Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes (30 Minute Recipe)

The Instant Pot electric pressure cooker makes it so much easier than cooking the sweet potatoes on the stovetop.

I think you’re really going to love this recipe. I make it every holiday season to go with my holiday meal, but I make it a lot just as a weeknight dish, too.

The flavor and texture of these Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes are really great. While sweet potatoes are naturally sweet already, the addition of just a touch of maple syrup takes them to the next level.

And, to make them super silky and creamy, I recommend adding butter (you can also use ghee or vegan butter depending on your dietary needs).

• Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and starchy which makes them delicious when mashed. They are one of my favorite gluten-free carbohydrates and are always on my clean eating shopping list.
• Maple syrup adds a hint of maple flavor while adding sweetness to the mash. You can also use brown sugar or coconut sugar, if you prefer.
• Vegan butter makes the sweet potatoes super creamy without any dairy! You can also use regular butter, ghee, coconut butter, or coconut milk depending on your dietary needs. See my article with tips for starting a gluten-free and dairy-free diet.
• Cinnamon adds a sweet spicy flavor that’s reminiscent of fall.
• Thyme adds an herbal and earthy flavor that pairs well with the warmth of cinnamon. If you don’t have thyme, you can leave it out or use another dried spice such as oregano or Italian seasoning.

Step One

I recommend using about five medium to large sweet potatoes (about two pounds) for this recipe.

It ends up making about 8 servings which is perfect for a group or if you want to meal prep this recipe (see all of my meal prep tips).

Peel and chop the potatoes into 1-inch pieces. 

Step Two

Add the chopped sweet potato to the inner pot of a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot, along with 1 cup water, plus some salt, ground cinnamon, and dried thyme.

If you have fresh thyme on hand, you can use that instead of the dried thyme. You can also add ground black pepper if you like it.

Be sure to check the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients, measurements, and cooking times.

And, if you’re new to pressure cooking, check out my guide for how to use the Instant Pot.

Step Three

Next, lock on the lid and set the cook time to 8 minutes at high pressure.

When the cooking time is complete, use the quick pressure release to release the steam (be careful of the hot steam).

Step Four

Carefully remove the lid and stir in the maple syrup and your fat of choice into the bright orange flesh. For vegan, use coconut butter or vegan butter. For paleo diets, you can use ghee or coconut butter.

You’ll also note that you don’t need to drain the cooking water after the potatoes are cooked. The water helps keep the potatoes nice and moist.

I hope your family agrees that this is the perfect recipe for mashed sweet potatoes!

Serve the creamy potatoes as is, or use them as the topping of a sweet potato shepherd’s pie or for my gluten-free sweet potato casserole.