Savory Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie (Printable)

A hearty comfort dish featuring ground meat and vegetables topped with creamy mashed sweet potatoes for a nutritious twist.

# What goes in:

→ Sweet Potato Topping

01 - 1.5 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 1/4 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

→ Savory Filling

06 - 1 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 medium carrot, diced
10 - 1 celery stalk, diced
11 - 1 lb ground beef or lamb (or plant-based substitute)
12 - 1 cup frozen peas
13 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
14 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (or gluten-free alternative)
15 - 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme)
16 - 1 cup beef or vegetable broth
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
02 - Boil the sweet potatoes in salted water for 15–20 minutes, until fork-tender. Drain well.
03 - Mash the sweet potatoes with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté for 2–3 minutes.
05 - Add carrot and celery; cook for 4–5 minutes until softened.
06 - Add ground beef or lamb; cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat if needed.
07 - Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and broth. Simmer for 8–10 minutes until thickened.
08 - Stir in peas and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
09 - Spread the filling evenly in a baking dish (about 9-inch square).
10 - Spoon the mashed sweet potatoes over the filling, spreading to cover evenly.
11 - Bake for 20–25 minutes until the top is lightly golden and filling is bubbling.
12 - Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet potato topping caramelizes slightly in the oven, creating these irresistible crispy bits around the edges that my family literally fights over.
  • Its one of those magical make-ahead dishes that actually tastes better the next day, perfect for when youre juggling a busy week but still want something homemade.
02 -
  • If your sweet potato layer keeps sinking into the filling, let the meat mixture cool for about 10 minutes before topping - a mistake I made during a dinner party that resulted in a tasty but visually confusing casserole.
  • Adding just a tiny pinch of cinnamon to the sweet potatoes creates this subtle warmth that people cant quite identify but makes all the difference to the final dish.
03 -
  • For an incredible flavor boost, deglaze the pan with a splash of red wine after browning the meat, letting it reduce completely before adding the broth.
  • Use a fork to create peaks and valleys in the sweet potato topping before baking - these textured areas will create more of those irresistible crispy edges everyone loves.

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