Smoked Sweet Potatoes On A Traeger

Smoking sweet potatoes may be something you’ve never considered before. 

But I’m here to tell you that smoking takes an old favorite and puts a delicious new spin on them.

Sweet potatoes are a delicious yet simple side dish for a weeknight meal or big weekend cookout!   

Why Smoke Sweet Potatoes?

Sweet potatoes, or yams, are a fun and filling side that are easy to throw on your smoker!

If healthy eating is a priority, sweet potatoes win every time.

Sweet potatoes are generally healthier than regular potatoes. They have a lower GI and contain more antioxidants and vitamins A and C. 

They are incredibly easy to prepare. Super simple to serve. And the wood chips will give you a depth of flavor that is impossible to achieve in the oven or stovetop.

Throw some toppings on and you’ve got a decent side dish that needs next to no effort.

Set on the wood pellet grill grates and forget about them.

The result is deliciously tender flesh, with a crisp exterior. And all with the tasty element of smokey flavors and you have a winning dish.

Preparing Potatoes For Smoking

Sweet potatoes need very little prep work.

Simply run under cold water, and scrub the skin with a cleaning brush. 

Take off any dirt and debris, and you’ll take care of any pesticide or chemical residue at the same time.

Once you’ve cleaned them up, use a fork to pierce a few shallow holes. Holes will allow steam to escape and prevent the potatoes from exploding.

Try to find potatoes of a similar size, for more consistent cooking.

Season The Potatoes

Start by basting the entire potato surface with a light coating of olive oil or melted butter. This will give the seasoning something to stick to.

From here, you can go nuts!

Use a simple salt and pepper combo, or your favorite barbecue rub for an excellent flavor for any meat dish.

For something completely different, try a sweet spin on it.

Add a little cinnamon, brown sugar, and maple syrup so it smokes into a gloriously sticky glaze. 

Smoking The Sweet Potatoes

While this recipe is for a Traeger grill, it will work with any type of grill. Just adjust the temperature and program settings accordingly.

Set your grill to 250-350°F. You’ll have enough heat to cook while putting out the greatest amount of smoke. The result is soft flesh, crispy skin, and a great smoky flavor.

Once you’ve prepped and seasoned your sweet potatoes, it’s as simple as placing them on your grill.

Let them cook on the grill grates for about 2 hours, or until they are at a texture you prefer.

Best Temps and Cooking Times

For this recipe, we ran at a medium heat temperature of 250°F for about 2 hours.

Setting at a lower temperature of 225°F will take about 3-3.5 hours.

Turning up the heat to 275°F will speed the process up and give you cooked sweet potatoes in an hour and a half.

375°F will see you eating in around an hour.

Sweet potatoes can sit in with whatever meat you have already on the grill. Just make sure to factor in the times and temps, so you can serve everything together.

Regardless of the temp setting, cook in indirect heat to protect them from burning. Indirect cooking will give you a smoky flavor impact without charring the skin.

And of course, the higher the heat, the crispier the skin will be.

How Can You Tell They’re Cooked?

Vegetables are much easier to check for doneness.  

Unlike meats, getting to the correct internal temperature isn’t a food safety issue. There’s no need to temperature probe and watch.

All you need to do is cook until they are a texture you are comfortable with and the middle cooked through.

Poke with a sharp knife or skewer to check for softness all the way through. Easy!

Wood Pellet Recommendations for Sweet Potatoes

For vegetables, we recommend using a more subtle flavor of pellets.

Something like maple, apple, or cherry enhances the natural sweetness of the potatoes.

Of course, there’s nothing to stop you from going for the stronger smoke flavors. Try something like mesquite or hickory.

Choose one or mix them! Chances are the hopper is already loaded with wood chips for your meat, so run what you have.

Tasty Topping Ideas for Sweet Potatoes

You can stretch your imagination here. Go light, or turn the side into the main meal. To get you started, here are a couple of ideas for toppings:

• Salsa, guacamole, and sour cream, topped with grated cheese.
• Scrambled egg, spicy sauce, grated cheese, and chopped fresh chives.
• Olives, pepperoni, capsicum, and salsa.
• Mince or lentils with Greek yogurt, fresh corn, and fresh lime juice.

For a sweet twist try:

• Almond butter, berries, granola, and toasted coconut.
• Berries and ricotta sprinkled with cinnamon and orange zest.

What You Need For Smoked Sweet Potatoes

• 6-8 Potatoes, of similar sizes
• Melted Butter for basting
• Your favorite BBQ Rub
• Toppings of choice 

Simple Smoked Sweet Potato Recipe

Step 1 – Pre-heat the Smoker

Prep smoker temperature to 250°F, if not already in use. Clean off the grill grates of any debris.

Step 2 – Prepare the Sweet Potatoes

Scrub, wash, and then dry the potatoes. Pierce with a fork, 5-6 times around the diameter.

Step 3 – Season the Potatoes

Combine the butter and barbecue rub, mixing thoroughly. Brush the entire surface with half of the mixture.

Step 4 – Smoke the Potatoes

Place the potatoes on the smoker, in indirect heat.

After 60 minutes of cooking time, brush with the remaining butter mixture.

Smoke for another hour, or until tender enough.

Step 5 – Serve the Potatoes

Remove from the smoker.

Slice the tops open.

Load up with desired toppings.

Serve and enjoy!

If you love sweet potatoes, throw a few on next time you have the pellet grill fired up. The distinctive smoke flavor has a level of taste that brings the humble vegetable to life.

Smoke On!

Charlie

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