Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

Original Post: https://www.evolvingtable.com/?p=92633

5 from 5 votes

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

A traditional dish gets a flavor upgrade in this best-ever Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie recipe! The subtle sweetness of the mashed potatoes pairs exceptionally well with the rich filling made of ground beef, vegetables, and a thick and hearty sauce.

Prep Time30

Cook Time30

Total Time1

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: London Brazil

Ingredients

Mashed Sweet Potatoes:

1 ½ lbs. sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
4 Tbsp. butter melted
½ cup milk oat or cashew milk
¾ tsp. salt to taste
¼ tsp. black pepper to taste
⅛ tsp. garlic powder

Ground Beef Filling:

2 Tbsp. oil olive or avocado
1 cup sweet onion finely chopped
2 celery ribs finely diced
3 cloves garlic finely minced
1 ½ lbs. ground beef 90/10 or 93/7
3 Tbsp. tomato paste
2 Tbsp. all purpose flour or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ cups beef broth regular sodium
¾ tsp. each of dried thyme rosemary, and parsley
¾ tsp. salt to taste
¼ tsp. black pepper to taste
1 ½ cups frozen mixed vegetables

Instructions

Boil the Sweet Potatoes: Add peeled and cubed sweet potatoes to a large pot and then cover with 1 inch of cold water. Bring the potatoes to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes, uncovered. Once the potatoes pierce easily with a fork, drain them in a colander in the sink.
1 ½ lbs. sweet potatoes
Mash the Potatoes: Add the cooked potatoes back to the pot along with the butter, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mash with a potato masher or fork until your desired consistency is reached. Alternatively, you can add the ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and puree for 20-30 seconds.
4 Tbsp. butter, ½ cup milk, ¾ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. black pepper, ⅛ tsp. garlic powder
Sauté the Veggies: Place a large skillet over medium heat and add oil, onion, and celery. Cook for 3-4 minutes and then add garlic. Continue cooking for 1 minute.
2 Tbsp. oil, 1 cup sweet onion, 2 celery ribs, 3 cloves garlic
Cook the Beef: Push vegetables to the side and add ground beef. Cook for 7-8 minutes, or until it is cooked through. Mash the beef with a potato masher to get fine crumbles.
1 ½ lbs. ground beef
Season and Simmer: Mix in tomato paste and flour. Pour in Worcestershire sauce and ½ cup of broth. Simmer until the sauce begins to thicken and then add in the remaining broth in ¼ cup increments, waiting between each addition for the sauce to thicken up. Add herbs, salt, pepper, and frozen mixed vegetables and continue simmering until they’re heated through.
3 Tbsp. tomato paste, 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour, 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 ½ cups beef broth, ¾ tsp. each of dried thyme, ¾ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. black pepper, 1 ½ cups frozen mixed vegetables
Build the Pie: Spray an 11x7-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and spread out the ground beef filling in the bottom. Place dollops of the mashed sweet potatoes all over and then spread it to cover the filling. Leave some peaks of mashed potatoes if you’d like for the topping to get slightly crispy.
Bake the shepherd’s pie in a 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. Add it to a high broiler for 2-3 minutes at the end to get the topping extra crispy.
Serve with a sprinkle of parsley and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Prep-Ahead Instructions:

Chop the veggies, cook and mash the potatoes, and refrigerate in separate containers one day in advance. You can also measure out and mix the dried herbs, just keep them at room temperature.

Storage Directions:

Place leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. If you are freezing in individual portions make sure to chill the entire thing in the fridge first, as it will hold together better when cutting. Then seal in a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake in a 350°F oven until heated through. You can also microwave the leftovers.

Recipe Tips

Similar in size. Cut the potatoes uniformly before boiling so they cook evenly.
Prep ahead. Make the mashed sweet potatoes one day in advance.
Mash it good. Break up the beef into fine crumbles using a potato masher.
Let it thicken. Take the time to let the sauce simmer between additions of broth to ensure the right consistency.
Leave some peaks. Achieve a crispier topping by creating ridges in the mashed potatoes.

Nutrition