Name: Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 lb. sweet potatoes (peeled and chopped into small chunks); 1/2 lb. cauliflower (chopped into small chunks); 1/4 cup chicken broth; 3 tablespoons butter; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teasoon ground black pepper; 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil ((or any neutral-flavored oil)); 1/2 medium onion (diced); 2 small carrots (diced); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 lb. ground beef; 2 tablespoons tapioca starch ((flour is okay if you are not GF)); 1 cup chicken broth; 1/4 cup tomato paste; 1/2 cup canned corn, (drained); 1/2 cup frozen peas; 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan ((plus extra for sprinkling on individual servings))

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This sweet potato shepherd's pie is a different, lighter spin on the traditional version and is just as, if not more, delicious than the mashed potato version! Saucy ground beef mixed with corn and peas are topped with a creamy sweet potato and cauliflower mash. It's the perfect blend of sweet and savory and is nutritious, flavorful, and comforting in every bite!

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Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions and Variations
Commonly Asked Questions
Other Recipes You Might Like
Recipe
Comments and Reviews

This sweet potato shepherd's pie was clearly inspired by the traditional British version that uses mashed potatoes as the blanket for the savory ground beef and vegetables underneath. I wanted to make a version that was less heavy and more flavorful and this was the perfect combination!

Ingredients

Ground beef
Sweet potatoes
Cauliflower
Corn
Peas
Carrots
Onion
Garlic
Tomato paste
Chicken broth
Butter
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Prepare and chop the ingredients so they are all ready to go before you start cooking.

Orange sweet potatoes and white cauliflower in boiling water in a pot.

Use a pot large enough to hold all the sweet potatoes and cauliflower. Add enough water to cover and bring to a boil. Cook for 20 minutes until the sweet potatoes and cauliflower are fork tender.

A metal pot containing cooked orange sweet potatoes, white cauliflower, yellow butter, salt and pepper.

Drain the water from the sweet potatoes and cauliflower well and then put them back into the pot. Add the chicken broth, butter, and salt and pepper to the pot.

A metal pot containing mashed orange sweet potatoes.

Use a potato masher to mash the vegetables until smooth. Set aside.

A grey skillet containing diced carrots and onions.

Heat a skillet or pot over medium-high heat; add the extra light olive oil. Add onions and carrots and fry for about 5 minutes.

Diced carrots, diced onions, garlic, salt, and pepper in a grey skillet.

Add the minced garlic, salt, and pepper to the onions and carrots and cook for another minute.

Diced orange carrots and partially cooked ground meat in a skillet.

Add ground beef to saucepan and cook through, breaking up the meat with a spatula.

A white powder sprinkled over cooked ground meat and diced carrots in a skillet.

Sprinkle the tapioca starch over cooked beef and stir.

A grey skillet containing ground meat, green peas, yellow corn, orange carrots in a brown gravy.

Add chicken broth, tomato paste, corn, and peas to beef mixture and mix together; bring to a boil. Cook about 5-10 minutes, until the liquid has reduced slightly and has become more like a thick gravy.

A square metal baking dish containing cooked ground meat, peas, carrots, and corn.

Transfer the beef mixture to a baking dish and spread it out evenly.

A red rubber spatula spreading mashed orange sweet potatoes over cooked ground meat and vegetables in a square baking pan.

Top the ground beef with the mashed sweet potato and cauliflower, spreading the mash evenly over the beef and to the edges of the pan.

Lines being drawn in orange mashed sweet potatoes by the tines of a fork.

If desired, use a fork or spoon to create a pattern in the mash.

A hand sprinkling shredded white cheese over orange mashed sweet potatoes in a square baking dish.

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the mashed sweet potato and cauliflower and bake for 10 minutes.

Close-up of a scoop of orange mashed sweet potatoes being scooped from a pan.

Substitutions and Variations

Beef: Substitute the ground beef with ground pork, turkey, lamb, or any combination of them.

Vegetables: Green beans, diced parsnips, bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms are all good options for mixing with the ground beef.

The Mash: Make the mashed topping all sweet potatoes, all cauliflower, or make it traditional by using potatoes.

A round white dish containing a fork and sweet potato shepherd's pie topped with fresh grated cheese.

Commonly Asked Questions

How long will leftovers keep?

Leftovers shepherd's pie will keep for 4-5 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze leftovers for 2-3 months.

Can the shepherd's pie be made in advance?

Yes! Assemble the pie ahead of time in dish/container that is both freezer and oven safe for ease of baking in the same vessel. Be sure to refrigerate the shepherd's pie before putting it in the freezer.

How do I heat a shepherd's pie that I made in advance?

From the refrigerator: cover the shepherd's pie with foil and bake in a 375F/190C oven for 30-40 minutes until it is piping hot all the way through, then remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes.

From the freezer: cover the shepherd's pie with foil and bake in a 375F/190C oven for 1 hour until piping hot all the way through, then remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes. You can also defrost the shepherd's pie overnight in the refrigerator and bake according to the instructions above.

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie