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Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving Recipes

Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Published: Nov 10, 2023 by Samantha Ferraro · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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If you are looking to elevate your side dish game, you will love this take on Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes! A delicious blend of creamy sweet potatoes mixed with smoky brown butter and fresh thyme, this simple side dish will certainly have your guests asking for seconds!

Savory mashed sweet potatoes with smoked butter and thyme.
Jump to:
  • About This Recipe
  • 📋 Ingredients
  • 🍋 Substitutions and Variations
  • ⏲️ Instructions
  • 📍 Recipe Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • More Sweet Potato Recipes to Try
  • Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes

About This Recipe

Sweet potatoes are a staple on the Thanksgiving table and while normally, you'll find sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, this savory sweet potato recipe may become a new favorite side dish that is both rich and satisfying.

These savory mashed sweet potatoes are smokey, creamy and use just a handful of ingredients that pack big flavor. Baked sweet potatoes are mashed with a smoky brown butter, tangy yogurt and garnished with fresh thyme for a pop for freshness.

Serve the savory mashed potatoes alongside your favorite Thanksgiving recipes, such as roasted brussels sprouts with lemon and sausage stuffing.

📋 Ingredients

Ingredients for savory mashed sweet potatoes, including smoked paprika, yogurt, butter and thyme.
  • Sweet Potatoes: Look for sweet potatoes that don't have any blemishes or soft spots. Prick a few holes in the potatoes and bake them whole until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
  • Yogurt: I like using a full fat yogurt, which is creamy and tangy. Sour cream will be a bit thicker, but will also offer a delicious creamy tang.
  • Unsalted Butter: All you'll need is half a stick of melted butter that will be added to the sweet potato mixture and used as a final garnish.
  • Smoked Paprika: Smoked paprika is a spice made from dried and smoked red peppers. It adds a deep smoky flavor and vibrant red color to dishes, such as chicken tagine. If you're looking for a new spice to try, look for Merken, a Chilean spice that has the smokiness of smoked paprika with an added spicy kick.
  • Thyme: Thyme is fragrant and earthy and used in the melted butter as well as to garnish. if thyme isn't available, rosemary or oregano would be great substitutions.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

🍋 Substitutions and Variations

  • Dairy-Free Option: Replace the butter with a dairy-free butter and non-dairy milk or creamer like almond milk or coconut milk.
  • Yogurt Substitutes: Instead of yogurt, you can use sour cream or a dairy free alternative, such as coconut yogurt.
  • Different Herbs: While thyme complements the dish beautifully, other herbs such as rosemary, sage, or chives would be a great addition.
  • Candied Pecan Topping: Add some crunch and sweetness by topping the mashed sweet potatoes with candied pecans.
  • Herbed Breadcrumbs: Top the mashed sweet potatoes with toasted panko herbed breadcrumbs for a crispy addition. I use the same recipe to garnish olive pasta.

⏲️ Instructions

Bake the sweet potatoes until cooked through and they can be easily pierced with a fork.

Step 1: Bake the sweet potatoes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour or until the potatoes can easily be pierced with a fork.

Melt the butter with fresh thyme sprogs and smoked paprika until the butter darkens into a deep rust color.

Step 2: About 10 minutes before the sweet potatoes are done, make the melted butter. Add the butter to a small pot with the smoked paprika and thyme and bring up to medium heat and cook until butter deepens into a orange/rust color, then set aside.

Add yogurt to the mashed sweet potatoes.

Step 3: Scoop out the sweet potato flesh and transfer to a bowl, along with the yogurt, salt, pepper and half of the melted butter.

Give the mashed sweet potatoes a good mix until creamy.

Step 4: Give the savory mashed sweet potatoes and good mash until creamy.

Recipe for savory mashed sweet potatoes with smoked paprika butter and thyme.

Step 5: Transfer the mashed sweet potatoes to a serving bowl and drizzle the rest of the melted butter on top and garnish with fresh thyme.

📍 Recipe Tips

  • Adjust the paprika to your taste. If you like a milder flavor, use sweet paprika; for a spicier kick, add a pinch of chipotle or cayenne.
  • For a smoother texture, you can use an electric mixer to mix the sweet potatoes and butter together.
  • Mashed sweet potatoes can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Recipe FAQs

Can mashed sweet potatoes be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the sweet potatoes and browned butter in advance and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also make extra brown butter to garnish when re-heating.

Can mashed sweet potatoes be made vegan?

Yes, substitute the butter and yogurt for dairy-free butter and dairy-free yogurt, such as coconut yogurt or coconut cream.

Serving Suggestions

Serve savory sweet potatoes alongside your favorite fall or Thanksgiving recipes. Here are a few suggestions.

  • Roasted Cornish Hens
  • Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
  • Savory Bread Pudding with Sausage
  • Apple Cranberry Sauce

More Sweet Potato Recipes to Try

  • Pear and Sweet Potato Latkes
  • Roasted sweet potato salad with salad mix, creamy goat cheese, citrus and candied pecans.
    Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
  • Purple Sweet Potato Haupia Pie
  • Sweet Potato Stuffed Oranges

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

Savory mashed sweet potatoes recipe garnished with smoked paprika butter and fresh thyme.

Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Samantha Ferraro

LittleFerraroKitchen.com

Elevate your side dish game with savory sweet mashed potatoes. A blend sweet potatoes with smoky brown butter and finished with fresh thyme.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 168 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 sweet potatoes
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme + more thyme leaves for garnish
  • ¼ cup yogurt or sour cream
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black peppe

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Use a fork and poke several holes all around the sweet potatoes and place them on a baking sheet.
  • Bake the sweet potatoes for 1 hour or until you can easily pierce the potatoes with a fork.
  • About 10 minutes before the potatoes are done, make the infused butter.
  • Add the butter to a small pot along with the smoked paprika and thyme and bring up to medium heat. Melt the butter and give everything a good mix and continue heating until the butter darkens into a deep orange/rust color, then set aside.
  • Once the baked sweet potatoes are done, remove them from the oven and let cool slightly. Then cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the flesh and transfer to a bowl, along with the yogurt or sour cream, salt, pepper and half of the melted butter.
  • Give everything a good mash and transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle the rest of the melted butter on top and garnish with more fresh thyme leaves.

Notes

  • Adjust the paprika to your taste. If you like a milder flavor, use sweet paprika; for a spicier kick, add a pinch of chipotle or cayenne.
  • For a smoother texture, you can use an electric mixer to mix the sweet potatoes and butter together.
  • Mashed sweet potatoes can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 335mgPotassium: 264mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 9869IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Let us know by leaving a comment and 5 star rating!

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