With hardly any effort at all, you can make Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes to turn into nutritious a simple side dish for family dinner or an easy baby food. This is a great set-it-and-forget-it recipe to share with the kids.
Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes
I love having mashed sweet potatoes on hand to use as sweet potato baby food (when needed!) and as a simple side dish for family meals. This sweet and creamy version is made with such a simple method in the slow cooker and makes the best mashed sweet potatoes every single time.
I honestly don’t bake sweet potatoes much anymore now that I know how foolproof the crock pot method is.
I love this recipe because the sweet potatoes are so creamy and smooth that they really don’t need any added ingredients. And they are super moist and are unlikely to dry out while cooking as they sometimes can when baked in the oven.
)Then, if you happen to have leftovers, you can use them in my Sweet Potato Muffins, Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese, Sweet Potato Quesadillas, Sweet Potato Baby Cake, Sweet Potato Pancakes, and Hidden Veggie Mac and Cheese.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe, you literally just need orange flesh sweet potatoes. They are sometimes called garnet yams depending on your store. That’s it! You can add butter or salt once they are done. but the base recipe just requires the potatoes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the easy process involved in making this recipe so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information.
- Wash your sweet potatoes and add them to the bottom of your crock pot.
- Cook on low. They will be super soft! Remove from the slow cooker and let cool. Slicing them open can speed up the cooling process a little.
- Peel and discard the skins. Add the flesh to a bowl.
- Mash until smooth with a potato masher. Serve!
TIP: You can of course simply serve these like you would baked potatoes and skip the mashing part.
Serving Suggestions
This sweet potato recipe pairs well with so many other foods. It’s a great side with Yogurt Chicken or Fish Sticks, or as a stand alone baby meal. I also love them in Burrito Bowls with black beans—there’s something about the Mexican flavors that pairs well with the sweet potato flavor.
And I love them alongside scrambled eggs!
You can also spread them on toast for a baby or a toddler, add to a Sweet Potato Smoothie, or mix with plain whole milk yogurt to make a quick Sweet Potato Pudding. You can also use them with many other purees to make easy Baby Food Combinations. (A reusable pouch would be a great way to serve it that way.)
How to Store
Once cooled or mostly cooled, store them in an airtight container for 3-5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Best Tips for Success
- Smaller sweet potatoes tend to fit better in the crockpot.
- You want them to be in one layer, not stacked on top of each other, to ensure even cooking.
- Let them cool at least slightly before you attempt to peel them to spare your fingers!
- Mash with a potato masher or even put them into a food processor for a more consistently smooth texture.
Related Recipes
Muffins
Fluffy Sweet Potato Muffins
Baby Food
Favorite Sweet Potato Baby Food
Vegetables
Easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Desserts
Favorite Sweet Potato Brownies
I’d love to know what you think if you make this recipe so please share feedback and a rating in the comments below!
Easy Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 small sweet potatoes ("garnet yams" are great here or any other orange flesh sweet potato)
Instructions
- Wash your sweet potatoes and add them to the bottom of your crock pot. You don’t need to dry them and you don’t need to add any additional water.
- Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or until super soft when poked with a knife.
- Remove from the slow cooker and let cool. Slicing them open can speed up the cooling process a little.
- Peel and discard the skins. Add the flesh to a bowl.
- Mash until smooth with a potato masher. Serve!
Equipment
Notes
- Add a dash of cinnamon and salt for more flavor. Or ginger and turmeric for more savory flavor.
- Smaller sweet potatoes tend to fit better in the crockpot.
- You want them to be in one layer, not stacked on top of each other, to ensure even cooking.
- Let them cool at least slightly before you attempt to peel them to spare your fingers!
- Mash with a potato masher or even put them into a food processor for a more consistently smooth texture.
Hi! I’m looking for some simple long-cooking crockpot recipes and looks great! I’m always gone from the house for 10-11 hours though. Will they be OK if I leave them to sit after the 7-8 hour mark, or should I set my crockpot for longer? I always have trouble with this!
Hi- I’d set it for 7 hours and then most models switch to warm after that, so it should be fine once you get home. Enjoy!
These look great and I’m sure you’ve tasted all your recipes prior to giving them to your baby. Which of the puree’d recipes do you personally like mixed with the ground chicken? Mom (96 years old) can only eat pureed food and I’m trying to make her things she likes (and not waste my time or money!) Thanks!
Sweet potato is a great flavor pair with the chicken, yes to that.
Can you peel the sweet potatoes prior to cooking in the crockpot? Or does having the skin intact while cooking make a difference?
I haven’t tried this without the skin but I think it helps them steam.
Would this work in the instant pot?
Thanks!
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure but I would think you might need some water? I bet you could find a recipe for an instant pot version!
Do you have instructions for these in the instant pot?
Thanks!
Thanks! Would this work with purple sweet potatoes do you think?
I think so! They are sometimes a lot less moist so I would perhaps add a tablespoon of water just to make sure there’s some extra moisture in the crockpot.
Thanks!!