Beef Shepherds Pie Sweet Potato (Print)
Savory ground beef layered beneath a smooth, golden sweet potato mash in a wholesome baked dish.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Sweet Potato Topping
01 - 3.3 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 1/4 cup milk or dairy-free alternative
04 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Beef Filling
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 medium carrots, diced
09 - 2 celery stalks, diced
10 - 1.65 lbs ground beef
11 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
12 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
14 - 3/4 cup beef stock, gluten-free if needed
15 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, gluten-free if needed
16 - 1 cup frozen peas
17 - Salt and pepper to taste
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Place sweet potatoes in a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until tender. Drain well.
03 - Mash sweet potatoes with butter and milk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until softened.
05 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
06 - Stir in tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, beef stock, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens slightly.
07 - Stir in frozen peas and cook for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
08 - Transfer beef filling to a 2-quart baking dish. Spread sweet potato mash evenly over the beef mixture. Use a fork to create ridges for a decorative finish.
09 - Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until topping is lightly browned and filling is bubbling.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The natural sweetness from the potatoes creates this incredible contrast with the savory beef filling that regular potatoes just cant match.
- Everything happens in one pan plus a pot, meaning minimal cleanup on busy weeknights.
- It reheats beautifully and actually tastes better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep.
02 -
- Let the beef mixture cool slightly before topping with the potatoes, otherwise they can sink into the filling.
- Creating ridges with your fork isn't just decorative, those crispy edges are actually the best part of the whole dish.
03 -
- Drain the beef well after browning if there's excess fat, otherwise the filling can become greasy.
- Use a potato ricer if you want the smoothest sweet potato topping, though a regular masher works perfectly fine.