Delicious Smoked Sweet Potatoes

Traeger Smoked Sweet Potatoes are a perfect side dish for any BBQ meat, especially smoked brisket. All you need is a Traeger grill or other smoker and you’re all set.

Sweet potatoes are loaded with nutrients and are known for their decadent sweet flavor. This smoked sweet potato recipe is effortless to make and is a great way to enjoy sweet potatoes. Best of all, this recipe has no special ingredients – it’s just potatoes, olive oil, and seasonings.

The reason I love this recipe is because of its simplicity. It celebrates the natural flavor of the sweet potato and it’s a tasty and hearty side dish that pairs beautifully with chicken, beef, or pork. 

» Try our Traeger smoked brisket recipe.

Ingredients You Need

• Sweet potatoes: These are sweet in flavor with matt brown skin and orange interior. You can easily get sweet potatoes from any grocery store or farmer’s market. They are available all around the year. When buying sweet potatoes, make sure they are firm to touch without cracks and brown spots.
• Olive oil: I have used olive oil because it is rich in healthy fats. It also helps give it a crispy texture. You can use any cooking oil you prefer.
• Garlic powder: Garlic powder adds a savory flavor to sweet potatoes. The contrast of sweetness from the potato and savory from the garlic is just perfect.
• Black pepper: Black pepper adds a peppery, slightly spicy flavor to these smoked sweet potatoes.
• Salt: A necessary component to brings out the flavor in the potato. 

What Type of Sweet Potato to Use

• Orange Sweet Potatoes (Beauregard, Jewel): These are the most common and widely available sweet potatoes. They have orange skin and bright orange flesh.
• White Sweet Potatoes: With pale beige skin and creamy white flesh, these sweet potatoes have a slightly milder flavor compared to the orange varieties.
• Purple Sweet Potatoes: These have purple skin and vibrant purple flesh. They are not only visually appealing but also have a slightly nutty flavor.

Helpful Tips

• You can also slow cook sweet potatoes along with your chicken or brisket. Even if the temperature is higher or lower than we recommend in this guide, you’ll just need to keep an eye on them and remove when they are tender.
• If you don’t have a smoker, no problem at all. Cook these sweet potatoes on your regular gas grill without any wood.
• The cooking time of these potatoes depends on the size of the potatoes. Smaller potatoes cook faster, whereas larger potatoes take more time to cook. Go by how tender they feel when you squeeze them and don’t worry about targeting the exact time.

What Pellets to Use for the Traeger?

You’ll need pellets for your Traeger. Traeger pellets come in many different types that you can choose from. I like to use hickory wood, or cherry wood pellets for mine. I actually use these Bear Mountain cherry wood pellets from Amazon.com. They also have a bourbon wood pellet that’s very good.

How to Make Smoked Sweet Potatoes

Making smoked sweet potatoes is super easy and convenient. You can make these sweet potatoes along with whatever else you’re throwing on the grill, and it serves as a great side dish. Here is what you have to do:

Step 1: Preheat the grill

Start the grill on smoke with the lid open for 5 minutes for the fire to get established. Set the Traeger temperature to 350° F(176°C). Preheat with the lid closed for 10-15 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the potatoes

Wash and scrub the sweet potatoes to remove the dirt and debris. You don’t have to peel these potatoes because their skin is rich in nutrients. Once they are dry, pierce them with a fork a few times in different places.

In a bowl, add garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Mix it well. Drizzle the olive oil over the sweet potatoes and rub it all over them. This is what helps get a nice crispy exterior. Now sprinkle the seasoning generously and rub it all over them.

Now wrap the sweet potatoes individually in butcher paper or aluminum foil and place them on the grill. 

Step 3: Smoke the potatoes

Smoke the sweet potatoes for about 45 minutes at 350° F(176°C). The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your potatoes. Larger potatoes will need more time to cook. They are done when they are squishy in the middle. Once done, unwrap the aluminum foil and enjoy. You can dress them up with your favorite toppings.

What Internal Temperature Should Sweet Potatoes Be?

The recommended internal temperature for cooked sweet potatoes is 210°F (99°C). At this temperature, the sweet potatoes will be tender and fully cooked. A food thermometer can help ensure that the sweet potatoes have reached the desired temperature.

If you don’t have a digital thermometer, you can also consider factors like cooking time and visual cues such as the skin becoming wrinkled and easily pierced with a fork to know that it’s done. It should be very moist and squishy inside, with no firmness left.

How to Spice Up Your Potatoes

You can add more flavor to the sweet potatoes by adding more spices and seasonings. Try adding Cajun seasoning, jerk seasoning, or fajita seasoning to spice things up. Top the potatoes with butter, sour cream and chopped chives. Or add cheddar cheese or another type of cheese and allow it to melt into the potato.

We also love using sweet potatoes as a vessel for a full meal. You can stuff the sweet potato with meat, cheese, and veggies, add some sour cream, and chives, and you have a full meal.

What To Serve With Sweet Potatoes?

These smoked sweet potatoes pair well with a lot of dishes, such as;

• Oven-Baked Tri Tip Steak
• Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs
• Marinated Grilled Chicken Thighs
• Instant Pot Whole Chicken
• BBQ Baked Chicken Wings
• Bacon-Wrapped Pork Chops
• Crispy Pork Knuckle

Storing and Reheating

Leftover smoked sweet potatoes? No problem at all! Once they are at room temperature, you can place them in an air-tight container or a plastic zip lock bag and refrigerate them for 5 days. You can later enjoy them with your leftover BBQ.

To reheat sweet potatoes in the microwave, first puncture or slice them to allow steam to escape. Place it on a microwave-safe dish and cover with a damp paper towel to keep moisture in. Heat on high for 2-3 minutes, or until warm throughout. Check at one-minute intervals to avoid overheating.

To reheat in the oven, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Wrap the sweet potato in aluminum foil (optional, but it helps retain moisture). Place on a baking sheet and heat for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. The time needed can vary depending on the size of the sweet potato.

Frequently Asked Questions

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