This classic holiday side dish recipe for Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes is so incredibly simple to make. Free up your oven with this easy dish.
There is one thing that is synonymous with Thanksgiving. Sweet Potatoes. It seems that every family gathering you go to, there they are.
But who has time to mind them on the stovetop? Not me and the oven is always occupied with the turkey. So that’s where the beauty of an easy sweet potato recipe made in the slow cooker comes in and saves the day.
Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes
Making this classic holiday side dish in the slow cooker is basically, prep and forget. It really doesn’t get much easier than this recipe.
I am all about making meal prep easy – especially for the holidays.
Who has time to tend to complicated dishes when there are so many other things happening during the holiday? I like holidays simple and easy.
Fortunately, this recipe makes it just that by using the old trusty slow cooker.
sweet potato crock pot recipes
Just toss all those prepped potatoes in and then top them with the glaze mixture. Cover and let them cook while you work on everything else or entertain your guests.
You don’t have to do anything else until they are almost done and it is time to add the marshmallows and pecans. So easy.
Here are some commonly asked questions
What is the best way to store leftover sweet potatoes?
Transfer any leftover sweet potatoes to a shallow airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 4 days. Be sure to label with the date to make it easy to keep track.
Why use a shallow container to store the leftovers?
Well, when the container is shallow, the contents chill faster than if you were to use a large, deep container. Ideally, you don’t want it to take too long for the leftovers to get to their chilled/stored temperature.
As I mentioned, if the food remains above about 35 degrees for more than 1 hour after cooking, the bacteria starts to grow.
slow cooker sweet potato casserole
How many can this serve?
This recipe should feed approx 8-10 adults depending on the portion sizes.
Can this recipe be doubled?
Because of the space constraints of most slow cookers, I don’t think this can be doubled unless you were to split the ingredients between 2 cookers. (which isn’t a bad idea)
slow cooker sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving
HOW DO YOU MAKE Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes?
- Prepare the sweet potatoes by peeling and then chopping into 2″ pieces.
- Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray or oil mister.
- Place the prepared sweet potatoes in the oiled slow cooker.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, mix brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and water.
- Microwave in 30-second intervals until butter is melted.
- Stir in vanilla.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the potatoes. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Stir.
- Turn heat down to warm and top with the marshmallows and pecans.
- Cover and let the topping warm until the marshmallows are melted. Once marshmallows are melted serve!
Can I use a sugar substitute?
I have not personally tried it, so I can’t say how that would turn out. But if you would like to try it, I suggest a product that offers a 1:1 swap. Please let me know how it turns out.
Should I use salted or unsalted butter?
This is really a personal preference. If you are happy with just a little salt to cut the sweetness, then use salted butter.
I usually use whatever I have on hand & I really don’t pay too close attention to what butter I have. But I typically keep salted butter on hand & I love that little bit of extra salt with the sweet in this recipe.
These days with groceries being more difficult to find – I basically get whatever the store has available at the time and make it work.
To make slow cooker sweet potatoes you will need…
- brown sugar
- butter
- cinnamon
- water
- vanilla
- sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into cubes
- miniature marshmallows 1 cup pecans
More Great Recipes
- Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
- Pressure Cooker Mashed Potatoes
- Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
- Easy Scalloped Potatoes
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Potatoes Au Gratin
Can I add other mixins?
Of course. If you have a special ingredient that your family loves to mix into the sweet potatoes – by all means, go ahead and toss that in. If you want to omit the pecans, you can do that too.
Can this recipe be made ahead of time?
If you need to make this a bit ahead of schedule, you should be able to just set it on warm for 1-2 hours after it is done cooking.
However, those sweet potatoes will continue to cook, just more slowly – so you don’t want to leave this for too much longer than that.
Variations, Add-Ins, Substitutions
Variations:
- Stuffed Sweet Potatoes: After slow cooking the sweet potatoes, slice them open and fill with your favorite toppings like black beans, cheese, sour cream, avocado, and salsa.
- Sweet Potato Casserole: Mash the slow-cooked sweet potatoes and mix them with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and a crumbly topping made from oats and pecans. Cook until the topping is golden.
- Curried Sweet Potatoes: Add curry powder, coconut milk, and some diced vegetables to the slow cooker for a flavorful and slightly spicy variation.
- Maple-Glazed Sweet Potatoes: Combine maple syrup, butter, and a pinch of salt. Pour this mixture over the sweet potatoes in the slow cooker for a sweet and rich glaze.
- Savory Herb Sweet Potatoes: Toss the sweet potatoes with olive oil, rosemary, thyme, and minced garlic before slow cooking for a fragrant and savory dish.
Add-Ins:
- Apples: Add sliced apples for extra sweetness and a hint of tartness.
- Onions and Bell Peppers: Sauté onions and bell peppers separately and add them to the slow cooker for added flavor and texture.
- Nuts: Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts add crunch and depth to your sweet potatoes.
- Dried Fruits: Raisins, cranberries, or chopped dried apricots can contribute a burst of sweetness.
- Spices: Experiment with spices like nutmeg, allspice, cumin, or even a touch of cayenne for a unique twist.
Substitutions:
- Sweeteners: Instead of brown sugar or maple syrup, you can use honey, agave nectar, or even a sugar-free sweetener.
- Fats: Instead of butter, you can use coconut oil, olive oil, or a vegan butter substitute.
- Dairy-Free: If you’re avoiding dairy, use coconut milk or almond milk to create a creamy texture when mashing your sweet potatoes.
- Proteins: Add cooked ground turkey, shredded chicken, or cooked quinoa for added protein.
- Veggies: Mix in other vegetables like carrots, butternut squash, or zucchini to create a medley of flavors.
Remember, cooking is all about creativity, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different flavors, ingredients, and techniques to create the perfect slow cooker sweet potato dish that suits your taste preferences and dietary needs.
Tips, Tricks, Suggestions
- Making crockpot sweet potatoes is a great alternative when you lack oven space when making the holiday meal. While it might add to the overall cooking time when it comes to prep, slow cooker recipes like this are so much easier.
- This recipe is quite similar to a classic sweet potato casserole recipe that you would normally find on the Thanksgiving menu. It is one of those delicious recipes always present for a holiday dinner.
- Be sure to coat the bottom of the slow cooker with oil so that the delicious sweet potatoes don’t stick to the bottom. of the slow cooker inserts.
- The natural sweetness of this crock pot recipe is enhanced by the pumpkin spice. Feel free to add some orange juice or a different kind of brown sugar to change up the sweet potato flavor. These also pair perfectly with green beans at the holiday table.
- If this is your first time making your favorite veggies for Thanksgiving day, you’ll love this foolproof method to serve creamy sweet potatoes along with all the other different dishes.
Products I love when making slow cooker sweet potatoes…
This slow cooker sweet potatoes recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand
OR maybe you have never made sweet potatoes in the slow cooker before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this side dish recipe.
- light brown sugar
- cinnamon
- vanilla extract
- mini marshmallows
- pecans
- slow cooker
- mixing bowl
crockpot sweet potato recipes
If you love this Easy Sweet Potato recipe, you’re going to love these other holiday sides too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
If you love this recipe for Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes as much as I do, please write a five-star review, and be sure to help me share on Facebook and Pinterest!
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Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and diced into cubes
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1½ cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 cup pecans
Instructions
- Prepare the sweet potatoes by peeling and then chopping into 2″ pieces.
- Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray or oil mister.
- Place the prepared sweet potatoes in the oiled slow cooker.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, mix brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and water.
- Microwave in 30-second intervals until butter is melted.
- Stir in vanilla.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the potatoes. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Stir.
- Turn heat down to warm and top with the marshmallows and pecans.
- Cover and let the topping warm until the marshmallows are melted. Once marshmallows are melted serve!
Nutrition
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
