not Watery?

To make sure your potatoes aren’t watery, don’t overcook the potatoes. It’s also important to drain the potatoes completely once you’re done boiling them to avoid having unwanted water lingering in your pot.

Can I Make Dairy-Free Mashed Sweet Potatoes?

Yes, you can make these mashed sweet potatoes vegan. Use dairy-free alternatives for the half-and-half, Greek yogurt, and butter.

Is it Healthy to Boil Sweet Potato?

It is very healthy to boil sweet potatoes! This cooking method does not require any extra oils, saving both calories and fat.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These easy mashed sweet potatoes are the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Made with healthy sweet potatoes, maple syrup, and a hint of spice.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 279kcal

Author Erin Clarke / Well Plated

Ingredients

4 pounds sweet potatoes about 6 potatoes
4 teaspoons salt divided
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder (reduce to 1/4 teaspoon if sensitive to spice; increase to 3/4 to 1 teaspoon for more of a kick)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup whole milk plain Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
3 tablespoons unsalted butter diced
Chopped fresh thyme

Instructions

Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 1-inch cubes. Place in a large saucepan and cover with cool water so that the water covers the potatoes by 1 inch. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Continue simmering, adjusting the heat as needed, until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, then return the potatoes to the pot.
Add the half and half and chipotle chile powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and remaining 3 teaspoons salt.
Mash to your desired consistency.
Immediately add the Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and butter. Stir until evenly combined. Taste and adjust spices and salt as desired.
Transfer to a serving bowl and top with thyme. Enjoy warm.

Notes

TO STORE: Refrigerate sweet potatoes in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat, in a casserole dish in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in the microwave.
TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
TO MAKE AHEAD: Up to 2 days in advance, peel, cut, and boil the sweet potatoes. Refrigerate them in an airtight storage container until you’re ready to finish the recipe.
For easy mashed sweet potatoes any night of the week, make a big batch and freeze leftovers in an ice cube tray. Transfer the frozen sweet potato cubes to a freezer-safe ziptop bag. Grab sweet potato cubes as desired and cook directly from frozen.