Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These easy Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes are a delicious alternative to traditional sweet potato casseroles.

Sweet potatoes cook slowly with orange juice, tart cranberries, cinnamon, and just a little butter and brown sugar until tender. Then everything gets mashed together right in the crock pot.

The result is a creamy, lightly sweetened side dish with a lovely tartness from the cranberries.

It’s perfect for Thanksgiving, especially when oven space is limited, but easy enough to enjoy any time of year.

A Different Kind of Mashed Sweet Potato

I love sweet potatoes, but I know not everyone enjoys the very sweet casseroles that often appear on Thanksgiving tables.

My mom, for example, has always found sweet potatoes a little too sweet.

That’s one reason I especially like this recipe. The cranberries and orange juice provide a pleasantly tart contrast to the natural sweetness of the potatoes.

Rod and I enjoyed these for dinner with turkey burgers and a simple shredded Brussels sprouts salad. We both loved the combination of flavors.

And because they cook in the slow cooker, they’re especially convenient when you’re preparing a holiday meal.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Sweet potatoes: The base of the recipe. Peel and cut them into evenly sized pieces so they’ll cook at the same rate.
• Orange juice: Adds moisture and bright citrus flavor.
• Fresh or frozen cranberries: Provide a delicious tart contrast to the sweet potatoes.
• Butter: Just a little adds richness.
• Brown sugar: Enhances the natural sweetness without making the dish overly sweet.
• Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and a hint of spice.
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper: Balance the flavors.

How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes in the Slow Cooker

You’ll need a 2-quart slow cooker for this recipe.

Step 1: Prepare the slow cooker.

Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2: Combine the flavorings.

Add the orange juice, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and cranberries. Stir to combine.

Cover and turn the slow cooker to HIGH while you prepare the sweet potatoes.

Step 3: Add the sweet potatoes.

Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into approximately 1-inch pieces.

Add them to the slow cooker and stir to coat with the orange juice mixture.

Step 4: Cook until tender.

Cover, switch the slow cooker to LOW, and cook for 4 to 6 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are very soft.

Step 5: Mash and season.

Mash the sweet potatoes and cranberries together right in the slow cooker.

If the mixture seems too thick or dry, stir in a little additional orange juice until it reaches your preferred consistency.

Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Serve immediately, or keep warm in the slow cooker for up to an hour.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Use fresh or frozen cranberries. There’s no need to thaw frozen cranberries before adding them to the slow cooker.

Cut the potatoes evenly. Keeping the pieces about the same size helps them cook uniformly.

Adjust the consistency. Sweet potatoes can vary in moisture content. If the finished mash seems too thick, add a splash of orange juice.

Make them as smooth or chunky as you like. A potato masher (affiliate link) works well for a rustic texture. Mash a little longer if you prefer a smoother consistency.

Taste before adding more sugar. Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet (affiliate link), and the cranberries provide a nice balance. You may find you don’t need any additional sweetener.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These mashed sweet potatoes are a natural addition to Thanksgiving dinner, especially alongside roast turkey and stuffing.

They’re also delicious with everyday meals, including roasted chicken, pork tenderloin or turkey burgers.

For a simple holiday menu, pair them with:

• Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
• Slow Cooker Sausage Apple Stuffing
• Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts

How Many Calories and WW Points?

According to my calculations, each generous serving has about 141 calories and 2 WW Points.

To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
4 PointsPlus (Old plan)

If you’ve made these Easy Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Source: Adapted from Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly Revised and Updated: 600 Healthy, Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slow Cooker (affiliate link) by Phyllis Good

More Sweet Potato Recipes from Simple Nourished Living

If you enjoy sweet potatoes, here are a few more easy ways to prepare them:

• Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Apple Casserole – A simple holiday side dish combining sweet potatoes and apples.
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Chile and Pumpkin Pie Spice – A flavorful combination of sweet and spicy seasonings.
• Curried Sweet Potatoes with Green Peas – A savory sweet potato dish with warm curry spices.
• Southwestern Sweet Potato Salad – A colorful alternative to traditional potato salad.