Smoked Sweet Potatoes with chipotle butter

Sweet, smoky, fluffy, and so crazy good, Smoked Sweet Potatoes are a must-try whenever you fire up the smoker. And, topped with chipotle compound butter, these smoked potatoes are out-of-this-world good!

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With big, bold, smoky flavor and a kick of spice from the chipotle compound butter, these Smoked Sweet Potatoes are so gosh darn good and so crazy easy that anyone can make them.

I love tossing potatoes onto the smoker. They’ll cook at just about any temps (though the lower the temp, the longer they’ll take), and they take up hardly any room. I’m pellet frugal – if I’m firing up the Traeger smoker, then I like to use every bit of available space to use up all that tasty smoke.

Potatoes are perfect for the smoker – tuck them into the nooks and crannies and just let them cook until they’re fork tender! And they pair so well with so many other dishes – check out all my recommendations below!

Ingredients

• Sweet potatoes – Look for sweet potatoes all about the same size. Smaller potatoes will cook faster than larger ones.
• Avocado oil – Or your favorite cooking oil.
• Salt and pepper – Season to taste.

For Chipotle Compound Butter

• Butter – Salted butter; softened.
• Chipotle peppers in adobo – You’ll need both the chipotle peppers and sauce.
• Green onion – Sliced finely.
• Smoked paprika – Regular paprika will also work.
• Onion powder –
• Garlic – Fresh garlic is best!

What Is Compound Butter?

Compound butter is a fancy name for flavored butter. You see it in steakhouses a lot, and with many different kinds of butters and combinations of ingredients, you can switch up the flavors just how you like them. These Smoked Sweet Potatoes with chipotle compound butter are sweet, spicy, and smoky – and totally delish!

How To Make Smoked Sweet Potatoes

Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.

Start by preheating your Traeger smoker or another pellet smoker to 250°F. I like using pecan or apple wood pellets for sweet potatoes because they add a subtle smoky sweetness that pairs really well with the natural flavor of the potatoes.

Scrub the sweet potatoes well under cool water to remove any dirt, then dry them thoroughly with paper towels.

Rub the outside of each sweet potato lightly with oil, then season them with salt and black pepper. The oil helps the skins soften while smoking and adds extra flavor.

Place the sweet potatoes directly onto the smoker grates, leaving a little space between them so the smoke can circulate evenly.

Smoke at 250°F for about 2 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are soft and easily pierced with a probe or fork all the way through.

Carefully remove the sweet potatoes from the smoker while still hot. Slice them open lengthwise and top with the chipotle compound butter so it melts into the potatoes before serving.

How To Make Chipotle Compound Butter

Start by adding the softened butter, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, green onion, smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic to the bowl of a food processor.

Pulse the mixture several times until everything is evenly combined and the butter is smooth and well blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.

Transfer the butter mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap. Shape the butter into a log about 1 inch wide, then roll the plastic wrap tightly around it to help hold its shape.

Refrigerate the compound butter until firm and ready to slice. Slice and serve over smoked sweet potatoes, steaks, grilled vegetables, or corn.

Chef Jenn’s Tips

• How many sweet potatoes per person will you need? I count on one smallish potato per person. If they are really big, I’ll serve each person a half a sweet potato.
• Pierce the sweet potato with a probe to see how tender they are inside, or give them a bit of a squeeze. They should be soft, but not so overcooked that the sugars start to ooze out of them.
• What kind of pellets should you use to smoke sweet potatoes? I find pellet flavor doesn’t really matter – use whatever you’ve got on hand!

Can You Eat Sweet Potato Skins?

Yes! And, when you scrub them, oil them, and add salt and pepper, they are smoky and delicious! Plus, sweet potato skins are full of fiber and nutrition, so don’t just eat the fluffy inside, have some of the skin, too!

Make It A Meal

This is a side that earns its keep at any BBQ plate, especially when the rest of the meal leans smoky and rich. I serve it with my Smoked Pulled Pork more than anything else. The sweet, slightly spicy potato cuts the richness of the pork, and you’ve already got the smoker going.

For a holiday spread, I serve these alongside my Traeger Smoked Turkey instead of the standard candied yams. Want a full Texas-style BBQ plate? Put them next to my Smoked Tri-Tip with my Smoked Brussels Sprouts with Bacon on the side. Everything goes on the smoker the same day, so you’re not juggling the oven and the smoker at once.

How Long Does It Take To Smoke Sweet Potatoes

Smoking sweet potatoes aren’t quick – even with the heat way up, they’ll take quite a bit of time. My best advice is to pop the potatoes on for the last few hours of cooking whatever meat you’ve got on the smoker, and just let them cook low and slow! Bigger potatoes will, of course, take longer to cook.