A simple and hands-off method for cooking sweet potatoes until they are tender and slightly sweet. Perfect as a side dish or as a base for other recipes.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into ½ to 1-inch thick pieces
Optional additions for flavor:
- 1-2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions:
- Prepare the Sweet Potatoes: Wash, peel, and slice the sweet potatoes into uniform pieces. This helps them cook evenly.
- Place in Slow Cooker: Put the sliced sweet potatoes into the slow cooker.
- Add Optional Flavorings (Optional): If desired, drizzle with melted butter or olive oil and sprinkle with brown sugar or maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are fork-tender. Cooking time can vary depending on your slow cooker and the thickness of the slices.
- Serve: Once cooked, the sweet potatoes can be served as is, mashed, or used in other recipes.
Notes:
- You can adjust the cooking time based on your desired tenderness. For softer sweet potatoes, cook for a longer duration.
- Adding a little liquid (like a tablespoon of water or broth) to the bottom of the slow cooker is generally not necessary when cooking sweet potatoes, as they release some moisture as they cook. However, if you are concerned about sticking, a very small amount can be added.
- These slow-cooked sweet potatoes are a great base for toppings like pecans, marshmallows, or a drizzle of honey. They can also be used in casseroles, salads, or as a filling for tacos.