Smoked sweet potatoes are a wonderful side dish that’s super easy to make and ready in about an hour. Top off these soft sweet potatoes with maple butter, pecans, brown sugar, bacon bits, or any favorite toppings.
Smoked Sweet Potatoes
Whether you’re preparing a Thanksgiving dinner or just a weekend family dinner, sweet potatoes are a great choice for a side dish. This slightly sweet and meaty root vegetable pairs perfectly with every meat choice, from turkey to steaks.
The great part about sweet potatoes is how well they take in the smoke flavor. They seem to take in just enough to compliment their natural flavor but not too much where smoke is overpowering.
As far as the toppings go, we love to serve our sweet potatoes with maple butter, some pecans, and maybe a dash of cinnamon. You can also choose an incredible variety of toppings, which I mention below. No matter which way you choose to eat your sweet potatoes, it will be soft, delicious. and with a hint of smoke flavor.
QUICK SMOKING TIPS:
What wood to use for smoked sweet potatoes?
Pecan or maple wood are my first choice for sweet potatoes. You can also go with another mild and fruity wood like apple, apricot, or cherry.
What temperature to smoke sweet potatoes?
The best temperature for cooking sweet potatoes is 375°. No need for foil either, simple poke holes in sweet potatoes and place it on the smoker. I do highly recommend using a drip pan though, for the sweet and sticky juices that will drip out.
How long to smoke sweet potatoes?
Depending on the type of sweet potato itself, it will take about 1 hour to smoke sweet potatoes at 375°. Test each sweet potato with a fork to make sure it is completely tender at the thickest part before pulling it off.
Can I freeze smoked sweet potatoes?
Absolutely. You can make extra sweet potatoes and make sure to cool them completely. Don’t cut them before freezing either. Wrap each sweet potato with aluminum foil and a layer of plastic wrap for extra protection. Place them into a large zip-top freezer bag and freeze for 10-12 months. To thaw, I recommend doing it slowly, overnight in the refrigerator.
Ingredients for Smoked Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes – choose your favorite sweet potato kind, they are all great on a smoker.
Olive oil – nice and mild tasting olive oil is good.
Coarse salt – coarse salt is a better choice than table salt.
Butter – unsalted butter butter is best so you can control the amount of salt yourself.
Maple syrup – pure maple syrup is always the best choice.
Brown sugar – if you’re wondering why both, maple syrup and sugar, it’s for the texture. The brown sugar will help whip the butter smooth and fluffy vs just maple syrup.
How To Smoke Sweet Potatoes
Like I mentioned earlier, it is SO easy to smoke sweet potatoes!
Start preparing your smoker first because it takes no time at all to prepare the potatoes. Preheat the smoker to 375° and place a drip pan underneath the grate.
Wash sweet potatoes and pat them dry. Use a fork or a butter knife to pike a few holes all around each potato. Rub them with some olive oil and sprinkle coarse salt all around.
You can place sweet potatoes right on the grill grate or use a mesh vegetable grill basket to hold them. Place sweet potatoes on the preheated smoker and cook them for about an hour.
To test if they are done, stick a fork in each one, into the thickest part of the potato, to make sure they are completely tender.
For maple butter: make sure to let the butter sit out on the counter for 30-45 minutes to soften first. Then, beat butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt with a hand mixer until soft and fluffy.
Toppings for Sweet Potatoes:
Sweet toppings: brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, mini marshmallows
Spices: cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice. Or your favorite combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ground ginger, and/or ground cloves.
Nuts: any nuts you love, just chop or crush them first. This includes pecan, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts.
Savory: butter, sour cream, chives, herbs, shredded cheese.
Make it a meal: ground beef, diced chicken and turkey, cheese and veggies make great toppings when you want to make sweet potatoes a meal. Think chili, sloppy joe, southwest chicken, etc.
Serve smoked sweet potatoes along any meats like Smoked Turkey, Whole Smoker Chicken, Smoked Meatloaf, Pulled Pork, and so many more!
Smoked Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- coarse kosher or sea salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- pinch salt
Instructions
Prepare the smoker:
- Prepare your smoker first because it only takes a couple of minutes to prepare the potatoes.
- Preheat the smoker to 375°, make sure the grill grate is clean, and place a drip pan underneath the grate to catch the drippings.
Prepare the sweet potatoes:
- Wash sweet potatoes and pat them dry.
- Use a fork or a butter knife to poke a few holes all around each potato. Rub them with some olive oil and sprinkle coarse salt all around.
Cook sweet potatoes:
- You can place sweet potatoes right on the grill grate or use a mesh vegetable grill basket to hold them.
- Place sweet potatoes on the preheated smoker and cook them for about an hour.
- To test of they are done, stick a fork in each one, into the thickest part of the potato, to make sure they are completely tender.
Maple Butter:
- Make sure to let the butter sit out on the counter for 30-45 minutes to soften first.
- Then, beat softened butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt with a hand mixer until soft and fluffy.
Nutrition
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