Ultra creamy crock pot sweet potatoes are the most effortless recipe you’ll ever make! 5 minutes prep, one ingredient, and works great for meal prep! Plus 3 delicious ways to stuff them.
Sweet potatoes are a staple in our diet, but with a long cook time, I’ve realized that if we want full-sized sweet potatoes on a weeknight, we are going to have to cook them ahead. I am a fan of using these Instant Pot sweet potatoes, but the crock pot works amazingly as well!
With soft and fluffy insides, these crockpot sweet potatoes are a great way to prep them without ever needing to turn on the oven. 5 minutes to wash, prick, and place them into the slow cooker is all it takes!
This method has never let us down. Perfect, fluffy sweet potatoes each and every time! I can’t wait to share it with you!
Reasons you’re going to LOVE these crock pot sweet potatoes
- one ingredient
- 5 minutes prep
- perfect sweet potatoes each and every time
Don’t forget to pin this post to save it for later!
The method
My old version of this recipe involved wrapping the sweet potatoes up in foil to cook them, but I wanted to know if this was really necessary as we tend to avoid foil as much as possible.
Spoiler alert- it’s not!
Here’s how to make slow cooker sweet potatoes:
- wash & pat dry sweet potatoes
- prick all over with a fork
- cook on low for 8 hours*
- store for meal prep or enjoy right away!
*small sweet potatoes might be ready closer to 6 hours, but large sweet potatoes need the full 8 hours
Wait…there’s no water?
Nope, the sweet potatoes release water as they cook, causing them to steam without the need to add extra water to the slow cooker.
Can I cook my sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot or oven?
Absolutely! Check out these Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes and How to Bake Sweet Potatoes tutorials.
Storage & reheating for meal prep
Crock pot sweet potatoes work amazingly well for meal prep! Here’s how to store them:
- freezer- after cooking, cool completely, wrap in parchment paper, and store in a meal prep container for up to 3 months.
- fridge- store in an air tight container in the fridge for 4-5 days
Reheating
My preferred method for reheating fully cooked sweet potatoes is in the oven as I find it cooks through evenly. Here are some ways you could reheat:
- oven- reheat at 425°F for 10-12 minutes (depends on the size of the sweet potato).
- microwave- 1-2 minutes
- toaster oven
- air fryer
What to serve with sweet potatoes
I love my sweet potatoes with a bit of butter and a sprinkling of coconut sugar and cinnamon. I serve this with:
- Baked Chicken Breast– my kids (and I!) are obsessed with the seasoning on this Perfect Baked Chicken Breast.
- Salmon– I love love love how this Herb Crusted Broiled Salmon gets a little crust on it.
- Side Salad– we are currently obsessed with this Fennel, Apple Brussels Sprouts Slaw, but this Staple Kale Salad is another great option!
Crock pot sweet potatoes video
Straight up sweet potato is delish for sure, but you can take it to the next level with a few extra ingredients!
Watch the video below to see exactly how I meal prep my sweet potatoes. You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.
See the notes on the recipe card for the recipes used in this video.
Other ways to use cooked sweet potatoes
Now I love using sweet potatoes as a base in so many different recipes…so I decided to pull a bunch of easy and healthy sweet potato meal prep recipes together for some ideas of how to use these crock pot sweet potatoes.
Whether you use them as twice baked sweet potatoes, in hummus, breakfast burritos, or any of the recipes, using the slow cooker to cook them ahead definitely makes your meal prep go a little faster.
Let’s check them all out!
- Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Smoky Sweet Potato Hummus
- Southwestern Sweet Potato Breakfast Burritos
- Freezer Sweet Potato Taquitos
- Freezer Sweet Potato Waffles
- Sweet Potato Falafels
- Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Sausage & Pepper Jack
- Chipotle Sweet Potato Black Bean Quesadillas
- Turkey & Smoked Gouda Sweet Potato Boats
This recipe was originally posted 07/2015 and was rewritten & republished in 08/2019. Same great recipe, but NO FOIL!
Ultra Creamy Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3-5 sweet potatoes depending on the size of the sweet potatoes and the size of your slow cooker
Instructions
- Wash sweet potatoes and pat dry.
- Prick sweet potatoes 8 or so times with a fork and place in a slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
Storage
- After cooking, sweet potatoes may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- To freeze- wrap cooled sweet potatoes in parchment paper (secure with tape), then place in a silicone bag or meal prep container. Store for up to 3 months.
- To re-heat- thaw completely if necessary.* heat at 425°F in the oven for 10 or so minutes (depends on the size of the sweet potatoes)* heat in the microwave on medium power for 2 or so minutes, until heated through (also depends on the power of your microwave and size of your sweet potatoes)
Notes
- sausage stuffed sweet potatoes- https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/twice-baked-sweet-potatoes-with-sausage-pepper-jack/
- enchilada stuffed sweet potatoes- https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/freezer-to-oven-enchilada-stuffed-sweet-potatoes/
- breakfast sweet potatoes:
- re-heat sweet potatoes in the oven at 425 for 10 or so minutes
- while potatoes are re-heating, scramble eggs (2/ sweet potato) in a pan. Add in greens & salt & pepper.
- serve scrambled eggs over the sweet potatoes
monica
Can I avoid the foil? I try to produce as little garbage as possible.
Denise
Hi Monica, that’s a great question! I’ve pretty much removed all aluminum foil from my kitchen these days, but I haven’t made these without. If you try it, would you let me know how they turn out?
Katie
Hi!
Any idea how many cups one potato yields?
Thanks!
Denise
Hi Katie! That’s a really tough question…it will definitely depend on the size of your sweet potatoes. For the ones pictured I believe I got about 1.5-2 cups or so for each? That’s a guestimate though 😉
Norma
Do you place the foil-wrapped sweet potatoes on top of wadded-up foil in the slow-cooker or just set the foil-wrapped sweet potatoes down in the slow-cooker without anything under them?
Denise
Hi Norma! I just placed them in without any foil on the bottom of the slow cooker, they did leak out a small amount of liquid, but it was easy enough to clean up.
Izzy
This is such a great idea, Denise!! I could eat sweet potatoes every single day! I love them so much I’ve been dealing with the heat from the oven just so I can get my fix, but cooking them in a slow cooker is such a great idea for the summer! Basically I want to eat all of these dishes!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life
Ahh yum!! This series is PERFECT Denise. It’s just the two of us and while we love our slow cooker to bits, sometimes eight tons of pulled chicken, beef, etc. gets old. I love all of these sweet potato recipes.
Denise
I’m so glad you like the series, Jessica! I hate throwing food away, and sometimes that’s what ends up happening.
Denise
Thanks, Emanuele! I’m definitely still learning my crock pot, but the more I use it, the easier it gets!
Louise petets
How long will they keep. In fridge for
Denise
Up to 4 days!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven
Oh, man. That is seriously the ONLY way I want to cook my sweet potatoes from now on! Loooove all the things that you can do with the sweet potatoes afterward especially those quesadillas!
Denise
Thanks, Sarah! I had a lot of fun with this post 😉
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
Denise!!! I love this new series! I love slow cooker recipes!!! I didn’t start using my slow cooker in the summer until recently .. and probably won’t pull it out on the really hot days but I’ve been loving it! such a time saver on busy days .. and LOVE sweet potato recipes!! bring it on!!!
Denise
Thanks, Alice! I love my slow cooker 🙂
Catherine
Dear Denise, I love this idea and all three dishes look delicious. Those quesadillas have my name written all over them. I would love that for lunch today. I have to remember to break out my slow cooker more often. xo, Catherine
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter
Yay. I love this new series! So fun! Slow cooker meals are my favorite and such a lifesaver. We eat a lot of sweet potatoes and each one of these meals would be a hit! They look amazing!
Denise
Thanks so much, Kelly! I can’t get enough of sweet potatoes…my favorites!
Kristine | Kristine's Kitchen
I am so excited that you are starting this series! I never knew you could cook sweet potatoes like that in the slow cooker! And your three recipes using those sweet potatoes look delicious! It’s so tough to choose, but I think I want to try those twice-baked potatoes first. 🙂
Denise
It’s hard to argue with gooey cheese, isn’t it, Kristine 😉 Thanks!
marcie
Denise, I love that you’ve given me a brand new oven-off way to bake potatoes! This is so cool, and I intend to to use it. I love my sweet potatoes, and your recipes look wonderful. Can’t wait to see the full posts!
Denise
Yes! I can never get them as soft and creamy when I roast them in the oven…I don’t think I’ll ever do them in the oven again!
Ashley
What a fun idea! I’m the same way with my slow cooker – it can make such large batches! All three of these sound delicious!
Denise
Thanks, Ashley! I always have a ton of left-overs that I don’t know how to use!
Olivia - Primavera Ktichen
This is such a great idea for a series, Denise! I also have the same problem with my slow cooker. It cooks really large batches of food and I don’t have a big family. It is only me and my husband. So, this is great post for me 😉
Denise
I’m so glad you like the series, Olivia! I get pretty bored eating the same thing over and over again.
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely
Loving this new series! And so smart to do the sweet potatoes in the slow cooker. Then I can come home from work and they’ll be all ready for me. The best!
Denise
Exactly! And you don’t have to turn on your oven! Thanks, Natalie!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
This is such a fun series, Denise! I’ve never even thought to cook sweet potatoes in my slow cooker. Such a great idea!
Denise
You should try it, Gayle! It is the easiest thing ever…I don’t think I’ll ever cook them in the oven again!