Smoked Sweet Potato
Smoked sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish the next time you smoke dinner. No reason to use another tool like the oven to cook them. They come up tender and delicious every time.
This article will teach you everything you need to master smoking sweet potatoes, bringing a delicious, smoky sweetness to your autumn table.
Why smoke them?
- Convenient: If you’re already smoking a main dish—a succulent brisket, a rack of ribs, or even a whole chicken—why not utilize that valuable smoker space and existing heat for cooking your side dish simultaneously? This will not only save you energy and time but also help impart the same smoky flavors throughout your entire meal.
- Flavor: The smoky flavor adds a surprising depth to the sweetness of the potatoes, resulting in a unique taste you won’t get by roasting or boiling.
- Nutrition: Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, making them a great addition to any diet. Smoking them preserves these nutrients better than methods such as boiling, which can lead to the loss of these vital compounds.
- Easy and Versatile: Smoking sweet potatoes is a straightforward process that doesn’t require much hands-on time.
- Elevate Your Culinary Skills: Smoking isn’t just for meat. You can show off your culinary skills by smoking vegetables like sweet potatoes.
What you need
- Sweet potatoes or yams: Choose large, firm potatoes to smoke.
- Oil: Any oil will work. Olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil are all good.
- Salt: Coarse kosher salt or sea salt.
- Pepper: Coarse, freshly ground black pepper.
- Garlic: Garlic powder or granulated garlic.
How to make them
Step One: Rub the outside of the potatoes with the oil.
Step Two
Sprinkle all around the sweet potato with garlic, salt, and pepper. Rub it in.
Poke a few holes with a skewer or a fork in the skin.
Step Three
Place potatoes on the smoker racks in your preheated smoker.
Large sweet potatoes can easily take 4-5 hours at 225°F. If you are smoking your main dish for only a couple hours, start the smoker at 350°F- 400 °F. Smoke the sweet potatoes at this higher temperature for an hour, then reduce the heat and add your main dish.
Depending on the intended use, you can determine the tenderness level you want to cook them. A very soft one is perfect for purées, while a more firm one is great for hash. The internal temperature of the potatoes should be 205-210°F, and they should easily pierce with a fork. Use your meat thermometer to determine that temperature.
What wood to use
Use whatever wood you use to smoke your main course. Woods that work well are apple, cherry, hickory, maple, pecan, oak, hickory, and mesquite.
How to serve sweet potatoes
- Serve these easy, delectable sweet potatoes with a pat of butter, salt, and pepper for an easy side dish next to any other protein. Sprinkle with snipped chives or chopped parsley for garnish.
- Add brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, and butter, and make a delicious purée.
- Make a sweet potato casserole with a thick purée, top with mini marshmallows, and bake until browned for a yummy casserole.
How to store leftovers
- Cool Completely: Allow them to cool to room temperature. Cooling will prevent condensation from forming when you store them, potentially leading to soggy potatoes or mold.
- Refrigerate: Once cooled, place the sweet potatoes in airtight containers. They can last up to five days in the fridge.
- Freeze for Longer Storage: If you wish to store them for an extended period, freezing is a great option. To freeze, individually wrap each potato in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then place them into a freezer bag or airtight container. When properly stored, they can last in the freezer for up to 12 months. Remember to label the bag or container with the date.
- Reheating: When you’re ready to enjoy them again, you can reheat them in the oven or microwave. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. To reheat in the oven, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet, and heat for about 15-20 minutes or until heated through. If using a microwave, place the sweet potato on a microwave-safe plate and heat on high for 2-3 minutes or until heated through, checking at one-minute intervals.
What to do with leftovers
- Smoked Sweet Potato Hash
- Smoky Sweet Potato Soup
- Smoked Sweet Potato Salad
- Smoked Sweet Potato Tacos
- Smoky Sweet Potato Hummus
- Smoked Sweet Potato Pizza
- Smoked Sweet Potato Baked Goods
What smoked main dishes to serve them with
- Pork Loin
- Chicken Legs
- Beef Short Ribs
- Steak
- Meatloaf
- Whole Chicken
- Venison Brisket
- Venison Backstrap
More smoked side dishes
Helpful Tools
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Enjoy. And have fun cooking!
Smoked Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 sweet potatoes or yams
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt or sea salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic, granulated
Instructions
- Wash the sweet potatoes well. Dry.4 sweet potatoes or yams
- Rub the skin of the potato with the oil.1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- Sprinkle all sides of the potatoes with the seasoning. Rub it in so that it will stick to the oil.½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt or sea salt, ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic, granulated
- Set up and start the smoker at 225°F. Place the potatoes directly on the rack. (See notes for important details.) Smoke 2-4 hours until done to your liking, or they hav an internal temperature of 205°F.
See all of my favorite tools and gift ideas on my New Amazon Store!Check out Binky’s Amazon Store!Notes
- Cool Completely: Allow them to cool to room temperature. Cooling will prevent condensation from forming when you store them, potentially leading to soggy potatoes or mold.
- Refrigerate: Once cooled, place the sweet potatoes in airtight containers. Using airtight containers prevents sweet potatoes from absorbing flavors from other foods in your refrigerator and helps maintain their freshness. They can last in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze for Longer Storage: If you wish to store them for an extended period, freezing is a great option. To freeze, individually wrap each potato in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then place them into a freezer bag or airtight container. When properly stored, they can last in the freezer for up to 12 months. Remember to label the bag or container with the date.
- Reheating: When you’re ready to enjoy them again, you can reheat them in the oven or microwave. If reheating from frozen, it’s best to thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. To reheat in the oven, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet, and heat for about 15-20 minutes or until heated through. If using a microwave, place the sweet potato on a microwave-safe plate and heat on high for 2-3 minutes or until heated through, checking at one-minute intervals.
Nutrition
Originally published July 19, 2023. Updated May 27, 2024.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you go to the link and purchase something at no additional cost to you. See FTC Disclosure here.
