Smoked Sweet Potatoes (Easy Savory Smoker Side Dish)

Smoked sweet potatoes are the easiest side I make on my smoker. They go on whole, soak up hours of gentle smoke, and come off tender with a crispy seasoned skin. Savory, sweet, or fully loaded, they work next to anything.

Smoked sweet potatoes split open and topped with butter, salt and pepper.

Smoked Sweet Potatoes Are the Easiest Side You Will Ever Put on the Smoker

These started as filler. The smoker was already running for a brisket, there was open space on the grate, and I had a bag of sweet potatoes staring at me. Sweet potatoes on the smoker was as far as I got.

I skipped the brown sugar, went with garlic and pepper, and now Jason asks for them even without the brisket. My kids still bury theirs in marshmallows, and I have learned to embrace it. If you are feeding a crowd, smoke a batch of my Smoked Baked Potatoes right next to them.

If I can only give you one tip, trust the thermometer, not the clock. Sweet potatoes vary a lot in size, so pull them when they hit an internal temperature of 205 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit and a fork slides in with zero resistance.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Sweet potatoes are a set and forget side. Once they are seasoned and placed on the smoker, there’s nothing to do with them until it’s time to eat! Plus they leave the oven open for other big dishes!
Only about five minutes of prep goes into this savory side dish and I know you’ve already got the oil and seasonings on hand to do it!
Smoked sweet potatoes are easy to scale up or down depending on how many people you are hosting. Smoke four or twelve with the same effort.

Key Ingredients

Sweet potatoes – It is tough to pick out similarly sized sweet potatoes for even cooking, but do your best!
Olive oil – This will help the rub to stick to the sweet potatoes and will keep the skin from drying out and turning leathery while they smoke. Use any other mild tasting oil like canola or vegetable in it’s place.

Find the full ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.

Topping Ideas

Butter, sour cream, and chives
Crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar
Leftover pulled pork or chopped brisket with a drizzle of BBQ sauce
Butter with brown sugar and cinnamon (try my Copycat Cinnamon Butter!)
Hot honey and flaky salt
Mini marshmallows and chopped pecans

Variations

Sweet rub. Swap the garlic powder and black pepper for brown sugar and cinnamon.
Spicy. Add chili powder or a pinch of cayenne to the rub.
BBQ rub. Use your favorite pork rub in place of the garlic, ground black pepper, and salt blend.
Twice smoked. Scoop out the flesh, mash it with butter and cheese, refill the skins, and put them back on the smoker until hot throughout.

How To Smoke Sweet Potatoes

Mix seasoning. In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, ground black pepper and salt.
Prepare potatoes. Pierce holes in clean, dry potatoes with a fork. Brush with olive oil and roll potatoes in spices in the bowl until they are completely covered.
Cook. Smoke for 3 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 205 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit and a fork slides in easily.
Serve and garnish. Serve potatoes with your favorite toppings.

For the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below.

Whole sweet potatoes pierced with a fork and arranged on a baking sheet.

Sweet potato coated with oil and seasoning in a glass bowl.

Storage And Reheating

Fridge: Store leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.

Freezer: The best way to enjoy sweet potatoes from frozen is to scoop out the flesh before freezing, storing in an airtight container or freezer bag. Whole potatoes tend to become pretty watery when thawed and reheated. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheat in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or microwave for about 1 to 2 minutes, one potato at a time.

Serving Suggestions

Smoked sweet potatoes are an all-star side dish that go with pretty much any main! In my house, Smoked Chicken is a common one and during the holidays, they are great to smoke alongside a holiday bird.

Smoked ribs are another easy favorite in my house and convenient to serve along with Corn on the Cob.

Pro Tips

If the sweet potatoes are sharing the smoker space and it’s set at a higher temperature, they’ll finish faster. Pull them by temperature, not time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best flavor of wood chips to use?

When smoking sweet potatoes, I love a sweeter wood such as pecan or maple. Fruit wood like cherry or apple offers a nice fruity sweetness, too. I like to use hickory if I’m smoking sweet potatoes alongside ribs or brisket.

Can I smoke sweet potatoes ahead of time?

Up to a day in advance, smoke the sweet potatoes according to the directions. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to reheat in the oven.

Should I wrap the sweet potatoes in foil?

I don’t wrap them so the smoke can reach the skin which ends up with a crispy, seasoned skin. Foil will trap the steam and soften the skin.

Can I eat the sweet potato skin?

Oh, you sure can and I promise you’re going to love it! The oiled and seasoned skin is one of the best parts!

Smoked sweet potato topped with butter being lifted from a serving platter.

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @gimmesomegrilling or #gimmesomegrilling so I can see your grilling masterpieces!

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Smoked Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Smoked sweet potatoes with a simple garlic, pepper, and salt rub, smoked low and slow at 225 degrees Fahrenheit until fork tender. An easy side for BBQ nights and Thanksgiving.

Prep:10

Cook:3

Total:13

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Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat the smoker to a temperature of 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a small bowl combine garlic powder, black pepper and salt.
Wash and dry the potatoes. Pierce holes in potatoes with a fork. Brush with olive oil. Roll potatoes in spices in the bowl until they are completely covered.
Smoke for 3 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 205 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit and a fork slides in easily.
Serve potatoes with your favorite toppings.

Tips

Fridge: Store leftover sweet potatoes in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days.

Reheat in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or microwave for about 1 to 2 minutes, one potato at a time.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1sweet potato, Calories: 228kcal (11%), Carbohydrates: 46g (15%), Protein: 4g (8%), Fat: 4g (6%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 706mg (31%), Potassium: 774mg (22%), Fiber: 7g (29%), Sugar: 9g (10%), Vitamin A: 32064IU (641%), Vitamin C: 5mg (6%), Calcium: 70mg (7%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.

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Smoked Sweet Potatoes