This sweet and easy recipe for Crock Pot Glazed Sweet Potatoes is the perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish. You need just 6 simple ingredients to make this hands-off dish that's also vegetarian, gluten-free, and perfect for the entire family.
After my recipe for Slow Cooker Maple Glazed Carrots quickly became one of the most popular ones on my site, I knew that I had to make a sweet potato version. I sure am glad that I did!
This recipe for Crock Pot Glazed Sweet Potatoes has all of the same ingredients (and easy prep) as my original carrot recipe but tastes even better. The sweet maple and brown sugar glaze is absolutely decadent when drizzled on top of tender sweet potatoes. I think you're going to be as obsessed as I am.
The beauty of this recipe is how simple it is. You can easily prepare it with just a few ingredients, and allow the slow cooker to do the work. It's perfect for holidays and special dinners, as it frees up room in the oven for larger dishes (like turkey or ham).
This recipe has definitely become a fast family favorite, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we have!
Why You'll Love It:
- It's easy to make with just 6 simple ingredients.
- A great way to free up your oven on busy holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- The warm and comforting flavors are perfect for Fall and Winter meals - talk about cozy comfort food!
- No need for dessert! This sweet side dish satisfies your sweet tooth while serving you up nutrient-dense sweet potatoes.
Ingredients
- Sweet potatoes: Pick fresh sweet potatoes that are free from wrinkling or pitting. This recipe calls for about 3 medium sweet potatoes, but you can easily double or triple the recipe for a crowd.
- Brown sugar: For sweetness and a slightly thicker glaze. Compliments maple and sweet potato beautifully.
- Maple syrup: This really makes the dish special! If you don't have maple syrup you can use a substitution or some additional brown sugar.
- Cinnamon: Adds a warm, comforting element that makes it perfect for serving in the cooler Fall and Winter months.
- Butter: This adds a lovely richness and combines with the other ingredients to make a yummy glaze for the sweet potatoes.
- Salt: A little bit of salt balances the sweet flavors in this dish.
Recommended Equipment:
- Slow Cooker: I recommend a 6-quart programmable slow cooker because it's large enough to accommodate a variety of recipes, including soups and stews.
How to Make Glazed Sweet Potatoes in a Slow Cooker
This recipe is SO easy to make. You're going to love it for an easy slow cooker side dish, especially for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The base recipe is smaller, but you can easily double or triple the recipe to accommodate a larger crowd.
Adding the Sweet Potatoes
- Wash and peel your sweet potatoes, and then slice them into ⅓-1/2" rounds. Thicker rounds will take longer to cook, while thinner rounds will be done more quickly.
- Sprinkle in the salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Pour in the maple syrup.
Adding the Glaze Ingredients
- Stir with a silicone spatula to distribute the glaze ingredients as best as you can. It won't be perfect, so don't worry. Once the sweet potatoes begin to cook, it will be easier to stir if needed.
- Top the sweet potato slices with squares of butter, and then place the lid on the crock pot.
Cooking Time
- Cook the sweet potatoes on "high" for 2 ½ - 3 hours, or on "low" for 5-6 hours. The sweet potatoes are done when they are fork-tender.
Thickening the Brown Sugar and Maple Syrup Glaze
Method 1: Gently transfer the sweet potato slices to a large bowl and cover them with a plate to keep them warm. Transfer the liquid to a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Whisk, cooking until thickened, about 5 minutes.
Method 2: Remove the lid for the final 30 minutes of cooking, and switch it to "high". Cook until the glaze has thickened.
Of the two methods to thicken the glaze, the saucepan method works the best.
Substitutions
Maple syrup: If you don't have access to real maple syrup, you can use honey, corn syrup, or pancake syrup. You could also opt to increase the brown sugar to ¾ cup and omit the maple syrup.
Sweet potatoes: You can easily make this recipe with baby carrots (see my Maple Glazed Carrots recipe) in place of the sweet potatoes.
Dairy-free: Substitute the butter for butter-flavored coconut oil, or a dairy-free spread of your choice.
Refined sugar-free: Substitute the brown sugar for ¼ cup of coconut sugar, 3 tablespoons of honey, OR increase the maple syrup to ¾ cup.
Tips for Success
- If you want the sweet potatoes to cook more quickly, slice them thinly. If you would like for them to take longer to cool, cut them on the thick side (as thick as 1" for longer cooking times).
- This recipe makes a regular family-sized batch. If you want to serve it for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you will want to double or triple the recipe.
- Thickening the glaze is an additional step, but really makes the sweet potatoes that much better. I recommend simmering it in a saucepan for the best results.
If you loved this recipe for slow cooker glazed sweet potatoes, let me know by leaving a 5-star review in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.
Crock Pot Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds sweet potatoes approximately 3 medium size
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup real maple syrup
- ⅓ cup butter cubed
Instructions
- Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into ⅓-½" thick rounds.2 ½ pounds sweet potatoes
- Place the sweet potatoes into the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Sprinkle in the salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Stir to combine.½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- Pour in the maple syrup and stir gently to evenly distribute it.¼ cup real maple syrup
- Cut the butter into 6-8 cubes, and place them on top of the sweet potatoes, spaced evenly.⅓ cup butter
- Cook on "high" for 2 ½-3 hours, or "low" for 5-6 hours. If possible, stir the sweet potatoes 1-2 times during cooking.
- Once the sweet potatoes are done cooking, remove just the potatoes (leaving the liquid behind) to a bowl covered with a plate to keep warm.
- Transfer the liquid to a saucepan and simmer over medium-high heat until the glaze is thickened, whisking often. Alternatively, you could try removing the lid during the final 30 minutes of cooking to thicken it slightly.
- Top the sweet potato slices with the thickened glaze and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Please note that some of my blog posts here at Dash for Dinner may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my Disclaimer for more information.
Deanne says
Easy and delicious! Made 8 pounds of sweet potatoes in 2 batches and followed your directions for thickening the glaze stovetop. There’s really a lot of the glaze, might cut down the amount of syrup and butter next time but I highly recommend your recipe. I used my 6 qt crockpot and it all fit well, in 2 batches, still being able to stir them.
Dolly {Dash for Dinner} says
So glad you enjoyed it Deanne! And good to know it all fit in a 6 quart!
Sue says
How much brown sugar? Salt? Butter? Maple syrum? No amounts listed??
Dolly {Dash for Dinner} says
Hi Sue, you must be looking at the post rather than the recipe card. If you scroll down to the recipe card you'll find the full list of ingredients, amounts needed, and cooking instructions.