Beef Shepherds Pie Sweet Potato (Printable version)
Savory ground beef layered with creamy sweet potato mash for a warm, filling main dish.
# List of ingredients:
→ Sweet Potato Mash
01 - 3.3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 1/4 cup milk or dairy-free alternative
04 - Salt, to taste
05 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Beef Filling
06 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
07 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 2 medium carrots, diced
10 - 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
11 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
12 - 1 tablespoon gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
13 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
15 - 2/3 cup beef broth
16 - 1 cup frozen peas
17 - Salt, to taste
18 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
02 - Place sweet potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water, add a pinch of salt, bring to a boil, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until tender.
03 - Drain sweet potatoes and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion for 2 to 3 minutes until softened, then add garlic and carrots and cook for another 3 minutes.
05 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.
06 - Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary, cooking for 2 minutes.
07 - Pour in beef broth, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
08 - Stir frozen peas into the filling and season well with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
09 - Spoon the beef mixture into a 2-quart baking dish and evenly spread the sweet potato mash over the top.
10 - Use a fork to create ridges on the sweet potato mash surface for crispiness.
11 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling.
12 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together faster than you'd expect, making weeknight dinner feel less like a chore.
- The sweet potato mash transforms what could be ordinary into something guests actually remember.
- One dish contains everything—meat, vegetables, carbs—so cleanup is genuinely minimal.
02 -
- Don't skip the potato resting step; a pie that's still steaming when you cut it will collapse into itself.
- If your beef filling seems dry, the broth should reduce only slightly—you want moisture that keeps everything together, not a gravy.
03 -
- Toast your dried herbs in the oil for 30 seconds before adding anything else—it wakes them up and makes the whole filling taste more intentional.
- If you're meal prepping, assemble it completely and refrigerate; just add 5-10 minutes to baking time straight from cold.