Beef Shepherds Pie Sweet (Printable)

Rich beef with vegetable filling crowned by creamy mashed sweet potatoes baked to golden perfection.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sweet Potato Mash

01 - 3.3 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
02 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 1/4 cup milk
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

→ Beef Filling

06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 medium carrots, diced
09 - 2 celery stalks, diced
10 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
11 - 1.7 lbs ground beef
12 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
13 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1 tsp dried thyme
15 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
16 - 1 tsp salt
17 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
18 - 1.5 cups beef broth
19 - 1 cup frozen peas

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Place sweet potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water, and add a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and cook for 15-20 minutes until tender. Drain well.
03 - Mash 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, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more.
05 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
06 - Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.
07 - Pour in beef broth and bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Stir in frozen peas and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.
08 - Transfer beef filling to a large baking dish (about 9x13 in). Spread sweet potato mash evenly over the top.
09 - Use a fork to create ridges on the surface for extra crispness. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden and filling is bubbling.
10 - Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet potato crust adds a subtle caramel note that pairs beautifully with the hearty beef filling
  • It makes excellent leftovers and actually tastes better the next day when the flavors have had time to deepen
  • The whole house smells incredible while it bakes, like someone put comfort in the oven
02 -
  • Don't skip the fork ridges on top, they create those crispy golden edges that are honestly the best part of the whole dish
  • Letting the filling cool slightly before topping helps prevent the sweet potato from sinking into the beef
  • If your sweet potato mash feels too thick, add another tablespoon of milk, but go slowly because you want it to hold its shape when baked
03 -
  • If your sweet potatoes seem unusually watery after boiling, let them drain in a colander for 5 minutes before mashing to prevent a soggy crust
  • For extra depth, add a splash of red wine to the beef filling when you add the broth, letting it cook down for a minute before proceeding

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