Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes

Nearly effortless to prepare, slow cooker sweet potatoes are an easy side dish for weeknight dinners, simple meal prep, or for any holiday table!

About these Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes

Yes, you can make perfect baked sweet potatoes in the slow cooker! 

By far the easiest, hands-off way to feed a crowd, meal prep like a pro, or whip up an easy side dish for weeknight dinners, these slow cooker baked sweet potatoes are bound to become your new go-to recipe.

Now, I’ll admit I was skeptical when first trying cooking sweet potatoes in my crockpot.

But they really come out so surprisingly fluffy, light & delicious that now it’s my favorite hands-off way to cook potatoes of all kinds – I’m looking at you slow cooker potatoes, slow cooker baked potatoes, and slow cooker roasted potatoes!

This recipe really couldn’t be easier to make, and is now one of my favorite side dishes for busy weeks or fun get-togethers with family & friends.

The best part? 

You can easily add your choice of protein or toppings to turn this into an easy, filling & hearty dinner option too!

Tip: Looking for a delicious and easy slow cooker sweet potato casserole recipe? Check out this Crock Pot Sweet Potato Casserole!

Process & Tips

Yes, this recipe only has one ingredient: sweet potatoes!

Note that “yam” and “sweet potato” are often used interchangeably, but they are actually from completely different botanical families (source).

For this recipe look for orange-fleshed sweet potatoes with dark orange-brown skin.

All you need to do is add washed and slightly damp sweet potatoes to the slow cooker, and then cook on low or high.

After they’re cooked, you can slice them down the middle, add any fun extras that you want, and then you’re ready to dig in!

I love that these crockpot sweet potatoes are cooked without foil because they don’t require any prep beyond a quick scrub.

And, in contrast to traditional oven baked sweet potatoes, you don’t poke holes in them to cooking them.

They require no added water, so don’t add any to the slow cooker or you’ll end up with mushy sweet potatoes, and no one wants that.

If you’re wondering about the final texture, the skins don’t come out crispy, which is the nature of cooking in a slow cooker. 

If you prefer very crispy skins, just pop the cooked sweet potatoes under a broiler for a few minutes until they crisp up, keeping careful watch, of course, to avoid burning them.

Tip: Instructions for how to cook this on high for a shorter cook time are also included in the recipe card below to help you keep your options open on busy weeks.

Why Make Sweet Potatoes in the Slow Cooker

There are a number of reasons you might want to cook sweet potatoes in the slow cooker rather than the oven.

For the holidays like Thanksgiving, cooking them in the slow cooker can save precious oven space for other dishes.

Cooking in the crockpot also allows you to keep them warm so they’re ready when everyone is ready to eat!

Finally, cooking sweet potatoes in the slow cooker can be handy when bringing the dish to potlucks or to a friend’s house.

How to Store & Freeze

Cooked sweet potatoes will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

To reheat, microwave in 30 second increments until warmed through, or in a 350F oven for 20-25 minutes. 

What to Do with Baked Sweet Potatoes

Chili: Top with delicious vegetarian chili.

Enchilada: Edd enchilada chicken and easy guacamole.

Mashed: Use in easy sweet potato muffins.

Pureed: Add to a sweet potato smoothie.

Tip: Baked sweet potatoes make the best base for a baked potato bar! Check out this baked potato bar + topping ideas post for how to do it.

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