This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These healthier Mashed Sweet Potatoes are easy to make with a handful of ingredients, so creamy, and perfectly smooth and delicious. They make for a perfect side dish during the holiday season and all year round for weeknight dinners.
You may also like my healthy mashed potatoes or my boursin mashed potatoes.
My whole family loves sweet potatoes. I make all sorts of recipes with sweet potatoes like sweet potato pancakes and sweet potato muffins.
This mashed sweet potato recipe will definitely become a family favorite at your dinner table. It is made with a handful of ingredients, and can easily be made ahead to save on time. They pair so well with almost anything you can think of, from grilled steaks to roasted turkey breast, oven roasted whole chicken, seafood like BBQ Salmon, and more! Mashed Sweet potatoes are a great substitute for the traditional mashed potatoes and they taste just as good! Creamy smooth and so satisfying with every bite.
Recipe summary
- So easy to make: All you need is 4-5 ingredients to make these mashed sweet potatoes. Ingredients you most likely already have and you just need to grab some sweet potatoes.
- Healthier: No butter or oil is needed to make this recipe. Cream cheese is used instead of half and half for a healthier twist.
- So good! Easy side dish that’s so creamy and delicious. It will become a family favorite that is requested all year round.
Ingredients needed
These are just a list of ingredients needed to make these healthy mashed sweet potatoes. Full measurements are listed down below in the recipe card.
- sweet potatoes
- Light cream cheese: you can use a dairy-free option
- Kosher salt & ground pepper to taste
- Milk – any milk will work. 2% or almond milk
- Fresh thyme or rosemary
How to make mashed sweet potatoes
- First, prepare potatoes: Wash the potatoes under cold running water to remove any dirt or contaminants. Using a sharp knife, carefully remove any bruised spots. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Next, cook the sweet potatoes: In a large pot of boiling water, add potatoes and a pinch of salt. Let it boil for 12 to 15 minutes until tender. Drain and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes until ready to handle.
- Combine all ingredients: Meanwhile whisk cream cheese, salt, and pepper into a bowl. Now peel and mash the sweet potato with a potato masher, add milk, and mash again to your desired consistency. Add cream cheese mixture and mix until well combined.
- Serve: Finally, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and garnish with fresh thyme and serve.
Tips and substitutes
- Use fresh sweet potatoes and not frozen
- I prefer using cream cheese over Greek yogurt. Cream cheese works great in place of half and half. Use light or fat-free if possible. You may also sub this with sour cream
- For a vegan option, use dairy-free yogurt or skip completely
- Milk: Any milk of choice will work. Use almond milk for a vegan option.
- Add a bit of flavor with a dash of cinnamon
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge
- You may drizzle a bit of olive oil over the mashed potatoes or add about a tablespoon of melted butter.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not need to peel sweet potatoes before boiling them. You can cook or boil them with their skin to retain its nutrients as much as possible and then peel later once cooled. The skin of sweet potatoes is actually edible. You can peel sweet potatoes if you plan on adding them to soup.
You can store leftover mashed sweet potatoes in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Yes you can. To freeze leftover mashed sweet potatoes, place in a freezer safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge the night before and reheat in the microwave at 30 second increments when ready to serve. You may also place it in an oven safe dish and reheat in a preheated oven for 10 minutes or so.
The skin of a sweet potato is very safe to eat and is actually left on in the making of many recipes.
More sweet potato recipes
- Chicken thighs with maple sweet potatoes
- Roasted Smoked Sweet potatoes
- Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie
- Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
- Twice Baked Sweeet Potatoes
- Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
If you try a recipe and you like it, leave me some feedback in the comment section below, and don’t forget to rate it! I would love it if you shared it with friends and family.
FOLLOW me on FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER for all of my latest blog posts and recipes.
Healthy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 pounds sweet potatoes
- 1/3 cup cream cheese, softened, light or fat-free
- Salt & pepper , to taste
- 1/3 cup milk
- Fresh thyme, or rosemary, to garnish
- Drizzle of olive oil or melted butter, optional, to garnish
Instructions
- Wash the 4 pounds sweet potatoes under cold running water to remove any dirt or contaminants.
- Using a sharp knife, carefully remove any bruised spots. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
- In a large pot of boiling water, add potatoes and a pinch of salt. Let it boil for 12 to 15 minutes until tender.
- Drain and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes until ready to handle. Meanwhile whisk 1/3 cup cream cheese, Salt & pepper into a bowl.
- Now peel and mash the sweet potato with a potato masher, add 1/3 cup milk, and mash again to your desired consistency.
- Add cream cheese mixture and mix until well combined. Garnish with Fresh thyme and serve. Drizzle of olive oil or melted butter.
Notes
- Use fresh sweet potatoes and not frozen
- We prefer using cream cheese over Greek yogurt. Cream cheese works great in place of half and half. Use light or fat-free if possible.
- For a vegan option, use dairy-free yogurt or skip it completely
- Milk: Any milk of choice will work. Use almond milk for a vegan option.
- Add a bit of flavor with a dash of cinnamon
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve made these a few times! They are really tasty. It’s become a go to for Thanksgiving.
Hmm I wanna give this recipe a try but in my personal foodie lifestyle I don’t consider low fat or fat free cream cheese to be healthy, we go for all natural healthy fats, I think I’ll opt for the plain Greek yogurt and coconut pairs great with sweet potatoes! Well see how it’s goes! Thank you for the ideas!
Hi Tonya. I love the substitutes you have in mind. I also love full fat but sometimes some prefer to go low fat on certain ingredients. Either way they can easily be substituted. I hope you like it if you do decide to make it.