This recipe for Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes is a simple side dish that takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish to prepare. With variations for seasonings, these velvety, creamy mashed sweet potatoes are a perfect complement to endless entrees or can be used as homemade baby food.

No Instant Pot? Use my recipe for Stovetop Mashed Sweet Potatoes.

Bowl of Sweet Potato Mash next to instant pot.

Sweet Potatoes are among my favorite things to make in the Instant Pot. From Instant Pot Baked Sweet Potatoes to Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chili to these creamy, dreamy mashed sweet potatoes, I love how perfectly the pressure cooker cooks sweet potatoes.

why you'll love this recipe

Easy. Making mashed sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot is much easier than making classic Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes. Unlike russet potatoes, sweet potatoes do not give off as much starch as they cook. Therefore, you can cook them directly in vegetable broth and mash once cook, mash the sweet potatoes in the cooking liquid--no draining is needed!
Tasty. Sweet potatoes have so much flavor. They are naturally sweet and a bit earthy, and when mashed with a few added ingredients, instant pot mashed potatoes turn into a spectacular, show-stopping side dish.
Healthy. This recipe for Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes as written is low in fat, low in calories, and packs in a ton of fiber and vitamins.
Allergy-Friendly. This recipe is dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free, making Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes not only perfect for those with food allergies/restrictions, but also a great starter food for babies.
Versatile. Because this is a basic recipe for mashed sweet potatoes, there are endless ways you can flavor this recipe for Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes.

Notes on Ingredients

This is a basic recipe for mashed sweet potatoes, but I have provided options for adding unique flavors to the Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes.

Sweet Potatoes: Any size of sweet potatoes will work, as you will be peeling and cubing the potatoes prior to pressure cooking. Remember, just like when making Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, it is crucial to cut your sweet potatoes into evenly sized cubes so they cook evenly.
Cooking Liquid: Use store-bought or homemade vegetable broth, chicken stock, or water. Apple Juice is another great option and works really well if you are preparing these mashed sweet potatoes to use as baby food or for a sweeter side dish.
Salt: Unless you are on a sodium-free diet, I strongly recommend adding a bit of kosher salt to the sweet potatoes before pressure cooking. This will help to enhance the natural flavor of the sweet potatoes.

Tips to Remember When Making Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Cut the sweet potatoes into evenly sized cubes. This will ensure an even cooking time. For this recipe, the timing is based on sweet potatoes cut into 1-inch cubes.
Mash how you want. For mashing the sweet potatoes, you can use a food processor or handheld mixer without worrying that your sweet potatoes will become gummy, as can happen with regular mashed potatoes. However, the sweet potatoes are so tender, they will mash up quickly using a handheld potato masher and that means fewer dishes to clean!
Add flavor. Use the suggestions below to add flavor to these mashed sweet potatoes to make them into an irresistible side dish that suits your craving.

Sweet Potatoes in Instant Pot with potato masher.

Flavoring Suggestions

This is a very basic recipe for mashed sweet potatoes, and while delicious on its own, you may be interested in trying out one of the following flavor combinations for your sweet potato mash.

Spiced Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Add 2 teaspoons minced jalapeno and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika to cooking liquid before cooking. Be warned--These will be SPICY!
Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes: After cooking the sweet potatoes, add ¼ cup milk and 1 tablespoon butter and mash until creamy.
Sweet Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Use apple juice or water as the cooking liquid. Once cooked, add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and mash as directed. Top with chopped nuts if desired.
Apple Cider Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Use apple cider as your cooking liquid and flavor with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg before mashing.
Tex-Mex Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Replace salt with 2 teaspoons of taco seasoning. When mashing, add up to ¼ cup of sour cream to add tang to the sweet potato mash.
Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Add 1 tablespoon of bourbon into the cooking liquid before cooking sweet potatoes. Season with a bit of cinnamon if desired.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate: Leftover mashed sweet potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
Freeze: Allow the sweet potato puree to cool and then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or storage bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Baby Food: If you are using the mashed sweet potatoes as baby food, I recommend portioning out the cooled mashed sweet potatoes into ice cube trays. Cover the tray with plastic wrap and place it into the freezer. Once the cubes are frozen solid, pop them out, store them in storage freezer bags, and freeze them for up to 3 months.

More Instant Pot Side Dish Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe for Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

Bowl of Mashed Sweet Potatoes topped with walnuts, maple syrup and cinnamon

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes is a simple, dairy free recipe for perfectly creamy mashed sweet potatoes that is ready in one pan in less than 30 minutes.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Pressure Time: 10

Total Time: 25

Servings:

Calories: 195kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

▢ 3 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks
▢ 1 cup water, broth, or apple juice
▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Wash and peel the sweet potatoes. Cut the potatoes into evenly-sized 1-inch cubes.
Place the cubed sweet potatoes, liquid, and salt into the inner pot of the pressure cooker.
Place the lid on Instant Pot and seal the venting knob or lock the lid. Using the manual or pressure cook function, set the cooking time to 10 minutes on high pressure.
Once the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, you can opt to do a quick release of the remaining pressure OR you can allow for the pressure to release naturally on its own.
Once the pressure has been released, open the instant pot and mash sweet potatoes and cooking liquid, using a handheld potato masher until smooth. Alternatively, transfer the sweet potatoes and liquid to a food processor and process until smooth.
If desired, add butter, milk, or additional seasonings and continue to mash the sweet potatoes until they are creamy.

Equipment Needed

Electric Pressure Cooker (6 or 8 quart)

Notes

Storage: Leftover mashed sweet potatoes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Flavor Options:

Spiced Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Add 2 teaspoons minced jalapeno and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika to cooking liquid before cooking. Be warned--These will be SPICY!
Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes: After cooking the sweet potatoes, add ¼ cup milk and 1 tablespoon butter and mash until creamy.
Sweet Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Use apple juice or water as the cooking liquid. Once cooked, add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and mash as directed. Top with chopped nuts if desired.
Apple Cider Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Use apple cider as your cooking liquid and flavor with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg before mashing.
Tex-Mex Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Replace salt with 2 teaspoons of taco seasoning. When mashing, add up to ¼ cup of sour cream to add tang to the sweet potato mash.
Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Add 1 tablespoon of bourbon into the cooking liquid before cooking sweet potatoes. Season with a bit of cinnamon if desired.

Nutrition

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