Grilled Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

By
Joshua Bousel
a photo of Joshua Bousel, a Contributing Writer at Serious Eats
Joshua Bousel
Joshua Bousel is a Serious Eats old-timer, having started sharing his passion for grilling and barbecue recipes on the site back in 2008. He continues to develop grilling and barbecue recipes on his own site, The Meatwave, out of his home base of Durham, North Carolina.
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Updated October 15, 2018
20101130-mashed-sweet-potatoes.jpg
Photographs: Joshua Bousel

My sister Rachel is quite the mashed potatoes connoisseur, so her pronouncement that my Thanksgiving mashers were the best she's ever had put me on a tater high. When my CSA left me with an abundance of sweet potatoes, they were just calling to be mashed too.

My favorite sweet potatoes are the soft, silky ones that have been roasted on hot coals—I thought that was a good place to start with these. After an hour nestled in the embers, the potatoes were so soft, they could be easily scooped out with a spoon, requiring no further mashing. I only added butter, half and half, a little brown sugar, salt, and pepper. They were ready to go.

Not quite the achievement of my Thanksgiving mashed potatoes, these were still mighty fine—soft and creamy, with a sweetness that wasn't sickening, but enough to feel like a holiday indulgence.

Recipe Details

Grilled Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Active 15 mins
Total 0 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1 cup half-and-half, warmed
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  •  
  • Type of fire: direct
  • Grill heat: high

Directions

  1. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread coals evenly over entire surface of coal grate. Wrap each sweet potato in aluminum foil and set in coals. Using tongs, move any loose coals around or on top of potatoes. Roast sweet potatoes until they are completely soft and a paring knife can be inserted with no resistance, 40-60 minutes, turning four times during cooking to ensure even roasting. Remove potatoes from coals and let sit until cool enough to handle, 10 to 15 minutes.

  2. Unwrap potatoes and split in half. Using spoon, scoop out flesh into small sauce pan. Mix in melted butter and brown sugar. Add half-and-half 1/4 cup at a time until potatoes are at a desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

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