Beef Shepherds Pie Sweet (Print Version)
Savory ground beef layered with creamy sweet potato mash for a warm, hearty main dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sweet Potato Topping
01 - 3.3 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
02 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 1/4 cup milk (or dairy-free alternative)
04 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Beef Filling
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 medium carrots, diced
09 - 2 celery stalks, diced
10 - 1.65 lbs ground beef
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 1 tsp dried thyme
13 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
14 - 3/4 cup beef stock (gluten-free if needed)
15 - 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (gluten-free if needed)
16 - 1 cup frozen peas
17 - Salt and pepper to taste
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Place sweet potatoes in a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until tender. Drain well.
03 - Mash sweet potatoes with butter and milk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened.
05 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
06 - Stir in tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, beef stock, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens slightly.
07 - Stir in frozen peas and cook for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
08 - Transfer beef filling to a 2-quart baking dish. Spread sweet potato mash evenly over the beef mixture. Use a fork to create ridges for a decorative finish.
09 - Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until topping is lightly browned and filling is bubbling.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweet potato topping adds natural sweetness that perfectly balances the savory beef filling without any added sugar
- This recipe makes excellent leftovers and actually tastes better the next day as the flavors meld together
02 -
- I once skipped draining the sweet potatoes thoroughly enough and ended up with a watery mash that made the entire dish soggy
- Creating those fork ridges isn't just decorative it creates more surface area for that irresistible crispy topping
03 -
- Sprinkle grated cheddar over the sweet potato topping during the last 10 minutes of baking for an incredibly cheesy finish
- If the topping starts browning too quickly, loosely tent the dish with foil while it finishes baking