These unbelievably creamy whipped sweet potatoes are savory and sweet at the same time. The combination of butter and warmed milk creates a lusciously smooth texture that no one can resist. Serve it as is or with crumbly candied bacon and fresh parsley.
From quite a few sweet potato recipes on this blog such as Twice Baked Sweet Potato With Bacon And Cheese, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, and classical Easy Baked Sweet Potato, I think these whipped sweet potatoes are the easiest foolproof recipes so far I've made.
Ultra creamy sweet potato mash every time.
This is an adaptation of my Mashed Garlic Potatoes With Cream Cheese and Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes recipes.
I combined both to make it more suitable for the naturally sweet flavor of sweet potatoes. I don't add brown sugar to the potatoes, but instead I cook the bacon until crumbly with the sugar so it creates a light version of candied bacon.
This step is still optional but so worth it. The truth is, sweet potatoes will still taste sweet even if someone calls it savory sweet potato mash.
We love to serve it with our favorite main courses - Pork Tenderloin With Lingonberry Sauce, Pan Seared Pork Chops, or with perfectly flaky and tender Baked Trout, or simply a part of various holiday side dishes such as Cheesy Green Bean Casserole and Deviled Eggs.
There is a skip-to-recipe button in the top left corner along with a clickable table of contents list (just below) that will quickly take you to the part you are more interested in. Enjoy!
Jump to:
Ingredients
My few comments on the ingredients + don't forget to read the Tips section!
The full recipe and ingredients can be found in the recipe card below this post.
If you want to try regular mashed potatoes instead, meet my Mashed Garlic Potatoes With Cream Cheese. This is one of our favorite side dishes to enjoy all year long.
- Sweet Potatoes - this is for you to decide whether the skins on or off. Both are suitable here, but for ultra creamy and smooth you gotta peel those skins off. For a rustic look, leave them on.
- Sweet Potato types - Any regular orange sweet potato is great but if you want to experiment, try Stokes purple sweet potato, White Japanese sweet potato, or white sweet potato mash. Did you know that there are many varieties of sweet potatoes? Their flavor ranges from mild to extra sweet. The flavors are very similar but each potato has its own subtle texture and taste.
- Butter - unsalted or salted is your choice and you may not need to add extra salt at all. Although I love my sweet potatoes properly seasoned.
- Milk - any fat % milk will work here, as you only need a little here. Non-dairy milk options work very well as well, on different occasions I’ve used oat milk, coconut milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk (just make sure they have no added sugar).
- Sugar - You only need a teaspoon of brown sugar here which is totally optional, as the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes adds lots of flavors. Leave the sugar out completely if want more savory mash.
Instructions
Essentially, for sweet potatoes recipe, you have two options. Steaming (you don't even need a steamer, just use a large saucepot with a steamer basket over the top) and boiling.
I still find that the boiled option is easier and essentially is my go to preferred method. Cook the potatoes in large pot with salted water and some black pepper.
Boil until potatoes are fork-tender. About 10-15 minutes. You can either cook whole potatoes or slice them into cubes to reduce cooking time.
Drain well until all the water is removed and evaporated. Return the potatoes to the pot or a large bowl.
Add butter to the pot, and whip the potatoes with a hand mixer, whip with a blender (more smooth consistency) over medium speed or use a hand masher for more rustic consistency).
What I like to do, is first roughly mash the potatoes with a potato masher, then add milk and whip with an electric hand mixer until creamy.
In batches, add warm milk and potatoes constantly whipping the potatoes until all combined and creamy.
Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a pan with some brown sugar until crumbly.
So it is not the most candied bacon with this amount of sugar but you can add more if you like the sweet and savory combo happening here.
Season the potatoes with salt and pepper. Serve this classic side dish hot with bacon crumbles and fresh parsley, fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs and plenty of butter.
Tips
- If you like more savory sweet potato mash, leave the brown sugar bacon out and add more salt and black pepper.
- You can use all the methods to cook the potato: bake (at 400 F until soft), steam, or boil the potatoes until fork tender.
Warm milk or even warmed heavy cream will give the smoothest consistency to your potatoes. And butter same.
- Candied bacon - Okay, it is not the authentic way of making candied bacon but it’s a quicker version for sure. I added just a little amount of brown sugar when cooking the bacon. For more caramelized look and feel add more sugar or sub with maple syrup or liquid honey. For healthier sweet potato mash leave it out.
- Don’t let the potatoes cool as it will be more difficult to mash them later.
Are mashed sweet potatoes healthier than regular mashed potatoes?
If you are still debating whether sweet potatoes are healthier than white potatoes then I’d say they are pretty similar and both very nutritious.
All potatoes contain vitamin C, potassium, calcium, fiber, and many other nutrients. However orange Sweet potatoes have the antioxidant beta carotene and the important to our bodies vitamin A.
It also has a higher GI (glycemic index) than regular white potatoes, which helps the sweet potatoes digest more slowly keeping the blood sugar levels steady. That's the main difference.
And what goes for nutrition value - The macronutrients for both of these are pretty similar but one cup of raw regular white potatoes has 1 gram of sugar whereas sweet potatoes have 6 grams.
What flavors are good on sweet potatoes?
Smooth Sweet potato mash is a perfect side dish for any occasion. However, if you are ready to go the extra mile, then I highly recommend trying something different this time.
There are a ton of different ways you can customize these sweet potatoes.
So what goes well with sweet potatoes?
- Herbs - this is what makes any dish taste different from others and brings the potato flavor out from a different angle. Rosemary and thyme are your go-to can't-go-wrong options but we also like marjoram, cilantro, tarragon, and fresh, dried, or ground oregano. All herbs can be used fresh or dried.
- Spices - all your traditional pumpkin spices work well here. The Saigon ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Sprinkle little cayenne, chili, or smoky ground chipotle right before serving. It will not taste overly spicy but will add that necessary smokiness that just brings out the sweet and savory sweet potato flavor so much better.
- In terms of other options for serving sweet potatoes, we like it with popular Thanksgiving main courses such as Pork, Ham, Duck, Chicken, and Turkey. Thes are traditionally made with a sweet glaze and sweet potatoes simply just work well with those combinations of maple syrup, honey, cranberry sauce or lingonberry sauce, brown sugar, and candied pecans.
For an added boost of flavor try some of these tasty combinations:
Sweet - Sweet Potatoes:
- With Vanilla Bean (paste) and Brown Sugar
- Pecans and Rosemary/Thyme/Tarragon
- And the classics Marshmallows
- With Candied nuts
Savory - Sweet Potatoes With:
- Lemon and herbs
- A ''ton'' of Garlic and herbs
- Browned sausages stuffing
- Bacon crumbles
- Feta and Herbs
- Smoked ham and arugula or kale for serving on top
- Make it Spicy: with ground chipotle, cayenne, chili powder sprinkled on top before serving
- Ginger and cinnamon or pumpkin spice flavors
Whether you decide to add extra toppings and flavors, this comforting side dish is guaranteed to have raving reviews from your guests!
Freezing And Storing Instructions
Store the whipped sweet potatoes in a glass airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat leftovers in a small saucepot or microwave with extra milk, butter, or oil to get the initial creamy consistency back.
Can you freeze mashed potatoes? Even though I don't recommend freezing this as the flavor will change but if you need to, freeze it in a zip lock bag for up to 2-3 months. Thaw and then reheat the same way as described above.
FAQ
Even though I don't recommend freezing this as the flavor will change but if you need to, freeze it in a zip lock bag for up to 2-3 months. Thaw and then reheat the same way as described above.
It all comes down to personal preference. Just like with mashed potatoes or a rustic-looking mash leave the skins on but make sure to wash and scrub the potatoes well before cooking. For a classic smooth and creamy texture, peel your sweet potatoes.
Cut the sweet potatoes into chunks and cook in boiled water for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes become knife/fork tender.
You can also bake the sweet potatoes in the oven but this will dry them out slightly and is not ideal for mashed potatoes. You’ll have to add more milk to your recipe. Spread the chopped sweet potatoes (about 2-3 inches thick cubes) on a baking tray lined with parchment paper or foil. Spray with cooking oil and add your seasoning. Roast in preheated oven at 425 degrees F uncovered. But the quickest way is to bake them whole.
This usually happens when you have overmixed your potatoes with a hand mixer or food processor. There is a very small chance of this happening if you have used an old-school potato masher. Great news, you can probably still fix this. Add in melted butter (or olive oil) in batches, about 1 tablespoon at a time. Fold in gently into the potatoes and see if you need to repeat the process.
In case you have overmixed your potatoes or used the wrong ratios and now need to thicken your mashed potatoes, there is a solution. You can either continue to cook the watery mash in a pot, where the heat will help the excess moisture to evaporate. Although it is a little risky move as you can burn your mash and make the potatoes gummy instead. Another option with very watery potatoes is to thicken them with either flour (gluten free flour blend), cornstarch (naturally gluten free), or powdered milk. Start with 1 teaspoon at a time, stirring it into the potatoes mixture.
Easy Sweet Potato Recipes
ALL SIDE DISH recipes.
We also love classical favorite holiday recipes such as Sweet Potato Casserole.
I hope you'll enjoy these easy whipped sweet potatoes, please leave a rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo of your food and tag me on Instagram @theyummy_bowl. I love seeing your creations!
Thank you for reading,
Love,
Julia
Whipped Sweet Potatoes With Candied Bacon
INGREDIENTS
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and chopped into 2 or 2.5-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons salted butter or unsalted + more for serving
- ½ cup milk warmed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar optional, leave out if want more savory flavor
- Freshly chopped parsley for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
- For potatoes, you have two options. Steaming and boiling. I still find that the boiled option is easier and gives the best result. Coo the potatoes in salted water and some black pepper. Boil until potatoes are fork-tender. About 10-15 minutes.
- Drain well until all the water is removed and evaporated. Return the potatoes to the pot.
- Add butter to the pot, and mash the potatoes with a hand mixer, blender (more smooth consistency) or hand masher (more rustic consistency). In batches, add warm milk and potatoes constantly whipping the potatoes until all combined and creamy.
- What I like to do, is first roughly mash the potatoes with a potato masher, then add milk and whip with an electric hand mixer until creamy.
- Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a pan with some brown sugar until crumbly. So it is not the most candied bacon with this amount of sugar but you can add more if you like the sweet and savory combo happening here.
- Season the sweet potatoes with salt and pepper. Serve hot with bacon crumbles and fresh parsley ad more butter.
Video
NOTES
- Warm milk or even warmed heavy cream will give the smoothest consistency to your potatoes. And butter same.
- If you like more savory sweet potato mash, leave the brown sugar bacon out and add more salt and black pepper.
- You can use all the methods to cook the potato: bake (at 400 F until soft), steam, or boil the potatoes until fork tender.
- Don’t let the potatoes cool as it will be more difficult to mash them later.
PRIVATE NOTES
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
This recipe has been inspired from here.
Julia
Ultra creamy classical whipped sweet potatoes.