Beef Shepherds Pie Sweet Potato (Print version)
Hearty beef and vegetable filling under a layer of creamy mashed sweet potato.
# What you'll need:
→ Sweet Potato Mash
01 - 3.3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and chunked
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 1/4 cup milk or dairy-free alternative
04 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Beef Filling
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 2 medium carrots, diced
09 - 2 celery stalks, diced
10 - 1.5 pounds ground beef
11 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
12 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce or gluten-free substitute
13 - 1 cup beef stock
14 - 1 cup frozen peas
15 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
16 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
17 - Salt and black pepper to taste
# How to make it:
01 - Set the oven to 400°F to preheat.
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 thoroughly.
03 - Mash the drained sweet potatoes with butter and milk. Season with salt and black pepper. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery; cook for 5 to 7 minutes until softened.
05 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up as it cooks until fully browned with no pink remaining.
06 - Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes to combine flavors.
07 - Pour in beef stock, bring mixture to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 10 minutes until thickened. Add frozen peas and simmer for an additional 2 minutes.
08 - Transfer beef mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Evenly spread the sweet potato mash on top.
09 - Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until the topping is lightly golden and the filling bubbles.
10 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving hot.
# Expert suggestions:
01 -
- The sweet potato topping adds a subtle sweetness that balances the savory beef filling beautifully.
- It's naturally hearty enough to feel like Sunday dinner but comes together faster than you'd think.
- One baking dish means less cleanup, and it freezes wonderfully if you want to make it ahead.
02 -
- Don't skip draining the sweet potatoes well after boiling—I learned this the hard way when my mash turned into a thick soup halfway through baking.
- Spread the sweet potato layer all the way to the edges of the dish so it seals in the beef and gets those beautiful golden edges during baking.
03 -
- Let your sweet potatoes dry completely in the pot after draining—even a minute of steam helps dry them out, which makes better mash.
- Taste the beef filling before it goes into the oven and adjust the seasoning generously, because the sweet potato on top will mellow everything out a bit.