This slow cooker sweet potato beef mash is a simple, warm dinner that’s easy to fall in love with — the kind of meal you’ll want to make again and again on busy weeknights. By putting the sweet potatoes right on top of the raw ground beef, the meat cooks gently underneath while the potatoes get soft on top, giving you a hearty mash without much work at all. With just four main ingredients, this dish keeps things simple with pantry basics, and the natural sweetness from the potatoes balances out the rich, savory beef.
Serve this mash with a light green veggie, like steamed broccoli, green beans, or a crunchy side salad, to keep the plate feeling fresh. It also tastes great with a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream, a splash of hot sauce, or warm buttered toast on the side if you want to make the meal bigger and even cozier on a chilly night.
This easy slow cooker recipe layers sweet potatoes over seasoned ground beef for a soft, hearty mash with almost no hands-on effort. Using just four simple ingredients, the beef cooks gently while the potatoes soften on top, blending into a warm, comforting dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights and cold evenings alike.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Beef Mash: Directions
- Get the slow cooker ready. If you’d like, spray a little cooking oil inside the slow cooker so nothing sticks. Spread the raw ground beef out in a flat, even layer across the bottom. Sprinkle the chopped onion, salt, and black pepper evenly over the meat so every bite gets some flavor.
- Add the sweet potatoes. Place the cubed sweet potatoes on top of the seasoned beef. Spread them out evenly so they cover as much of the meat as possible — this helps everything cook at the same pace.
- Pour in the broth. Slowly pour the beef broth around the edges of the slow cooker, letting it sink down to the bottom rather than pouring it straight over the top. This keeps the seasoning in place on the meat instead of washing it away. Put the lid on and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, or on HIGH for 3 ½ to 4 hours, until the sweet potatoes turn very soft and the beef is cooked all the way through.
- Mash it together. Once done cooking, take a potato masher or a big spoon and break up the beef right in the pot. Mash everything together until it reaches the texture you like best, whether smooth or a little chunky. Give it a taste and add a bit more salt or pepper if you think it needs it.
- Serve it warm. Spoon the hot sweet potato beef mash into bowls and serve right away while it’s nice and warm.