Instant Pot mashed sweet potatoes are a delicious side for the holidays! A savory version of sweet potatoes, seasoned with salt, black pepper, and butter, this pressure cooker recipe is super smooth and creamy without any added cream.
What's not to love about sweet potatoes? I'm a fan for life. We enjoy having them baked or steamed with a little sour cream. Often we'll make sweet potato baked fries and our most recent favorite is this mashed version of sweet potatoes.
For a quick and easy roast potato recipe, I like to whip up a batch of Air Fryer Baby Potatoes. But every now and then, I like to use my Instant Pot for the most tender cooked potatoes. I use the Instant Pot to make potatoes for my potato salads, and to make these super yum herb garlic smashed potatoes.
Why This Recipe Works
- No added sugar/ sweetener: I've seen so many mashed sweet potato recipes that call for added brown sugar or maple syrup or even marshmallows. I'm not a huge fan of the added sugar, and I prefer this savory version any day.
- Creamy without added milk or cream: This recipe makes for the creamiest, lump-free mashed Instant Pot sweet potatoes - without any added cream or milk.
- A healthier alternative to mashed potatoes
- Pairs well with most holiday meat and vegetarian mains
What goes into this recipe
- Sweet Potatoes - Choose any sweet potato varieties with orange or red skin and orange flesh - such as Red Garnet or Jewel. Try to avoid Sweet Hannah, Japanese or Purple varieties which are not as moist and do not come out as creamy as Garnet.
- Seasoning - I like to season with just some salt, black pepper, butter, and fresh parsley. You could also add nutmeg and cinnamon if you like.
- For a richer version of mashed Instant Pot sweet potatoes, feel free to add cream to the mashed potatoes.
How to make this recipe
Start by placing a trivet in your Instant Pot. Add 2 cups of water to the steel pot. In a steamer basket, add the cubed and peeled sweet potatoes.
Close the lid of the Instant Pot and Pressure Cook on High for 10 minutes. After the cooking cycle is complete and the Instant Pot starts to beep, manually release pressure (Quick Pressure Release).
Open the lid of the Instant Pot and take out the steamer basket (it is hot, so be careful!). Drain the water in the pot and add the steamed potatoes to the pot, along with the butter and other seasonings. Using a potato masher, mash until smooth.
Serve with a garnish of fresh chopped parsley and a knob of butter.
FAQs and Expert Tips
Recipe Variations
- If you prefer sweet to savory, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of Maple syrup or even agave syrup, and brown sugar. Optionally, add marshmallows.
- For a spicier variation of this recipe, add paprika and chopped green chilies or chili flakes, or even cloves and cinnamon.
- Butter can be replaced with a non-dairy butter substitute
Serving Suggestions
Instant Pot mashed sweet potatoes go well with these mains:
Roast Chicken with herbs and spices
Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Pasta
Related Recipes
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 680 grams Sweet Potatoes Peeled and cut into cubes
- 2 cups water
- 1 tbsp butter
- ½ tsp Black pepper powder
- 1 tbsp Parsley Finely chopped
- salt to season
Instructions
- Place a trivet in your Instant Pot. Add 2 cups of water to the steel pot.
- In a steamer basket, add the peeled and cubed sweet potatoes.
- Close the lid of the Instant Pot and Pressure Cook on High for 10 minutes.
- After the cooking cycle is complete and the Instant Pot starts to beep, manually release pressure (Quick Pressure Release).
- Open the lid of the Instant Pot and take out the steamer basket. Keep aside.
- Drain the water in the Instant Pot and add the cooked sweet potatoes to the pot, along with the butter. Using a potato masher, mash until smooth.
- Add seasonings - black pepper and salt, and mix well until smooth. You can use a spatula or a whisk for this.
- Serve with a garnish of fresh chopped parsley and added butter.
Video
Notes
- Choose any sweet potato varieties with orange or red skin and orange flesh - such as Red Garnet or Jewel.If you prefer sweet to savory, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of Maple syrup or even agave syrup, and brown sugar. Optionally, add marshmallows.
- For a spicier variation of this recipe, add paprika and chopped green chilies or chili flakes, or even cloves and cinnamon.
- Butter can be replaced with a non-dairy butter substitute