Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes With 4 Simple Ingredients — A Melt-in-Your-Mouth Side Dish You’ll Make Again and Again! 🍠✨
If you’ve only ever baked or roasted sweet potatoes, get ready to fall in love with a whole new way of making them. This recipe is so simple it almost feels like a secret: raw thinly sliced sweet potatoes + 4 ingredients + a slow cooker = the creamiest, dreamiest sweet potatoes you’ve ever eaten.
Once you try them like this… honestly, you’ll never want them any other way!
What I love most about this dish is how hands-off it is. There’s no pre-cooking, no fancy steps, and almost no effort. The slow cooker does all the work, gently softening the potatoes until they’re buttery, tender, and infused with flavor from the sauce. It’s the perfect side dish for holidays, busy weeknights, potlucks, or any meal where you want something comforting without spending hours in the kitchen.
⭐ Why This Recipe Works
Uses raw sweet potatoes — no boiling or pre-cooking needed.
Only 4 simple ingredients for the sauce.
Slow cooker magic makes them incredibly tender and rich.
Tastes like a mix of scalloped potatoes + sweet potato casserole.
Perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping.
🥘 Ingredients
You’ll need:
3–4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
4-ingredient sauce:
3 tbsp melted butter
3 tbsp brown sugar (or honey/maple syrup)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
A pinch of salt
Optional: chopped pecans, nutmeg, or marshmallows for topping
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prep the sweet potatoes
Peel the sweet potatoes and slice them very thin—about 1/8 inch. The thinner they are, the creamier your final dish will be.
- Make the 4-ingredient sauce
In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Add a tiny pinch of salt to bring out the flavor.
- Layer everything into the slow cooker
Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray or lightly butter it.
Add a layer of sliced sweet potatoes, drizzle some sauce, and repeat until everything is in the pot.
- Slow cook until irresistibly soft
Cover and cook:
Low for 5–6 hours, or
High for 2.5–3 hours
You’ll know they’re ready when the slices are melt-in-your-mouth tender and coated in that thick, caramel-y sauce.
- Optional finishing touches
For a holiday or dessert-style twist, sprinkle with pecans or mini marshmallows and let them melt in the warm cooker.
😍 Serving Ideas
These slow cooker sweet potatoes pair beautifully with:
Roasted chicken
Turkey or ham
Grilled meats
Holiday meals
Cozy fall dinners
Even breakfast bowls with yogurt + nuts
They’re also incredible eaten straight out of the pot… no judgement here!
💡 Tips for Best Results
Slice potatoes evenly so they cook at the same pace.
If you want them less sweet, reduce the brown sugar by 1 tbsp.
For a richer flavor, add a splash of heavy cream or coconut milk before cooking.
Leftovers reheat perfectly in the microwave or skillet.
✨ Final Thoughts
This recipe proves that delicious food doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a handful of pantry staples and a slow cooker, you can create a dish that tastes like it took hours. It’s warm, cozy, and absolutely unforgettable.
If you try this recipe, let me know how it turns out! And if you see this post, leave a “YUMMY!” so Facebook/Instagram keeps showing you more of my recipes! 💛🍠✨