I used to be a regular russet potato kind of girl, sticking to what I knew best. But everything changed when my husband introduced me to the incredible world of sweet potatoes. At first, I was hesitant—could these orange tubers really be better than the classic spuds I grew up with? But now, I’m hooked, and sweet potatoes have become a staple in our home. Not only do they taste better in my opinion, but they’re also healthier, and once I discovered how to cook them in a crock pot, they became even more delicious and easy to prepare.
The Nutritional Power of Sweet Potatoes
Let’s start with the health benefits, because they’re worth celebrating. Sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse. Just one small sweet potato provides 262% of the daily value of vitamin A, which is essential for maintaining good vision, a strong immune system, and healthy skin. Compare that to a regular russet potato, and sweet potatoes take the prize for being a more nutrient-dense option. They also contain 29% of the daily value of vitamin C, which supports your immune system and helps your body absorb iron from plant-based foods.
But that’s not all. Sweet potatoes contain about twice as much fiber as regular potatoes. Fiber is critical for digestive health and can help prevent constipation, lower cholesterol levels, and regulate blood sugar. So, when you eat sweet potatoes, you’re not just satisfying your hunger—you’re nourishing your body.
A Weekly Staple
Once I became aware of how much healthier sweet potatoes were, it was easy to make them a part of our weekly dinner routine. Regardless of the main course, we always find a way to incorporate sweet potatoes into our meals, whether they’re roasted, mashed, or baked. Their natural sweetness pairs well with savory dishes, making them versatile enough to be served with anything from grilled chicken to roasted vegetables.
While I used to be content baking them in the oven or zapping them in the microwave when time was tight, my husband and I recently stumbled upon a game-changing way to prepare them—cooking them in the crock pot. This simple method makes them creamier and more flavorful, with hardly any effort required.
The Crock Pot Method: Foolproof and Delicious
For years, I thought the best way to enjoy sweet potatoes was to bake them in the oven. I’d scrub the skins, poke them with a fork, and wrap them in foil before baking them at a high temperature. They always turned out well, but they required frequent checking to make sure they didn’t dry out. Microwave cooking was faster, but it never quite captured the same level of flavor or texture.
Then, we discovered the crock pot method. This way of cooking sweet potatoes has transformed how we prepare them, especially on busy days when we don’t want to spend much time in the kitchen.
Here’s how you do it:
- Rinse and scrub the sweet potatoes to remove any dirt or residue. There’s no need to dry them—just leave them wet after rinsing.
- Poke a few holes in the sweet potatoes using a fork to allow steam to escape during cooking.
- Place the sweet potatoes directly into the crock pot, with no need for additional water or oil. The moisture left on the potatoes from rinsing will be all the liquid they need to cook perfectly.
- Set the crock pot on low and cook for 6 to 7 hours. If you’re in a hurry, you can also cook them on high for about 3 hours.
That’s it! No fancy steps, no extra ingredients. The slow cooking process allows the sweet potatoes to develop a creamy, buttery texture on their own, with a rich, concentrated flavor. The skins turn soft, and the inside becomes irresistibly smooth. You won’t believe how hands-off and effortless it is—just throw them in and forget about them until dinner time.
When my husband and I tried this for the first time, we were amazed. These were, without a doubt, the creamiest, most flavorful sweet potatoes we had ever made. There’s no comparison between these crock pot sweet potatoes and the ones I used to bake in the oven or microwave.
Why the Crock Pot Works So Well
The crock pot is magical because of its ability to retain moisture while cooking at a low temperature over a long period. Sweet potatoes are naturally high in water content, and the crock pot allows them to slowly steam in their own moisture. Unlike the oven, where the heat can dry out the exterior before the interior fully softens, the crock pot ensures that the sweet potatoes cook evenly from the inside out. The result is a texture that’s almost custard-like—soft, sweet, and creamy.
Plus, using a crock pot frees up your oven, which is great if you’re preparing other dishes. It’s also a lifesaver for busy weekdays when you want to come home to a healthy, delicious meal that’s already waiting for you.
Level Up Your Sweet Potato Game
Now that you’ve mastered the art of cooking plain sweet potatoes in the crock pot, you might be wondering how to elevate them even further. Enter one of our all-time favorite recipes: Hasselback Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes. This dish is a show-stopper, perfect for livening up a regular weeknight dinner or impressing guests at special occasions.
Here’s what makes it so special. First, you take your perfectly cooked sweet potatoes and slice them thinly across the top (but not all the way through), creating that signature hasselback look. Then, you drizzle them with maple syrup, add chopped pecans, and bake them for a short while longer until the syrup caramelizes and the pecans get toasty. The result is a sweet and savory dish that takes sweet potatoes to the next level of indulgence.
This recipe is perfect, but honestly, we love to make it year-round. It’s a great way to switch things up and enjoy the versatility of sweet potatoes.
Hasselback Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 4 medium sweet potatoes (about the same size)
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil or melted butter
- 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup of chopped pecans
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper
- Fresh thyme or rosemary (optional, for garnish)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
- Prepare the sweet potatoes:
- Wash and scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly, leaving the skins on.
- Place each potato on a cutting board and use two wooden spoons (or chopsticks) on either side of the potato to prevent cutting all the way through.
- Make thin, even slices across the top of each potato, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch apart, leaving about 1/4 inch of the base intact so the potato holds together.
- Brush with olive oil or butter:
- Place the sliced sweet potatoes on the prepared baking sheet.
- Brush each potato generously with olive oil or melted butter, making sure to get some of the oil into the slits. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake the sweet potatoes:
- Put the sweet potatoes in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, until they are tender but still hold their shape. The edges of the slices should start to crisp up, while the inside remains soft.
- Prepare the maple pecan topping:
- While the sweet potatoes are baking, mix the chopped pecans, maple syrup, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl.
- Add the topping:
- After the sweet potatoes have baked for 45 minutes, remove them from the oven.
- Spoon the maple pecan mixture evenly over the top of each potato, making sure some of the syrup drips into the slits.
- Bake again:
- Return the sweet potatoes to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the pecans are toasted and the syrup has caramelized.
- Garnish and serve:
- Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and let them cool slightly.
- Garnish with fresh thyme or rosemary, if desired, and serve warm.
Tips:
- For a more savory twist, you can add a sprinkle of sea salt or drizzle balsamic glaze over the top before serving.
- If you’re making this for a holiday meal, you can prepare the sweet potatoes in advance by baking them up to the topping step. Then, on the day of serving, simply add the topping and do the final bake.
Enjoy these Hasselback Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes as a standout side dish or a decadent addition to your special meals!
Final Thoughts
Sweet potatoes are truly a wonder food. From their incredible nutritional value to their natural sweetness and versatility, they’ve earned a permanent spot in our weekly meal rotation. Whether you’re cooking them plain in the crock pot or dressing them up with fancy toppings, sweet potatoes offer a delicious and healthy option that’s hard to beat.
So, if you’ve never cooked sweet potatoes in the crock pot before, give it a try—you won’t be disappointed! And if you’re ready to take things up a notch, the Hasselback Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes are waiting for you to dazzle your family and friends. Sweet potatoes are no longer just a side dish—they’re the star of the show!
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