Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes

With brown butter, garlic, maple syrup, bacon and fresh sage, this slow cooker mashed sweet potatoes recipe is the perfect side dish for the holidays. They are so easy and so good!

I love the holidays. More importantly I love Thanksgiving. It is by far my favorite holiday and it's because of two reasons - being with family and food! I mean I have a food blog for a reason.

I know everyone has their go-to sides for Thanksgiving and I'm no different. While it's tough to top some good old-fashioned mac and cheese, mashed sweet potatoes recipe is close.

Over the years I had tried different sweet potato recipes. I know the traditional side is a sweet potato casserole. But honestly they are too sweet for me. To me sweet potatoes don't need more sugar as they're sweet on their own.

Then I randomly made a brown butter sweet potato risotto that was out of this world. When Thanksgiving came, I figured why not try a version of that with mashed sweet potatoes. Ever since then, these have been a staple for our house. Give this mashed sweet potatoes recipe a try and you will feel the same way.

Jump to:

• Recipe Ingredients
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Can I Replace with Russet Potatoes?
• Do I Have to Use a Slow Cooker?
• Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
• Other Side Dish Recipes
• Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Recipe Ingredients

• Sweet potatoes - the star of the show.
• Bacon - added texture and flavor.
• Unsalted butter - browning the butter gives great flavor.
• Garlic and sage - adds flavor.
• Maple syrup - adds sweetness.
• Salt and black pepper - enhances the flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Add chopped sweet potatoes to slow cooker and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
2. With 30 minutes left, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy, about 5-6 minutes. Drain the excess fat and transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate.
3. Melt butter in same skillet and cook until starting to brown, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add garlic and sage and cook for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and set aside.
5. Using potato masher, mash sweet potatoes until desired consistency.
6. Stir in browned butter, maple syrup, salt, pepper and bacon. Serve immediately.

Can I Replace with Russet Potatoes?

Yes the rest of the flavors will work just as well with russet potatoes. Half Baked Harvest has a great recipe that is similar with her butter herbed mashed potatoes.

Do I Have to Use a Slow Cooker?

No. I just like to make these in the slow cooker as most of my other recipes during Thanksgiving are using the oven and stove top. If you want to use the oven, preheat to 400°F. Cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise and place cut side down on sheet pan.

Roast for 35-40 minutes or until you can easy squeeze the sweet potato so it would fall out of skin. Once cooked, remove skin and place in large mixing bowl before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

• You know the sweet potatoes are done when you can easily stick a fork or knife through the center of the potatoes.
• If you don't want to use pan, you can place bacon on parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.
• You will know the brown butter is ready when there is a nutty aroma and there are lightly browned specks on the bottom of the pan.

Other Side Dish Recipes

• Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
• Crispy Roasted Potatoes
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
• Homemade Cheddar Pierogies
• Baked Sweet Potato Fries

If you’ve tried this slow cooker mashed sweet potatoes recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.