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Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

Vegan Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Published: Oct 11, 2021 by Lexi

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These easy, classic vegan mashed sweet potatoes are a delicious and flavorful side dish for Thanksgiving or your favorite fall dinner recipes. This recipe comes together quickly in just 30 minutes and 5 essential ingredients.

Overhead view of mashed sweet potatoes with pecans and herbs.
Jump to:
  • 🥔 Why We Love This Recipe
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 📋 Ingredient Notes
  • 🔪 Step-by-step Instructions
  • 💭 Expert Tips and FAQs
  • 🍽 Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews

🥔 Why We Love This Recipe

  • Easy, classic, delicious: you can whip up these vegan mashed sweet potatoes in about 30 minutes with just 5 ingredients – most of which you likely already have in your pantry. Simply peel and boil your potatoes, mash, add seasonings and serve!
  • A sweeter twist on a classic: we love classic mashed potatoes as much as the next person, but sometimes it's nice to shake things up. Enter: vegan mashed sweet potatoes! They're more flavorful and taste like fall in a bowl (plus, they're super fluffy and creamy without any effort!).
  • Versatile: add in a heaping spoonful of brown sugar or maple syrup for a sweeter version, or stir in garlic herb butter for a more savory version. Serve them plain jane, or top with candied pecans and fried sage (our two favorites!).
  • Delicious with fall main dishes: serve alongside Thanksgiving classics like brussels sprouts, stuffing and cranberry sauce, or with cauliflower steaks, a unique topping for lentil shepherd's pie, or flavorful mushroom stew. The classic flavor profile of these vegan mashed sweet potatoes goes well with just about anything!

🥘 Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make these vegan mashed sweet potatoes:

Overhead view of mashed sweet potato ingredients, including sweet potatoes and nondairy butter.

📋 Ingredient Notes

  • Sweet potatoes: it's best to peel them before boiling for this recipe. I sometimes like potato skins in regular mashed potatoes, but I don't think they're quite as good in mashed sweet potatoes – much better when they're super creamy and smooth!
  • Vegan yogurt or sour cream: while most recipes just call for butter and milk, we find a small amount of yogurt or sour cream adds a nice (subtle) tanginess that takes these to the next level. Feel free to use any variety you like – just make sure the yogurt is plain, unflavored and unsweetened.
  • Nondairy milk and butter: really any brand/variety will work in this recipe. For butter, we love Miyoko's. For milk, we prefer using full fat oat milk, which has a super creamy texture and neutral flavor.

🔪 Step-by-step Instructions

Prep: Bring 12 cups of water to boil with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. While water is coming to a boil, peel and roughly chop sweet potatoes into large pieces.

(1) Add potatoes to boiling water, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 25 minutes, until potatoes are fork tender, then drain.

Close up shot of potatoes draining in a colander after being boiled.

(2) Return potatoes to the pot you used for cooking (or a large mixing bowl), turn heat to low and add in butter, salt, and pepper. Using a hand mixer (or a masher), mix well until potatoes are smooth and creamy.

(3) Stir in yogurt and 2 tablespoons of milk (you can add more if needed for creaminess). Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired.

Close up shot of potatoes being mashed with butter, pepper, salt, sour cream, and milk.

💭 Expert Tips and FAQs

  • No vegan butter? Feel free to sub with olive oil instead.
  • Butter not melting into your mashed sweet potatoes? It's probably because you waited to long to add it, and your potatoes aren't quite as warm anymore. No worries, simply melt your butter and heat up your nondairy milk until just before simmering.
  • Storage: you can store these vegan mashed sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
  • For extra creamy potatoes: blend in a blender or food processor. We find a hand masher or potato ricer/mill works just fine, but you will still have a bit of texture.
  • Variations: stir in a bit of brown sugar or maple syrup for an extra sweet version, or add in roasted garlic and fresh herbs for a more savory take. If you decide to take the sweeter route, you can also add a pinch of dried ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. Yum!
What's the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?


Turns out, it's a bit of a tricky question. Although grocery stores often label orange tubers as "jewel" or "garnet" yams, they're not truly yams. Real yams (not commonly found in the US), have a scaly brown skin and starchy white flesh.

Jewel and garnet yams are actually types of sweet potatoes. The good news is, they're pretty similar in taste and texture, so you don't have to worry too much about choosing one over the other.

There is also such a thing as white sweet potato, which has a drier, less sweet flesh. And, to get extra confusing, there's also such a thing as purple sweet potatoes, which are delicious as well!

Can I use yams in this recipe?


Yes, you can use sweet potatoes labeled as jewel or garnet yams in this recipe. As we covered in the section above, true yams aren't commonly available here, so you don't have to worry about mixing them up.

We don't suggest using white sweet potatoes in this recipe, which don't have quite the same sweetness or softness as other sweet potato varieties. If you want to go for a more colorful route, however, you can use purple sweet potatoes in this recipe. (They're beautiful in desserts, too!)

Can you freeze mashed sweet potatoes?


You bet! Transfer the cooled potatoes to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in a saucepan over low heat until creamy and heated through.

Close up shot of mashed sweet potatoes with pecans and herbs.

🍽 Related Recipes

  • overhead view of vegan lentil and mushrooom coq au vin over mashed potatoes in a bowl.
    Vegan Coq au Vin
  • Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
  • overhead view of vegan meatloaf on a white plate over mashed potatoes with cranberry sauce and salad on the side.
    Vegan Meatloaf
  • Mashed Potato Waffles

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Overhead view of mashed sweet potatoes garnished with nuts and herbs.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes


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  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

These easy, classic vegan mashed sweet potatoes are a delicious and flavorful side dish for Thanksgiving or your favorite fall dinner recipes. This recipe comes together quickly in just 30 minutes and 5 essential ingredients. 


Ingredients

  • 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms)  sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-3 inch pieces
  • ¼ cup nondairy plain yogurt or sour cream
  • ¼ cup nondairy butter
  • 2-4 tablespoons nondairy milk
  • 1 ½ teaspoon fine kosher salt
  • Black pepper to taste


Instructions

  1. Bring 12 cups of water to boil with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. While water is coming to a boil, peel and dice sweet potatoes.
  2. Add potatoes to boiling water, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 25 minutes, until potatoes are fork tender, then drain. 
  3. Return potatoes to the pot you used for cooking (or a large mixing bowl), turn heat to low and add in butter, salt, and pepper. Using a hand mixer (or a masher), mix well until potatoes are smooth and creamy.
  4. Stir in yogurt and 2 tablespoons of milk (you can add more if needed for creaminess). Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 256
  • Sugar: 9.8 g
  • Sodium: 364.1 mg
  • Fat: 6.4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 46.2 g
  • Fiber: 6.9 g
  • Protein: 4.5 g

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Lexi and Beth toasting with wine.

Hi, we're Lexi and Beth, a mother-daughter team from Michigan. The recipes you'll find here are a reflection of how we bring our family together around the dinner table despite various dietary differences.

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