Beef Shepherds Pie Sweet Potato (Printable)

Hearty beef and vegetable filling topped with creamy mashed sweet potatoes for a delicious twist.

# What You Need:

→ Sweet Potato Topping

01 - 1.2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 3 tbsp milk
04 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Beef Filling

05 - 1 lb ground beef, lean
06 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 medium carrots, diced
09 - 1 cup frozen peas
10 - 1 celery stalk, diced
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 1 cup beef broth
13 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1 tsp dried thyme
15 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
16 - 2 tbsp olive oil
17 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Place sweet potatoes in a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 12-15 minutes until tender. Drain and return to the pot.
02 - Add butter, milk, salt, and pepper to sweet potatoes. Mash until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic, carrots, and celery; cook for another 5 minutes.
04 - Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
05 - Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 2 minutes.
06 - Pour in beef broth and bring to a simmer. Add peas, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
07 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Transfer beef mixture to an 8x8 inch baking dish. Spoon sweet potato mash over the beef, spreading evenly. Create ridges with a fork for a crispy top.
08 - Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden and filling is bubbling. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sweet potato topping adds a natural sweetness that balances the savory beef filling perfectly
  • Its a complete meal in one dish, meaning less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy eating
  • Makes excellent leftovers, and honestly tastes even better the next day
02 -
  • Creating those ridges with your fork isnt just for looks. It increases surface area and gives you way more crispy, golden bits which is honestly the best part.
  • The filling can seem a bit thick before baking, but it loosens up in the oven and the sweet potato absorbs some moisture too.
  • If your sweet potato mash feels too thick to spread easily, add another splash of milk. It should be spreadable but not runny.
03 -
  • Dont skip seasoning the sweet potato water with salt. It helps flavor the potatoes from the inside out.
  • Letting the dish rest those 5 minutes before serving feels impossible, but it really does help portions hold together better.

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