Beef Shepherds Pie Sweet Potato (Printable)
Savory ground beef and vegetables topped with creamy sweet potato mash and baked until golden brown.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sweet Potato Mash
01 - 3.3 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
02 - 3 tbsp milk (dairy or plant-based)
03 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Beef Filling
05 - 1 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 medium carrots, diced
09 - 1.1 lbs ground beef
10 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
11 - 1/2 cup beef stock
12 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
13 - 1 tsp dried thyme
14 - 1 cup frozen peas
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Place sweet potatoes in a large pot, cover with salted water, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15–20 minutes until tender. Drain well.
03 - Mash sweet potatoes with milk, butter, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and carrots; cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up with a spoon, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
06 - Stir in tomato paste, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 8–10 minutes until slightly thickened.
07 - Stir in frozen peas and cook for 2 more minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Transfer beef mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Spread sweet potato mash evenly over the top, using a fork to create ridges.
09 - Bake for 20 minutes, or until the mash is lightly golden. For extra browning, broil for 2–3 minutes at the end.
10 - Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The natural sweetness from the potatoes balances the rich savory beef in a way regular potatoes never could
- This recipe freezes beautifully so you can make it ahead for those impossibly busy weeks
02 -
- Always drain your beef filling before topping with potatoes or the bottom layer will never set properly
- Let the whole thing rest for at least 5 minutes after baking or you'll end up with a messy serve
03 -
- Warming your milk before adding it to the mash prevents the potatoes from becoming gluey
- Grate a little fresh nutmeg into the sweet potato filling it's subtle but everyone notices something special