Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Traditionally, sweet potatoes are cooked by boiling, steaming, or roasting. I prefer roasted sweet potatoes because the potatoes turn out much more flavorful! The downside is it takes at least 45 minutes for the potatoes to get super soft. Enter the Instant Pot! It cuts the cooking time by half! It’s even easier than this sweet potato casserole. Not only that, it frees up the stove top and oven for your turkey (try this roasted turkey breast) and other favorite side dishes. You can also keep the dish warm right in the pot. No extra steps and dishes! Of course, you can enjoy this year round. In under 30 minutes, you’ve got yourself a healthy side dish that your baby, older child, and you are going to love! The recipe is pretty basic so there are many ways you can invite variety, both sweet and savory. I offer some suggestions below to help get you started.

Ingredients

Sweet potatoes – I highly recommend using red or orange-fleshed varieties, like garnet and jewel. They will taste sweeter and have a creamier texture compared to the other varieties like purple or tan potatoes, which tend to be starchier. Milk – use whole milk for the richness. You may need to add more depending on your sweet potatoes as some tend to be drier than others. You just never know until you cook them! Butter Ground cinnamon Optional for the holidays: toasted pecans, marshmallows, a touch of maple syrup…whatever gets you in the festive mood 😉

Step-by-Step Instructions

Tips for success

Be sure to cut the sweet potatoes into similar-sized pieces so they cook up evenly. Mash while the sweet potatoes are hot. So don’t hit cancel after you release the pressure manually. It should automatically set to “keep warm.” Not only will it make the mashing easier to do, this will result in a better texture. Don’t over mix. Otherwise you’ll end up with a gummy texture. Depending on your sweet potatoes, you may need to add more milk.

Variations

If you’re making this Instant Pot sweet potato mash for a weeknight meal, you’ll most likely have leftovers. In that case, why not have fun experimenting with additional mix-ins! Here are some EASY ways to invite variety into your baby or child’s meals, because that’s the name of the game in helping to minimize picky eating. To the cooked sweet potatoes, mix in:

Iron-rich foods Greek yogurt, cream cheese, or cheese Herbs and spices Mashed ripe banana, unsweetened applesauce or other fruit puree Vegetables Nuts or seeds

You can also use leftovers to make this creamy sweet potato pasta sauce!

Serving Suggestions

Here are some specific examples! Be sure to flatten beans and finely chop chicken and vegetables. Don’t be afraid to season your baby’s food with spices and herbs!