Beef Shepherds Pie Sweet (Printable Version)

Savory ground beef and creamy mashed sweet potatoes combine for a hearty, comforting casserole dish.

# What You Need:

→ Sweet Potato Topping

01 - 2.5 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 1/4 cup milk
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Beef Filling

06 - 1 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
09 - 2 medium carrots, diced
10 - 2 celery stalks, diced
11 - 1.5 lbs ground beef
12 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
13 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1 tsp dried thyme
15 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
16 - 1 tsp salt
17 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
18 - 1 cup beef broth
19 - 1 cup frozen peas

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Place sweet potato chunks in a large pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Cook for 15-20 minutes until fork-tender. Drain well.
03 - Mash sweet potatoes with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened.
05 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
06 - Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.
07 - Pour in beef broth, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in frozen peas and cook for 2 more minutes.
08 - Transfer the beef mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread evenly.
09 - Spoon the mashed sweet potato over the beef, spreading smoothly to cover.
10 - Bake for 20 minutes until the top is just starting to brown and filling is bubbling. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet potato topping adds a subtle sweetness that perfectly balances the rich savory beef filling
  • It is one of those rare meals that tastes even better as leftovers, making it perfect for meal prep
  • The entire dish comes together in just over an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
02 -
  • Drain the sweet potatoes really well after boiling so your mashed topping is not watery
  • Let the beef mixture cool slightly before topping with potatoes or they may sink into the filling
  • Do not overmix the potatoes or they can become gluey and dense
03 -
  • Rough up the surface of the sweet potato topping with a fork before baking for extra crispy bits
  • Let the beef filling reduce until it is quite thick since the potatoes will release some moisture while baking

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