Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

This post shows you how to make sweet potato shepherd’s pie.

So many people ask ‘ Can you make shepherds pie with sweet potato? ‘ and you absolutely can!

We love using sweet potatoes for more texture and a sweeter flavor to our shepherds pie. It’s the perfect way to use up a bunch of sweet potatoes too. This is definitely one of those dishes that you’ll want to come back to again and again and it works so well for a crowd – trust us!

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Easy fall dinner ideas

We love the coziness of fall and with it come the yummiest fall flavors that the season has to offer. Here are some of our absolute favorite and super easy fall dinner recipe ideas:

1. Butternut Squash Soup 
2. Pumpkin Chili 
3. Chicken & Wild Rice Soup 
4. Beef & Barley Stew 
5. Creamy Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup
6. Pumpkin Mac & Cheese 
7. Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie 
8. Chicken & Stuffing Casserole 
9. Baked Ziti with Sausage & Spinach 
10. Butternut Squash & Kale Lasagna
11. Maple Dijon Glazed Pork Chops 
12. Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast 
13. Apple Cider Chicken Thighs 
14. Harvest Quinoa Skillet 
15. Creamy Mushroom & Garlic Chicken Skillet 
16. Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta 
17. Sausage & Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash 
18. Mushroom & Sage Risotto 
19. Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Bacon Farro Bowl 
20. Cranberry Pecan Wild Rice Pilaf

Aesther Cooking Pairs this recipe with

Ingredients

For the Sweet Potato Topping:

3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

2 tbsp butter (or olive oil)

¼ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)

Salt & pepper, to taste

for the filling:

½ cup vegetable or beef broth

1 tbsp olive oil

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb ground beef, turkey, or lentils (for a plant-based version)

2 carrots, peeled and diced

1 cup frozen peas

½ cup corn (optional)

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (or soy sauce for vegetarian option)

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried rosemary

Salt & pepper, to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

Boil the Sweet Potatoes

Add sweet potatoes to a large pot of water and boil for 15-20 minutes, or until fork tender.

Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.

Make the Filling

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.

Sauté onions and garlic until soft (about 2–3 minutes).

Add ground meat (or lentils) and cook until browned.

Stir in carrots, peas, corn (if using), tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.

Pour in broth and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until thickened and veggies are tender.

Assemble & Bake

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Spread the filling in a baking dish. Top evenly with mashed sweet potatoes.

Use a fork to create texture on top (helps with browning).

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden and bubbling around the edges.

Optional: Broil for 2-3 minutes for a slightly crispy top.

Tips and Tricks

✔ Make your sweet potato super smooth— mash up your sweet potato until it’s super smooth.

✔ Make it extra rich – a spoonful of sour cream and cream cheese into the mash will do just that!

✔ Super easy to make ahead – Just assemble the shepherd’s pie, refrigerate it, and bake when you’re ready.

✔ If you find the filling is too thick for your liking then you can thin it out with extra broth.

🌿 Sweet potato shepherd’s pie – Make It Your Own – Try:

• 🍗 Different Proteins
  • Using ground chicken or turkey is a great way to change up the protein.
  • Adjust the recipe to include minced mushrooms or jackfruit for a veggie version.
  • Walnuts and lentils ground up make for another meat-free option.
• 🧀 Add Cheese
  • We’re obsessed with mixing Parmesan or cheddar into the mash.
  • For the perfect golden crust, top with grated cheddar before baking.
• 🥬 Boost the Veggies
  • Add in some chopped spinach, kale, or mushrooms to the filling to bulk it out.
  • Increase the flavor with roasted red peppers mixed in.

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time:20 minutes mins

Cook Time:35 minutes mins

Servings: 6 People

Ingredients

For the Sweet Potato Topping:

• 3 large sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
• 2 tbsp butter or olive oil
• ¼ cup milk dairy or non-dairy
• Salt & pepper to taste

For the Filling:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 lb ground beef turkey, or lentils (for a plant-based version)
• 2 carrots peeled and diced
• 1 cup frozen peas
• ½ cup corn optional
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce for vegetarian option
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• Salt & pepper to taste
• ½ cup vegetable or beef broth

Instructions

Boil the Sweet Potatoes

• Add sweet potatoes to a large pot of water and boil for 15-20 minutes, or until fork tender.
• Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.

Make the Filling

• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
• Sauté onions and garlic until soft (about 2–3 minutes).
• Add ground meat (or lentils) and cook until browned.
• Stir in carrots, peas, corn (if using), tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
• Pour in broth and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until thickened and veggies are tender.

Assemble & Bake

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Spread the filling in a baking dish. Top evenly with mashed sweet potatoes.
• Use a fork to create texture on top (helps with browning).
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden and bubbling around the edges.
• Optional: Broil for 2-3 minutes for a slightly crispy top.

what to serve with shepherd’s pie

While we love sweet potato shepherd’s pie on it’s own, we also love it with:

A super vibrant and fresh green salad with juicy lemon vinaigrette

Steamed green beans

Slices of buttery bread or crusty bread rolls

For cozy fall dinner vibes, pair with apple cider or red wine

FAQs

Q: How long to cook a frozen shepherd’s pie?
A: If you’re looking to cook your shepherd’s pie from frozen, then you’re going to want to bake it at 375°F (190°C), covered with foil, for about 60–70 minutes, or until it’s completely heated through. If you want the top to go a golden brown color then remove the foil for the last 10 minutes. As you are reheating meat please make sure it’s super hot in the middle—an internal temp of 165°F (74°C) or higher is essential.

Q: Can you put green beans in shepherd’s pie?
A: Absolutely! We mention pairing green beans as a side for this dish but they work so well chopped and cooked into sweet potato shepherds pie too! We love the additional texture and flavor they bring to this classic recipe.

Nutritional Information (Approximate)

• Protein: 22g
• Carbs: 35g
• Fats: 18g

We hope that this will become a fall fave for you!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

• 19 Delicious Pumpkin Recipe ideas
• 15 Best Bonfire Night Party Food and Drink ideas
• Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
• Pumpkin Oatmeal
• Chicken & Wild Rice Soup 

Looking for more fall recipe ideas? visit seasonal

This post shows you how to make sweet potato shepherd’s pie.