Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Herb Butter

This savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe is a great easy side dish! It's creamy and tossed in an herb garlic butter. Rich and flavorful!

These Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes are flavored with lots of garlic and fresh herbs like thyme.

When we think of sweet potatoes we tend to think of them as, well, sweet. They're often piled high with brown sugar, maple syrup, and marshmallows. Personally, I feel that sweet potatoes are sweet enough and prefer to go savory with them.

They lend themselves well to many different herbs and spices. I love sweet potatoes in tacos, breakfast hash, and soups.

We all know and love Classic Mashed Potatoes but it turns out that their sweeter counterparts are just as delicious when mashed with butter and herbs.

This recipe makes a a great simple side dish for Thanksgiving or any holiday! They're easy enough to whip up any night of the week and they taste great alongside all kinds of roasted meats, vegetables, or greens.

Jump to:

• Do You Peel Sweet Potatoes Before Boiling?
• Ingredients For Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• How To Boil Sweet Potatoes
• How To Make Garlic Herb Butter
• Can I Use A Different Herb?
• What Pairs Well With Sweet Potatoes?
• Can You Freeze Mashed Sweet Potatoes?
• Can This Recipe Be Doubled?
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Herb Butter

Do You Peel Sweet Potatoes Before Boiling?

I normally do not peel potatoes before cooking because I enjoy the texture of the skins. I do recommend peeling the sweet potatoes before mashing them because the skins tend to become chewy and tough when boiling.

These Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes are creamy and buttery - The skins tend to get in the way in a recipe like this.

1. The first step is to wash and peel 2 large or 4-5 small sweet potatoes. A vegetable peeler works great to remove the skins. It's also important to cut out any tough or dark spots from the skin.
2. Once the potatoes are peeled dice them into pieces. It's important they are relatively uniform in size to ensure even cooking.

4-5 large sweet potatoes should yield 5-6 cups of diced potatoes.

Ingredients For Mashed Sweet Potatoes

You only need a few ingredients for this easy side dish!

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 2 large or 4-5 small Sweet Potatoes (yields 5-6 cups diced)
• 4 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter
• 2 Cloves Garlic
• ¼ tsp. Garlic Powder
• 5 Sprigs Fresh Thyme or Herb of Choice (or ½ tsp. Dried Thyme or Italian Seasoning)
• ½ tsp. Kosher Salt
• ½ tsp. Pepper

How To Boil Sweet Potatoes

Once the potatoes are diced it's time to boil them. This works much the same as boiling regular potatoes.

1. Place the potatoes in a large pot and add enough water to cover them by a few inches.
2. Add a generous pinch of kosher salt to the water.
3. Bring the water to a boil and cook uncovered for 15-18 minutes (cooking times will vary slightly depending on the size of the potatoes).
4. The potatoes are done once they can be easily pierced with a fork or knife. Drain the potatoes in a strainer once they are fully cooked.

How To Make Garlic Herb Butter

The thing that takes these sweet potatoes over the top is the melted garlic herb butter that gets poured over the top. This is where the majority of the flavor comes from so I highly recommend not skipping this step!

The butter can be prepared on the stove top while the sweet potatoes are boiling.

1. Add 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter to a small sauce pan and heat to low.
2. As the butter is melting add 2 whole cloves of garlic, ¼ tsp. garlic powder, and 4-5 sprigs of fresh thyme or herb of choice.
3. Continue to cook on low until the butter is fully melted and has become fragrant.

Can I Use A Different Herb?

Yes!

Feel free to use any type of herb you like - Rosemary, Oregano, Sage, or Parsley would all be great options.

You can also substitute dried Thyme, Italian Seasoning, or any variety of dried spice you like. Simply swap the fresh herbs for ¼ - ½ tsp. of your dried herb of choice.

1. Once the potatoes are strained return them to the pot and mash them with a potato masher.
2. Remove the sprigs of thyme, garlic cloves, and pour the melted butter over the potatoes. Continue to mash until all the butter is incorporated.
3. Add ½ tsp. kosher salt and pepper to the potatoes. Stir until completely combined.

What Pairs Well With Sweet Potatoes?

This dish is incredibly versatile. It pairs well with any type of meat including chicken, beef, ham, or turkey. You could even enjoy them topped with gravy at Thanksgiving.

If you choose to serve them for Thanksgiving they pair well with this homemade green bean casserole, wild rice fennel stuffing, fennel stuffing, Au Gratin potatoes, kohlrabi mash, and spiced butternut squash salad.

They would be great alongside bitter greens like kale, Swiss chard, or arugula. Roasted vegetables like these roasted green beans, sesame roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet spicy Brussels sprouts, or maple mustard Brussels sprouts are perfect.

I love them served with wild rice or something like quinoa.

Sweet potatoes are great with roasted meats like Braised Pot Roast, Instant Pot Pot Roast, or Dutch Oven Short Ribs.

Can You Freeze Mashed Sweet Potatoes?

Sometimes it's nice to prepared side dishes ahead of time, particularly if they are on a Thanksgiving or holiday menu.

Freezing them is a great way to have them on hand when you need them!

How To Freeze

1. Prepare the recipe as directed.
2. Allow the mashed sweet potatoes to come down to room temperature and place them in a heavy-duty freezer-friendly storage bag. Label the storage container with the date.
3. They should last up to 3 months in the freezer.

How To Thaw

1. Place the bag in the fridge 24 hours before serving.
2. Reheat the potatoes in a large pot on the stove top. Feel free to add some water, broth, or cream if they have dried out a bit.
3. They can also be reheated in the microwave.

Can This Recipe Be Doubled?

Yes!

This recipe can easily be doubled if serving more people. Simply double all of the ingredients if you would like to double it.

If you're used to preparing ultra-sweet sweet potatoes I encourage you to try a more savory version - It's a great way to switch up your potato routine!

Love sweet potatoes? Check out these recipes!

• Sweet Potato Turkey Hash
• BBQ Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Kale Soup
• Sweet Potato Tacos
• Healthy Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowls
• Southwest Sweet Potato Frittata

Looking For More Savory Sweet Potato Recipes? Don't Miss These!

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Dip

Broccoli, Sweet Potato, and Craisin Hash

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole