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These Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes are healthy and easy, taking only 8 minutes under pressure to cook. This recipes is vegan and paleo.
I think you’re really going to love this recipe. I’ve made it a few times for holidays, but I make it a lot during the week too. By cooking the potatoes in the Instant Pot, you end up with the silkiest, easy-to-mash potatoes you’ve ever dreamed of. Trust me on this one!
How to Make Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes
The five easy steps to make these Instant Pot Sweet Potato Mash are:
- Peel and chop the sweet potatoes.
- Add the potatoes, salt, thyme, and cinnamon to the Instant Pot and toss to combine.
- Pour in the water and lock the lid.
- Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes and quick-release the pressure.
- Add the maple syrup and ghee or coconut butter to the potatoes.
- Mash the potatoes using the spatula and serve immediately.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes
I started with five organic sweet potatoes (about two pounds).
I peeled and chopped them into 1-inch chunks:
Then, I just added 1 cup of water, plus some salt, cinnamon, and thyme. Feel free to use fresh or dried thyme. I had some fresh so that’s what I used.
I learned from watching YouTube videos that most recipes made in the pressure cooker need about 1 cup of liquid to cook. I also bought a paleo pressure cooking cookbook for guidance. I’m still experimenting, but this rule of thumb seems to be about right so far.
The last step is to lock on the lid, cook the potatoes on high for 8 minutes, and then to release the steam and add the ghee (use coconut butter to make this recipe dairy-free) and maple syrup. The potatoes will be soft enough that a strong spatula will mix them up enough to be silky-smooth and absolutely delicious!
See how easy that was?!
Questions About Making Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
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.
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.
Can I just make regular sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot?
Yes, see this recipe for cooking whole sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot without peeling or pricking.
Items recommended for this Instant Pot Sweet Potato Mash recipe (some affiliate links included):
- Instant Pot 6-quart pressure cooker or Power Pressure Cooker XL
- organic dried thyme (buy in bulk for the best price)
- organic ceylon cinnamon (certified fair-trade)
- organic ghee from grass-fed cows or organic coconut butter, also called manna
Other Instant Pot Healthy Recipes
If you like this Instant Pot Sweet Potato Mash, you might also like these Instant Pot healthy recipes.
- Instant Pot Artichokes
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash
- Instant Pot Cooked Cabbage
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Whole Red Potatoes
- Instant Pot Whole Sweet Potatoes
Here’s my printable Pressure Cooker Mashed Sweet Potato recipe with nutrition information:
Print
Pressure Cooker Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Prep Time: 15 minutes- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Instant pot, pressure cooker
- Cuisine: paleo, vegan, easy
Prep Time:
Yield:
Category:
Method:
Cuisine:
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
The easiest way to make sweet potatoes! This dish is perfect for serving at Thanksgiving or any special dinner to a large group.
Ingredients
- 5 large sweet potatoes, about 2 pounds
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, I like Ceylon cinnamon
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
- 2 tablespoons ghee or coconut butter
Instructions
- Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into approximately 1-inch chunks. Add the chunks to the bowl of a pressure cooker.
- Add the salt, thyme, and cinnamon to the sweet potatoes and toss to combine.
- Pour in the water and lock the lid on the pressure cooker.
- Cook the sweet potatoes on high pressure for 8 minutes and quick-release the pressure.
- Add the maple syrup and ghee or coconut butter to the potatoes and use a spatula to mix together. Mash the potatoes using the spatula and serve immediately.
- Refrigerate any leftovers and re-heat on the stovetop with about ¼ cup of almond milk to add extra creaminess.
Notes
VEGAN: use coconut butter instead of ghee
PALEO: use coconut butter or ghee
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Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
This sounds delicious! I love that you added the them, such a yummy flavor combo with the sweet. Pressure cooker recipes are the best!
Deb E says
I’m still learning to use my Instant Pot too so really appreciate any IP recipes you post. I will probably pin them all! My Instant Pot board is full and I need to get going on trying some. Love me some sweet potatoes though but no sweetener needed for me. They are just tasty enough without.
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Thanks, Deb! We can learn to use the IP together. I am having fun thinking of new meals to try in it. I’m still scared I’m going to mess it up and it will burn or explode, but so far everything has turned out great. I’ve used it about 4 times in the 10 days or so that I’ve had it. Good luck and let me know if you come up with any recipes that you really like!
Jean says
This looks so perfect for the holidays! Looks so creamy and yummy.
★★★★★
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Thanks, Jean!!! I agree, I am so making this dish for Thanksgiving this year! 🙂
Lindsey Dietz says
I absolutely love fresh herbs with sweet potatoes!
★★★★★
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Thanks, Lindsey! 🙂
Renee says
So easy! My kids love anything sweet potato, and my toddler especially will eat it for lunch most days – doing it in the IP makes life so much easier!
Yang says
Love all the ingredients in this mashed sweet potatoes! I have only cooked meats in pressure cookers before. Thank you for sharing new ideas!
linda spiker says
I am loving all the sweet potato recipes this fall!
★★★★★
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Same here, Linda! Thanks!
Vanessa says
I love sweet potatoes every way I can get em! This looks so easy and delicious.
★★★★★
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Thanks, Vanessa!!!
Corrine says
These mashed sweet potatoes look delicious! Love the addition of thyme in the recipe!
Christina Shoemaker says
I love mashed sweet potatoes! Yours are beautiful and they look so creamy! What a perfect side dish for Fall!
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Awwww, thanks Christina!!! XO.
Tina Jui says
Those sweet mashed potatoes look fab! I have a pressure cooker, and love sweet potato mash, so will have to try this recipe soon.
Alessandra Di Viccaro says
Are the sweet potatoes in the water or on a trivet?
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
I just put them in the bottom of the pot, the water just helps the texture when it gets mashed together. It actually wasn’t watery at all.
Joni Gomes says
Great dish for the holidays!
linda spiker says
Yummy! Sweet potatoes are my favorite!
★★★★★
Emely @theblushfig.com says
Wow, I can make mashed sweet potato in 8 minutes! This is pretty great, can’t wait to try this method!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
These look great. I have not hopped on the Instant Pot bandwagon. My trusty pressure cooker and slow cooker work great…..and these are perfect using the tried and true method.
★★★★★
Jere Cassidy says
I love sweet potatoes and the added thyme just makes these even better.
Megan Stevens says
The cinnamon, thyme and maple syrup sound sooo good together!! I’ve been re-falling in love with thyme this winter. Thanks for this!
Monique says
This recipe makes me want a pressure cooker SO bad! Potatoes in 8 minutes…amazing. I’ll have to gift myself one for Christmas!
★★★★★
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
You should, Monique! I’d love to see what you created in the pressure cooker. It’s been transformative for my kitchen.
Catherine Brown says
Oh wow, I never thought to make sweet potatoes in a slow cooker! and with thyme… that looks absolutely delicious!
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade says
I’ve never thought to use my pressure cooker for potatoes. What a genius idea! Will have to try this out
Jen says
Sweet potato mash is the delishhh! Gotta try it in the pressure cooker. Great recipe.
★★★★★
Tessa A Simpson says
Another really smart way to use an Instant Pot! Sweet potatoes need so little to be good since they are so amazing on their own!
★★★★★
Julie says
I haven’t bought a pressure cooker yet – I’ve heard they’re much safer now, but I’ve also heard so many stories about them exploding. However, these lovely sweet potatoes in 8 minutes is a strong argument to get on the pressure cooker bandwagon.
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Right, Julie?! My mom remembers the ones that our grandparents had that were SOOOOOO scary! The electric ones now are pretty safe and much less scary. I still get a bit nervous when mine is coming up to pressure, though. 🙂
Lindsey Dietz says
Love the combo of thyme and cinnamon! My family will love these!
★★★★★
Elizabeth | The Recipe Revival says
My 1 year old daughter loves sweet potatoes, so i’ll have to give this recipe a try! Plus, I love my pressure cooker, so it’s a win-win!
★★★★★
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Thanks, Elizabeth! I’d love to know what your daughter thinks of this recipe!
Anne-Marie says
Just purchased the Pressure King Pro today and feel a bit overwhelmed but this recipe looks easy and delicious so it might just become the first recipe in my new toy!
★★★★★
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
WOOT, Anne-Marie, congrats on your purchase!!! I was overwhelmed at first too, but I watched some YouTube videos so I felt comfortable that I wouldn’t have an explosion. I also bought a pressure cooker cookbook and that helped me get the hang of it. Bottom line: be sure to add at least 1 cup of liquid and you should be good to go. 🙂
Cynthia says
I don’t own a pressure cooker precisely because I’m scared of them! My mom loves them. She cooks all kinds of things there. Sweet potatoes have become a staple at my home, they are so versatile and yummy!
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
They’re soooooo scary, Cynthia! I actually owned 3(!) pressure cookers prior to the ones I have now, but I rarely used them because they were so scary. The electric ones are much safer and less scary. 🙂
Samantha H. says
Yum! I’ve had my eye on an electric pressure cooker for awhile now. Being able to make mashed sweet potatoes in less than 10 minutes is definitely appealing since I can’t plan ahead to save my life.
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Ha ha, SAME HERE, Samantha. The PC is perfect for us non-meal planners. You can even cook frozen stuff in the pressure cooker, you just add more time. It’s pretty awesome. I’m still learning everything it can do.
April says
I seriously have to buy a pressure cooker. This looks super easy and delicious. I may just have to buy myself a pressure cooker for this holiday!
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Thanks, April! I bet you would create some AMAZING recipes in the PC and I would love to see that. 🙂 Happy holidays!!!
Leslie says
The pressure cooker strikes again with a great hands-off way to get a dish done with no fuss! I really do like making sweet potatoes in the pressure cooker because they can take so long in the oven.
Stephanie says
I love making sweet potatoes in my pressure cooker! So easy 🙂
swathi says
Pressure cooker is great help when comes too cook rice or lentils and root tubers. Love this instant pot mashes sweet potato, sure tasting great and flavorful.
★★★★★
Rezel Kealoha says
I need to get into the pressure cooker game. It makes cooking so so fast.
Allison hanson says
A pressure cooker it on thing i do not have, i though it was a fad but it looks like it is here to stay! Great idea, they are so versatile.
Helene D'Souza says
I know what you mean, I feel the same way about pressure cookers. My mother in law’s pressure cooker exploded once but that thing was 20 years old (!). I still use mine carefully but of course I would not want to part with mine. 🙂
I love what you made, it looks very comforting.
Charlene says
Love these flavours with sweet potatoes!
Callie Mae Goode says
This looks amazing! I have to try this soon.
Tina Jui says
This looks fab! I’ll be making it soon.
★★★★★
Kate says
Yum! What a fantastic idea! I love sweet potatoes and I almost never eat them mashed just because I don’t think of it. I will totally be trying this! 🙂
Sarah says
Oh man, I love mashed sweet potatoes so much! The herbs in this sound fabulous! What kind of pressure cooker did you end up with?
Meymi-Pastry and Beyond says
Looks yummy! Sounds great with thyme and cinnamon!
★★★★★
Veronika says
I just got my Instant Pot and playing around with different recipes. Will definitely try yours!
★★★★★
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Yay, let me know how you like this recipe, Veronika! And, enjoy your new toy!!!
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago says
These sound like a delicious take on sweet potatoes and seem super easy to make!
★★★★★
Jenni LeBaron says
Yum! I love the addition of thyme in this. These looks creamy and wonderful!
Leslie Haasch says
I love sweet potatoes, but it can be such a hassle to make them mashed. Instant Pot sounds PERFECT for these!
lauren says
We just got an instant pot last month and are slowly testing out new recipes. This sounds like a perfect one to add to the list. I love the addition of a little cinnamon and herbs to add a contrast of flavor.
Rachel says
These sweet potatoes sound so good and cooking them in an Instant Pot looks so easy! I love how you seasoned them too!
★★★★★
Stacey says
I have some sweet potatoes waiting on me to make something tasty, and this is ideal!
Tatiana says
That’s a very cool twist on classic sweet mashed potatoes. Thyme ! Would never think of adding it !
★★★★★
Jodie Morgan says
I love this! Sweet potatoes are a staple in our house and I just got an instant pot this CHristmas. I’ve been pressure canning for years but this is my first time pressure cooking and I am starting to love it!
★★★★★
Danielle says
These look so perfect! And I love that you’ve seasoned them with thyme. This is a must-try.
★★★★★
Leslie says
I’ve never tried thyme with sweet potatoes. I’ll have to do this next time I want a sweet potato side dish.
★★★★★
Ali from Home & Plate says
Yum! This looks fantastic and a perfect substitution for traditional mashed potatoes. Love the addition of thyme.
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
This looks fantastic – we LOVE sweet potatoes, and yet I’ve never thought to add thyme as a seasoning. So perfect, and goes with a million different mains!
★★★★★
Joyce says
This is so cool! I had no idea you could make this in the pressure cooker! I need more recipes as well for the pressure cooker, because what I have made so far is phenomenal in that little gadget but there isn’t many recipes for it! Thanks so much! 🙂
★★★★★
Stretch says
I love my instant pot for potatoes! Happy to find this recipe for sweet potatoes. Question – don’t you need to drain the potatoes? Recipe does not say to so just checking……thanks!
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Actually, the water gets absorbed into the potatoes! So, no need to drain. Enjoy!!!
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
One of my favorite recipes!
★★★★★
Kim says
Fantastic! Super easy and tastes amazing! Great for a side dish in the fall or winter!
★★★★★
Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition says
Yes, thanks Kim!!! I am getting so excited for fall now!
Juneau says
Sorry but will go back to my usual preferred recipe.1. I love thyme but that was too much for my pot full of potatoes. 2.I usually use my steamer insert to keep the potatoes out of the water keeping them steamed but not soggy. I couldn’t get all of the required 1 cup of water out of potatoes and in the 8 minutes of cooking they became terribly soggy. 3. My dinner guests did not finish their small servings.
★★