Simple, nutritious recipes for all. View all recipes
Closeup of sweet potato shepherds pie in a white baking dish

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Chef Franklyn Taylor

Ingredients 

Topping

  • 4 Sweet Potatoes 2½ pounds total
  • ¼ cup Milk
  • teaspoons Canola Oil
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • teaspoon Cinnamon Optional; ground

Filling

  • 8 ounces Mushrooms
  • 1 Onion Small
  • 3 Cloves Garlic
  • Pound Ground Beef Or ground turkey, lean meat
  • 1 teaspoon Thyme Dried
  • ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 can Chicken Broth 15 ounces, low sodium; or beef broth
  • 3 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 cup Green Peas Thawed, frozen or drained, canned
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Stovetop
  • 9×13-inch Baking Dish
  • 9-inch Square Baking Dish
  • Colander
  • Large Skillet
  • Medium Bowl

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450°F.
  • Scrub potatoes and pierce several times with fork. Place in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake until soft, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool.
  • While sweet potatoes bake and cool, prepare filling. Wash and slice mushrooms. Peel and dice onion. Peel and mince garlic.
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add beef or turkey, mushrooms, and onion. Cook, crumbling meat with a rubber spatula as it cooks, until meat is no longer pink, about 15 minutes.
  • In a colander, drain off liquid. Return mixture to skillet. Add garlic and thyme. Cook for 30 seconds. Sprinkle with flour and stir to coat. Add broth and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer. Cook until mixture thickens, 2-3 minutes. Stir in peas, salt, and pepper.
  • Coat a 9-inch square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Transfer mixture to dish.
  • Peel cooled sweet potatoes. Place in a medium bowl. Add milk, butter, salt, and pepper. If using cinnamon, add now. Mash with a fork until smooth. Spread over the filling.
  • Bake until hot and bubbling at the edges, 30-40 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Use another green vegetable in place of the peas, if you prefer. Try spinach, green beans, edamame, or lima beans.
  • Make this dish over the weekend and reheat on a busy weeknight. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat, covered, at 350°F until hot throughout.
  • Serve this dish with a tossed salad.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
Amount per Serving
Calories
 
496
Calories from Fat 216
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
24
g
37
%
Saturated Fat
 
9
g
56
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
81
mg
27
%
Sodium
 
676
mg
29
%
Potassium
 
1159
mg
33
%
Carbohydrates
 
44
g
15
%
Fiber
 
7
g
29
%
Sugar
 
11
g
12
%
Protein
 
26
g
52
%
Vitamin A
 
21606
IU
432
%
Vitamin C
 
21
mg
25
%
Calcium
 
107
mg
11
%
Iron
 
5
mg
28
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Cinnamon, Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Potato, All-Purpose Flour, AP Flour, Chicken Broth, Broth, Onions, Ground Turkey, Ground Beef, Mushrooms, Shepherd’s Pie, Flour, Milk, Garlic Cloves, Onion, Ground Cinnamon, Garlic, Worcestershire Sauce, Thyme, Green Peas