EASY Cinnamon Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe (Paleo) | Wicked Spatula (2024)

I hate to toot my own horn, but these cinnamon mashed sweet potatoes are absolutely delicious and if you don’t try them you are missing out. This super easy sweet potato mash recipe is simple and elegant enough to serve at Thanksgiving dinner and relaxed enough for a weeknight family meal. The best part? Unlike the usual version, these easy healthy mashed sweet potatoes are totally refined-sugar free.

All of the flavors work wonderfully together; the cinnamon and vanilla really bring out the inherent sweetness of the sweet potatoes, so there is no need for added sugar. The tiny little burnt flecks of ghee add a nuttiness that tastes like the nut crumble on a traditional sweet potato casserole.

Last but not least, the texture is so smooth and creamy. I’m pretty sure this is the best mashed sweet potatoes recipe ever!

Is This Sweet Potato Mash Recipe Easy?

Yes! I might go as far as to say this easy mashed sweet potato recipe is one of the easiest paleo side dishes you can make. It just takes time to peel the sweet potatoes, mash them and blend in the ingredients.

Even on a busy week night, easy mashed sweet potatoes are so quick to put together, full of wholesome deliciousness and great as a side dish.

Are Mashed Sweet Potatoes Paleo?

Yes! This cinnamon sweet potato mash recipe is 100% paleo. And, making mashed sweet potatoes paleo doesn’t require anything special – just use ghee instead of butter.

Compared to regular white potatoes, comparatively low carb sweet potatoes make the most deliciously satisfying mash ever. They are still too high carb for a low carb diet, but excellent for a paleo diet. They happen to be whole30 friendly, too.

How To Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes

One of the things that makes this the best sweet potato mash recipe is it comes together super fast! Here is how to make sweet potato mash with just 3 easy steps…

1. Boil the sweet potatoes
2. Mash the potatoes with nut milk, cinnamon, sea salt and vanilla
3. Top with browned ghee and dust with cinnamon

How To Cook Sweet Potato Mash

You can choose to cook the sweet potatoes by roasting them or boiling. For this easy sweet potato mash recipe, we’ll boil them which is the fastest.

• When making mashed sweet potatoes, you can choose to peel them or not. Peel the sweet potatoes if desired.
• Cut the sweet potatoes into pieces, place them into a pot of gently boiling water, and cook until they are easily pierced with a fork. Drain.

TIP: You can peel your sweet potatoes before boiling and mashing for a smoother texture. However if you are in a rush or want the extra nutrition, the skin on sweet potatoes is edible, packed with nutrients, and tastes good.

How Long To Boil Sweet Potatoes For Mash

The smaller the pieces, the faster your sweet potatoes will cook. It’s a trade-off between cook time and the time needed to chop them up, so it’s up to you!

As a general guideline, it takes about 30 minutes to boil sweet potatoes for mash. But, I always recommend checking for doneness by piercing them with a fork.

How To Mash Sweet Potatoes

Once cooked, there are several options for mashing sweet potatoes. You can use any of these:

• Potato masher
• Blender
• Food processor
• A fork – but it’s a bit more work!

After mashing, add the almond milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Stir well, then transfer the sweet potato mashed potatoes to a serving dish.

Finishing Touches For The Best Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are always delicious, but the toppings in these cinnamon mashed potatoes really put them over the top. Browned ghee and cinnamon are super simple and healthy, but so delicious!

Here is how to make the browned ghee:

• Heat the ghee in a separate pan over a medium heat. Keep the ghee moving in the pan by swirling it. When the ghee darkens in color and starts to smell sweet and nutty, remove the pan from heat.
• Pour the melted, browned ghee over the potatoes and dust generously with cinnamon.

See? Now you know how to make sweet potato mash healthy. No sugar needed.

How To Make Sweet Potato Mash Ingredient Swaps

There are a few options if you want to change up this sweet potato mash recipe.

• How to make mashed sweet potatoes paleo – This recipe is already paleo. No changes needed!
• How to make mashed sweet potatoes dairy-free or vegan – Ghee is paleo and usually okay for people with dairy issues, but if you prefer to avoid it, you can use olive oil instead. You don’t even have to brown it – just mix it in and/or drizzle on top for strict dairy-free mashed sweet potatoes.
• How to make whole30 mashed sweet potatoes – Ghee is allowed on the whole30, so you can leave the recipe as-is. But feel free to use olive oil like above if you prefer.
• How to make sweet potato mash with butter – If you don’t mind a little dairy, these cinnamon mashed potatoes are even more delicious with browned butter instead of ghee. I like them with grass-fed butter – in fact, this recipe was originally made with butter, but I updated it to change it to ghee for stricter paleo.
• How to make these into a casserole – If by chance you are looking for something a little sweeter and more traditional, check out my paleo sweet potato casserole with bacon pecan streusel from last year . It’s your classic sweet and sticky sweet potato casserole just made a bit healthier by using WAY less sugar and swapping cream for a bit of coconut milk!

Sweet Potato Mash Nutrition

Are mashed sweet potatoes healthy? Well, there are certainly healthier options than this, but mashed sweet potato nutrition content has some benefits. These do have some fiber, iron, calcium, B vitamins and vitamin C. Plus, they are 100% natural, which I’m always a fan of, and sweet potato mash calories are relatively low.

Here is the nutrition info for 1/2 cup of this healthy sweet potato mash recipe:

• 130 calories
• 4g fat
• 20g total carbohydrates
• 3g fiber
• 4g sugar
• 1 g protein

Can Cinnamon Mashed Sweet Potatoes Be Made Ahead?

Yes! I often prep this naturally paleo side dish in advance, especially during the holidays. Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, it will happily last for 3-5 days.

To reheat these healthy mashed sweet potatoes, you can use the microwave, or a pan in the oven at 350 degrees F.

Can You Freeze Mashed Sweet Potatoes?

Yes, you can freeze this sweet potato mash recipe. I like to freeze portions in sealed plastic bags, which saves space and doesn’t require a container.

To serve after freezing, allow the mashed sweet potatoes to thaw in the fridge. Then, you can reheat in the microwave or in the oven.

PRO TIP: Healthy sweet potato mash can be prone to going a little bit brown when you freeze it. It’s perfectly safe to eat, but if this bothers you, add a little lemon juice to the mix before freezing.

What To Serve With Sweet Potatoes

This cinnamon sweet potato mash pairs beautifully with protein-based main dishes. I’m a big fan of serving it with paleo slow cooker recipes. Here are a few to try:

• Paleo Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken
• Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Pork Tenderloin
• Paleo Slow Cooker Pot Roast