Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie is a sweet and savory weeknight comfort dish that feels hearty without being complicated. It's made in one dish with a bubbling ground beef and veggie filling tucked under a creamy sweet potato topping. As it bakes, the edges of the sweet potatoes caramelize slightly, adding more depth to every bite.
Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Main dish
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 30 minutes baking
- 🍴 Servings: 6
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Savory, hearty, and slightly sweet with beef, onions, garlic, paprika, vegetables, and sweet potatoes.
- 🍚 Best Served With: A simple green salad, roasted vegetables, or crusty bread.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, store in the refrigerator for up to 6 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Summarize and Save This Content On
I was a little unsure about the sweet potato twist at first, but Ken ended up loving it-maybe even more than the classic version. I use 80% lean ground beef because I like a little extra richness, though I still drain the grease either way.
It's one of those balanced meals I can throw together on a busy night or even a lazy Sunday when I want something comforting without much effort.
If you're looking for more fun twists on a classic shepherd's pie, you'll love shepherd's pie with turkey and shepherd's pie potato boats.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's perfect for meal prep: This recipe lasts almost a week in the refrigerator, making it an awesome choice for weekly meal prep.
- It has a lovely flavor balance: The sweet and savory flavors in this shepherd's pie with sweet potato mash play so well together, without one overpowering the other.
- It's family-friendly: Kids and adults love this recipe, making it great to serve the family for dinner any night of the week.
Ingredients
- Ground beef: Many recipes use 85% or 90% lean ground beef, but I stick to 80% lean. The fat renders out, offering more depth of flavor. Plus, I drain the excess grease anyway, so it won't affect the consistency of the filling.
- Tomato paste: This is an important ingredient to help the filling bind together while adding depth and umami.
- Smoked paprika: To elevate the flavor, I use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika. It plays well with the sweetness of the potatoes and the savoriness of the ground beef filling.
- Frozen veggies: Use any frozen veggie blend that you like. I go with a mix that has corn, peas, carrots, and green beans to keep it classic. It's a quick way to add veggies to a meal without extra peeling and chopping, and I use it in this hamburger hash brown casserole, too.
- Sweet potatoes: Any fresh sweet potatoes from the grocery store work fine. I peel, chop, and boil them in salted water until they're nice and tender so I can get a perfectly smooth mash for the top of the pie.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Ground turkey: Make a leaner version with ground turkey instead of ground beef.
- Vegetarian: Serve a vegetarian version featuring lentils or a plant-based alternative like Impossible meat as the protein.
- Dairy-free: Milk is an optional ingredient for creaminess, so you can swap it for oat milk or omit it from the recipe entirely.
How to Make Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
Before you work on the filling for your sweet potato cottage pie, peel and chop the sweet potatoes, then boil them in salted water until tender. While they are cooking, preheat your oven to 375°F and spray a 9x9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 1: Sauté the onions and garlic. Start by heating your skillet over medium heat to melt the butter. Then sauté the onions and garlic for 3-5 minutes, or until soft and fragrant.
Step 2: Brown the beef. Add the ground beef and cook until it's no longer pink, then drain the grease.
Step 3: Add tomato paste and spices. Stir in the tomato paste and seasonings.
Step 4: Stir in the veggies. Once combined, add the frozen vegetables and stir until well incorporated.
Step 5: Layer the pie. Scoop the beef and veggie mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Then, spread the sweet potato mash evenly on top.
Step 6: Bake and serve. Place it in the oven and bake it for about 30 minutes, or until the edges start to brown and the filling is bubbly. Serve with a bourbon lemon cocktail.
Expert Tips
- Drain the beef well: After browning the meat, drain as much excess fat as possible to prevent the filling from becoming greasy.
- Broil the top for color: When the shepherd's pie is fully cooked, allow it to sit under the broiler in the oven for a couple of minutes. This helps the top brown and the edges to caramelize a bit more.
- Grease the baking dish well: Be generous with the nonstick cooking spray to prevent any of the sweet potato from sticking to the casserole dish.
- Storage directions: Cover the dish tightly with foil and plastic wrap or transfer remaining portions to an airtight container. Keep the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
- Reheating the leftovers: You can microwave individual portions for 2-3 minutes if you add a splash of water to keep the filling from drying out. If you're reheating a large portion of the casserole, cover it in foil and heat it in a 325°F oven for about 20 minutes.
Another savory pie featuring ground beef is this bacon cheeseburger pie.
Serving Suggestions
- Side salads: Prepare a fresh side dish like a garden salad or wedge salad. I enjoy the flavors of this Greek lentil salad with this dish.
- More veggies: Try a cooked veggie dish like maple Brussels sprouts to add more sweetness and nutrition to the meal.
- Try some bread: I enjoy bread with this sweet potato shepherd's pie recipe as well, especially this air fryer garlic bread.
- Dessert ideas: Keep your dessert choice simple, like a vanilla milkshake, Oreos and a cup of milk, or a refreshing fruit salad.
Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie Recipe FAQs
Drain the sweet potatoes well after boiling them, and avoid adding too much butter when mashing them. If they become watery, they won't brown in the oven, and it can make the filling thin, too.
Sure! Freeze it before or after baking for up to 2 months, tightly covered. Thaw it in the fridge overnight, then bake for 30-35 minutes at 350°F.
Sure, you can prep some of the elements ahead of time. Prepare the topping and filling, and store them in the fridge up to 24 hours before serving. Assemble them cold and add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time.
More Delicious Sweet Potato Recipes
Do you like sweet potato recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 small sweet onion diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic diced or minced
- 2 pounds ground beef 80/20
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ cups frozen mixed vegetables peas, carrots, corn, green beans
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
- 2 -2 ½ pounds sweet potatoes about 3-4 medium-large sweet potatoes
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter or ¼ cup
- ½ -1 teaspoon salt (start with ½ and adjust)
- ¼ -½ teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
- 2-4 tablespoons milk or cream (optional)
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and prepare a 9-inch pie pan or 9x9-inch casserole dish with non-stick spray.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into chunks, then boil in salted water for 15-20 minutes until fork tender. Drain well, then mash with butter, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve warm.
Shepherd's Pie
- In a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, melt your butter and sauté the onions and garlic until translucent and fragrant.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and turn the heat to medium-high to brown, flipping and breaking it up as it browns. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the tomato paste, salt, pepper, and paprika. Stir until well combined. Then mix in the frozen vegetables.
Assembly
- Place the ground beef mixture into the bottom of your prepared dish and spread it out evenly. Layer the mashed sweet potatoes over the top and smooth out.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the mashed sweet potatoes are starting to darken and the edges are bubbly.
- Garnish with parsley and serve!
Notes
- For extra color and flavor, place the pie under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes after baking. This helps brown the top and caramelize the sweet potato edges.
- Make sure the potatoes are well drained before mashing and avoid adding too much butter. Excess moisture can prevent the top from browning and may make the filling seem thinner.
- Drain the excess grease after browning the beef. This helps keep the filling rich and flavorful without becoming overly greasy.
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