Beef Shepherds Pie Sweet (Printable version)

A hearty dish blending seasoned beef with smooth mashed sweet potatoes in a golden baked topping.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Sweet Potato Topping

01 - 3.3 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
02 - 1/4 cup milk
03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Beef Filling

06 - 1 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
09 - 2 medium carrots, diced
10 - 1 celery stalk, diced
11 - 1.65 lbs lean ground beef
12 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
13 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1 tsp dried thyme
15 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
16 - 1 cup beef broth
17 - 3.5 oz frozen peas
18 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add sweet potatoes and cook for 15-20 minutes until fork-tender. Drain and return to pot.
03 - Mash sweet potatoes with milk, butter, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes until softened.
05 - Add carrots and celery; cook for 4-5 minutes until starting to soften.
06 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through.
07 - Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary. Mix well.
08 - Pour in beef broth, bring to a simmer, and cook for 8-10 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in peas, season with salt and pepper.
09 - Transfer beef mixture to a large baking dish. Spread mashed sweet potatoes evenly on top.
10 - Bake for 20 minutes until the topping is lightly golden. For extra browning, broil for 2-3 minutes if desired.
11 - Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • The natural sweetness balances the savory beef in ways regular potatoes never could
  • One dish feeds a crowd and leaves everyone asking for seconds
  • Frozen peas and simple pantry staples make this surprisingly budget friendly
02 -
  • Cold sweet potatoes mash into gummy lumps, so work with them while they are hot
  • The filling needs to be thicker than you expect because the potatoes release steam
  • Rough up the potato surface with a fork before baking for better browning
03 -
  • A sprinkle of grated sharp cheddar over the potatoes during the last 5 minutes creates incredible flavor
  • Ground lamb transforms this into a proper British style shepherds pie if you want authenticity

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