Smoking sweet potatoes are EASY!
Smoking takes an old favorite and puts a delicious new spin on them.
Sweet potatoes are a great go-to smoked side dish
And they couldn’t be easier on a pit boss pellet grill!
Throw a few on the grill and mix it up a little for your next barbecue.

Table of contents
Why Smoke Sweet Potatoes?
Sweet potatoes, or yams, are a fun and filling side to have.
Plus they are super simple to prepare and smoke. You just need to season and throw them in the smoker.
If healthy eating is a priority, smoking vegetables such as sweet potatoes wins 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 declious side dish that needs no effort.
Preparing Potatoes For Smoking
Sweet potatoes need very little prep work.
Simply run under cold water, and scrub the skin.

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 the pit boss 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.

What Temperate to Smoke Sweet Potatoes At?
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 Long to Smoke Sweet Potatoes
You need to smoke sweet potatoes for at least an hour and a half at 375°F. Or until they are tender inside.
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 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.

Simple Smoked Sweet Potato Recipe
This is such a simple dish that packs a powerful flavor punch and goes well with any meal!
What You Need
- 6-8 Potatoes, of similar sizes
- Melted Butter for basting
- Your favorite BBQ Rub
- Toppings of choice
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!

Smoked Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- Pit Boss Grill
Ingredients
- 6-8 Potatoes of similar sizes
- Melted Butter for basting
- Your favorite BBQ Rub
- Toppings of choice
Instructions
- Prep smoker temperature to 250°F, if not already in use. Clean off the grill grates of any debris.
- Scrub, wash, and then dry the potatoes. Pierce with a fork, 5-6 times around the diameter.
- Combine the butter and barbecue rub, mixing thoroughly. Brush the entire surface with half of the mixture.
- 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.
- 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

Author: Charlie Reeves
Hi, I’m Charlie, I am head taste tester at Simply Meat Smoking! I love it grilling, smoking, and getting out in the yard with the kids! The family also love to test all my recipes (especially my EXTRA CRISPY pulled pork, smoky pork loin, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill)
You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling adventures with you!
You can read more on our About Us page.
Hungry For More?