Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes

Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes are a perfect, easy, holiday side you and your guests will love. Just add butter or turn them into a casserole!

Sweet Potatoes are the perfect Veggie side dish to serve during the Holidays. They are easy to make and free up the oven just like my Slow Cooker Creamed Corn and Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Carrots.

Sabrina’s Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes Recipe

It’s Fall, which means peak season for sweet potatoes has begun! You know I love my Slow Cooker recipes (and you do too!), so it only seemed right to share one of the easiest ways to serve potatoes using one. Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes are an easy, sweet, and savory side dish for your dinner table that is perfect for Holiday gatherings. With so many delicious ways to serve them, this will quickly become one of your go-to recipes.

Recipe Card

About this Recipe

Most people end up using valuable oven space baking sweet potatoes when they could be multitasking with other recipes. This Slow Cooker Sweet Potato recipe can’t be any easier. The hardest part is washing the dirt off of the potatoes. Poke some holes in them and wrap them in foil. Place the potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker in a single layer, and bam! Your done! When you remove them you can simply serve them as is or transform them into mash, candied sweet potatoes, or even a casserole. You can even keep the potatoes warm in the slow cooker, so they are perfect for a buffet spread.

Can this be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook them completely, allow them to cool, and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. Reheat whole sweet potatoes in the microwave or oven until warmed through. You could also prep them by washing the potatoes the night before, but wait to cook them until the day you’re serving them. To keep them fresh, don’t wash the potatoes more than a day or two in advance. If you plan on mashing them, you can prepare the mashed sweet potatoes in advance as well. Store in the refrigerator and reheat gently, stirring occasionally. Add a small amount of butter, milk, or cream when reheating to restore a smooth, creamy texture if needed.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Start by choosing sweet potatoes that are similar in size so they cook evenly. Scrub and dry them well, then pierce each one several times with a fork to allow steam to escape.
• Avoid overcooking, as they can become overly soft and watery. If you’re not serving immediately, switch the slow cooker to the Warm function and keep the lid slightly ajar to prevent excess moisture buildup.
• If you want to make mashed sweet potatoes using this recipe, there is no need for them to be peeled. Just cut the cooked potatoes in half and scoop out the potato flesh into a dish.

Pairing Suggestions

While I do enjoy sweet potatoes all year long, their time to shine is during the Holidays. I love serving them paired with Roast Turkey, Green Bean Casserole, and Macaroni and Cheese. If you’re all about starches, you can add Easy Mashed Potatoes on the side too! It’s the Holidays, so calories don’t count right? And since we aren’t counting, go ahead and have a slice of that stunning Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Pie on the dessert table.

How to Store

• Serve: Potatoes can be at room temperature for up to 2 hours before they should be refrigerated. 
• Store: Cool potatoes before storing. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.
• Freeze: Once potatoes are cooled, wrap in aluminum foil and store in a freezer safe container for up to 12 months.

Ideas to Serve

One of my favorite ways to serve potatoes is setting up a potato bar. You can make both sweet potatoes and white potatoes so that guests have plenty of possibilities. Set up the toppings and let everyone decide whether they want a more sweet or savory option. Some of my favorite topping ideas include Brown Butter, olive oil, cinnamon, paprika, sour cream, chives, brown sugar, Candied Pecans, Homemade Marshmallows, honey, maple syrup, Black Beans, Salsa, and chopped onions. You could also set out a few different shredded cheeses like Cheddar, Mozzarella, Parmesan or even cottage cheese. Pulled Pork would also make a wonderful topping, or you could do some chicken or steak. Set out some shredded lettuce and tomatoes too!

Oven Baked Method

• Clean the sweet potato well. Poke holes into the potatoes.
• Give each potato a dip in water and wrap it in foil.
• Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake them at 350 degrees for 1-to-1 ½ hours.
• Test for doneness by inserting a fork. If it goes in easily then the sweet potatoes are tender and cooked through.

Frequent Questions

Variations

• Candied Sweet Potatoes: Scoop out the insides of the potatoes into a bowl. Warm a ¼ cup of butter and ¼ cup of brown sugar mixture in a medium saucepan. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Pour over the potatoes and mash them using a masher or hand mixer.
• Sweet Potato Casserole: To make a potato casserole, mash your sweet potatoes. Add a streusel topping over the mash. Put it in the oven at 375 F for 15-20 minutes to bake. If you want to add mini marshmallows, add them during the last 3-5 minutes and watch them closely. To give the marshmallows a toasted look, place them under a broiler for 1-2 minutes.

Streusel Topping

• Ingredients: ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed, ½ cup old fashioned oats, ¾ cup pecans, chopped, ¼ cup flour, ¼ cup butter, softened, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg.
• Instructions: Combine ingredients until a crumble forms by using a fork to mash it all together in a bowl.

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Photos used in a previous version of this post