Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

This easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe is a simple and delicious side dish for your next family dinner!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword easy mashed sweet potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings - 6 people

Calories 210kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
¼ cup salted butter, diced, at room temperature
¼ cup milk, at room temperature (I prefer whole milk or 2% milk for this recipe)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Salt and pepper

Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with about 1 inch of water. Season generously with salt. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until the potatoes are very tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well.
Add butter, milk and brown sugar to the hot potatoes; mash with a potato masher or, for a fluffier, smoother texture, beat on high speed with an electric mixer. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

How to mash sweet potatoes by hand: You can mash sweet potatoes using a potato masher or large fork, which will give the dish a nice, rustic consistency. If you prefer smoother, fluffier mashed sweet potatoes, use a hand mixer, immersion blender or food processor.
Spices for Mashed Sweet Potatoes: If you would like some warm spices in your mashed sweet potatoes, you can add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg. If you prefer more savory seasonings, try adding herbs such as parsley, thyme, chives or rosemary.
To serve a larger family, double all of the ingredients. The rest of the cooking instructions remain the same.
I prefer 2% or whole milk in this mashed sweet potatoes recipe, because the higher fat content yields a smoother, creamier dish. You can substitute with half-and-half or heavy cream, if you like.
Make sure that the milk and butter is at room-temp or warm. Adding cold ingredients to hot potatoes brings down the temperature of the dish (lukewarm potatoes do not taste as good!), and it also makes it harder for the potatoes to absorb the liquid. If your potatoes can absorb more liquid, they will turn out creamier!