This recipe for Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes is so easy to make, and takes just about 30 minutes from start to finish. Skip standing over a hot stove to make your sweet potato mash. This is a delicious side dish that can be made dairy-free or vegan based on your dietary preference.

A bowl of mashed sweet potatoes made in the instant pot.

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).

Why You Need This Recipe

  • Sweet potatoes are a healthy food that is budget-friendly and available almost all year round. For people who have nightshade sensitivities or need to be on an Autoimmune Diet, they can usually eat sweet potatoes with no problems as they are not a nightshade.
  • Even kids like sweet potatoes because of they are naturally sweet despite their savory flavor. I’ve included sweet potatoes on my list of vegetables for picky eaters.
  • Sweet potatoes are considered a low histamine food so they can be consumed by people on a low histamine diet. This healthy food can also satisfy sugar cravings if you’re doing a sugar detox or a sugar-free diet.

Key Ingredients

ingredients for instant pot mashed sweet potatoes.
  • 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.

See the recipe card at the end of this post for the full recipe.

Recipe Steps

How to make instant pot mashed sweet potatoes

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 when using the quick release).

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! Add it to your list of Thanksgiving recipe or for any weeknight dinner.

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.

mashed sweet potatoes in an instant pot.

Recipe Tips

  • You don’t need to use a steamer basket for this recipe since it’s a one pot healthy side dish. You also won’t need to use a hand mixer or immersion blender since the mashed potatoes will be so soft and tender. Just use a fork or potato masher to mash the cooked sweet potatoes in the bottom of your Instant Pot.
  • You can also freeze your mashed sweet potatoes after doing the cooking process! Leave out the seasonings and freeze them flat in zip-top bags.
  • VEGAN: use coconut butter or vegan butter instead of ghee. Don’t use any heavy cream or whole milk to keep the recipe plant-based.
  • PALEO or Whole30: use coconut butter or ghee (or check out my recipe for Whole30 Mashed Potatoes). For dairy allergies, use vegan butter or coconut butter.
  • Refrigerate any leftovers in a tightly-sealed airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Or, see how to freeze sweet potatoes.

Recipe FAQs 

How do you make mashed sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot?

Cook them for 8 minutes with one cup of water, do a quick-release, and then mash them with a potato masher. You don’t even need to drain them.

Can I cut this mashed sweet potato recipe in half?

Yes, but you might need to drain off about half the water once the cooking is done.

Can I make this in the slow cooker?

Yes! You only need about half the water in that case.

Don’t I need to use the tray insert to steam the potatoes?

No, since this recipe is for mashed potatoes, the water will just get mixed into the final product.

I’m not vegan or dairy-free. Can I use regular butter?

Yes, absolutely!

Can I use vegetable broth instead of water?

Yes, you can.

close up of mashed sweet potatoes in a bowl with thyme on top.

More Instant Pot Recipes You Might Like

Or, if you want a main dish idea using sweet potatoes, check out this recipe for Instant Pot Chicken and Sweet Potato Dinner.

Don’t Miss These Instant Pot Round-Ups!

20+ Healthy Instant Pot Soup Recipes

15+ Instant Pot Recipes for Weight Loss

25+ Healthy Instant Pot Side Dishes

11+ Healthy Instant Pot Cookbooks

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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instant pot mashed sweet potatoes served in bowl

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes (30 Mins)

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5 from 27 reviews

Print Recipe

This recipe for Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes is so easy to make, and takes just about 30 minutes from start to finish. Skip standing over a hot stove to make your sweet potato mash. This is a delicious side dish that goes with many main dish recipes.

  • Total Time: 28 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 5 large sweet potatoes, about 2 pounds
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or your favorite seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons butter, vegan butter, ghee, or coconut butter

Instructions

  1. Peel and chop your sweet potatoes into approximately 1-inch chunks. Place the chunks into the base of a 6-quart or 8-quart pressure cooker. 
  2. Add the salt, thyme, and cinnamon to the sweet potatoes and toss to combine.
  3. Pour in the water and lock the lid on the pressure cooker. Set the time to 8 minutes at high pressure.
  4. When the cooking time is up, use the quick-release to release the pressure. 
  5. Carefully remove the lid and stir in the the maple syrup and butter, vegan butter, ghee, or coconut butter to the potatoes.
  6. Use a spatula or a potato masher to mix together and serve hot. 

Notes

  1. VEGAN: use coconut butter instead of ghee. PALEO or Whole30: use coconut butter or ghee. For dairy allergies, use vegan butter or coconut butter.
  2. Refrigerate any leftovers in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat before serving.
  3. The total cooking time includes 10 minutes to come up to pressure, 8 minutes cooking time, and 10 minutes for a natural pressure release. 
  • Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 minutes
  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
  • Cuisine: Healthy
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
  • Calories: 159
  • Sugar: 8.8 g
  • Sodium: 188.1 mg
  • Fat: 5.9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25.1 g
  • Fiber: 3.8 g
  • Protein: 2.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 15.3 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest is the author of the best-selling Instant Pot-authorized cookbook, The Healthy Meal Prep Instant Pot Cookbook. She has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and receives over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.