Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes are the perfect side dish for roast or grilled meats to serve at a special holiday meal or for a busy weeknight dinner. You’re going to love how this savory version comes together in minutes with simple ingredients, completely fuss-free!
This is a great Make-Ahead Thanksgiving recipe or one for a holiday dinner on a budget. It is delicious served with Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin or alongside sausages and Garlic Green Beans.
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Move over Sweet Potato Casserole and Sweet Potato Pie, there’s a new dish in town! This easy recipe for sweet potato mash seasoned with the perfect blend of spices is an excellent dish to serve alongside roast chicken or oven baked Thanksgiving turkey.
Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes are one of the best side dishes. They’re not too sweet, thanks to the savory flavors of olive oil, garlic, and spices, and they brighten up the dinner table with their vibrant color.
Naturally gluten-free as well as dairy-free, this is a Sweet Potato Mash recipe you’re gonna want on on busy weeknights all fall and into the holiday season.
Why Make This
These Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes are delicious. Seasoned with a bit of olive oil and garlic, savory sweet potatoes bring a little natural sweetness to the table which makes a nice foil for the other flavors on the plate. This is one of those great Thanksgiving side dishes kids love.
This sweet potatoes recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. Since regular mashed potatoes often contain dairy, this is a nice option for folks at your holiday table who avoid milk and butter or who eat vegan, gluten-free, or paleo-friendly.
It’s easy to make. This savory sweet potato mash recipe is super simple to make and can be made in advance and refrigerated or even frozen.
Try something new this year! This easy mashed sweet potatoes recipe is a great alternative to your traditional sweet potato recipe. No brown sugar or maple syrup in sight.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make Savory Mashed Potatoes:
sweet potatoes – You can use any type of sweet potato. They come in lots of different colors. Beauregard, Garnet, Hannah, and Okinawa are best for mashing.
garlic – The fresh garlic cloves will simmer and soften in the pot with the sweet potatoes, but if you have roasted garlic on hand, that would be a delicious option. In a pinch, you can add garlic or onion powder instead.
olive oil – I use olive oil to richen the mash. You can also use butter, margarine, or a plant-based butter.
spices – Salt, paprika, and freshly ground black pepper are all delicious additions to Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes, but feel free to add other spices or blends, such as Pumpkin Spice Blend.
fresh parsley – Finely chopped fresh parsley is a great garnish to finish the dish.
Variations: If you want creamy sweet potatoes, stir in some sour cream, Greek Yogurt, or cream. Leftover garlic butter or grated parmesan cheese would be a nice addition as well as chopped fresh thyme or other herbs. Feel free to embellish this recipe according to your preferences.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to make Savory Mashed Potatoes:
- Peel your sweet potatoes and slice into chunks or cut into cubes with a sharp knife.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, add the sliced or cubed sweet potatoes and garlic as well as enough cold water to cover and a teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. This may vary based on the type of sweet potato you choose. Drain the water.
- With a potato masher, mash the cooked sweet potatoes and garlic until very smooth. You can also use a stand mixer, immersion blender, food processor, or beaters for this.
- Stir in the olive oil, salt, paprika, and pepper. Add additional salt to taste and serve hot. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or fresh chives if desired.
- To freeze: store cooled mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the freezer, for up to 2 months.
To make these in the Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker, Place the sliced potatoes, garlic, and 1 cup water in the pot. Secure the lid and close the pressure valve. Cook on manual for 12 minutes or until tender. Proceed with the recipe.
FAQs
Due to the sweetness of sweet potatoes, you can season them with fresh herbs, spices, citrus, apples, honey, and butter. These creamy mashed sweet potatoes go well with rich meats like sausage, pork, or poultry.
As a delicious side dish for dinner, you can season them sweet or savory. We like olive oil and garlic, but you can also use warm spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.
Choose rich meats like pork, duck, sausage, or turkey to pair with sweet potatoes.
More Great Sweet Potato Dishes
Tell us what you think!
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Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Garlic
Equipment
- potato masher
Ingredients
- 3 lb sweet potato peeled and sliced ½-inch thick
- 4 clove garlic peeled
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a pot of salted water, boil the sweet potatoes and garlic until the potatoes are tender. Drain the water.3 lb sweet potato, 4 clove garlic
- With a potato mashed, mash the potatoes and garlic until very smooth. You can also use an immersion blender or beaters for this.
- Stir in the olive oil, salt, paprika, and pepper. Serve hot.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- To freeze: store cooled potatoes in an airtight container in the freezer, for up to 2 months.
Notes
- To freeze: store cooled mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the freezer, for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on November 10, 2013. It has been updated for content and clarity.
Julia
Great change from mashed white potatoes 🙂 Most of my crew loved this recipe.
Teddye Read
I’m starting the Whole 30 Plan. Nowhere do I see that potatoes are part of the plan and yet you have dishes with potatoes listed.
Jessica Fisher
The official Whole 30 has evolved somewhat over the years. When I did it in 2013, sweet potatoes were approved and later white potatoes were added for people who don’t struggle overeating them.
Carrie
I know this is an old post but hoping you’ll see this! If I make ahead and freeze, how do you suggest reheating to serve?
Jessica Fisher
I usually thaw completely and either bake in the oven or reheat in the microwave.
Lauren
These were delicious! I reduced the recipe and just made enough for one, but it was super tasty. I’ll be bookmarking and making these again for sure!
Jessica Fisher
So glad you enjoyed them. I already ate dinner, but now that sounds yummy, too!
another sue
Has anyone tried making these a day ahead and heating up – like in a double boiler, or chafing dish? (All advice appreciated, and well, needed, doncha’ know.) Thanks!
Jessica Fisher
I enjoyed the leftovers reheated in the microwave.
another sue
Good plan. Thanks!
Julian Korn
One spice you haven’t mentioned (i think)is nutmeg which gives a lovely finish but use sparingly: you want just a hint.
Jessica Fisher
Great point. Thanks, Julian. You’re right about just a little bit!
teresa
savory sweet potatoes get my vote, too. your mashed sweet potato recipe sounds delicious.
I’ve roasted sweet potatoes: cut in cubes, tossed in olive oil and sprinkled with a little salt, pepper and a little dried rosemary. it was thanksgiving (and oven space was premium) so just roasted them at the oven temperature the rest of the items needed. very yummy.
Sue R
I never understood the whole marshmallow thing. I never knew you could get “canned yams” until I became an adult. We always had sweet potatoes, but they were always prepared in a savory way and I love them. Can’t wait to try these!
Cecee
I love sweet potatoes especially sweet potato hash browns in the morning…. but I could be wrong on this…. I think the bright orange ones like pictured are actually yams. Sweet potatoes are more yellow.
Jessica Fisher
I explain it in a little more detail here: https://goodcheapeats.com/2013/03/sweet-potato-hashbrowns/ Yams aren’t actually available in the US, but red, or garnet sweet potatoes, are often called that to differentiate them from the white sweet potatoes. It’s complicated. 😉
Davina Gilroy
I am going to have to try sweet potatoes this way… I am not into the marshmallows either.
Kelly
I’m glad that somebody else thinks sweet potatoes are best when made savory. I can’t stand the taste of them when there’s all that sugar and sweet spices mixed in! I’ll have to try these for sure!
Sandi
I’m always looking for different things to do with sweet potatoes, so I think I might try this. If I opted to bake them (since the oven is on anyway) rather than boil, I’m thinking I should reduce the garlic a little, shouldn’t I? As the garlic is not being boiled and drained away, using the whole four cloves might make it too overpowering for the intentions of the recipe? (I ask this knowing full well that we quite like garlic so I might end up using the whole amount anyway but I like to know how things are supposed to be before I start “breaking the rules”)
Jessica Fisher
You mash the garlic into the potatoes, so yes, keep all four cloves. They’ll taste awesome if you roast them.
Sandi
I remembered I had some cooked and mashed but unseasoned sweet potatoes in the freezer. I thawed them out and made this with them. It was indeed quite a tasty dish. I don’t think the flavor was quite what I want for Thanksgiving, but it was great as a side dish tonight.