Last Updated on December 2, 2022 by Ellen Christian
Sweet potato shepherd’s pie is everything you love about your comfort food favorite with a creamy sweet potato topping. Try this easy recipe today.
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You are going to love this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe! Did you know sweet potatoes are high in fiber and the antioxidant beta-carotene? Sweet potatoes also have more vitamins than white potatoes. And, despite what you may think, sweet potatoes have a lower glycemic index than white potatoes. This makes them an amazing choice for anyone watching their weight or their sugar.
Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie Recipe
When I grew up, we had the traditional version of Shepherd’s Pie regularly and it was one of my favorite meals. It’s still a comfort food for me today. But, if you are trying to follow the Paleo or Keto diet (or just eat fewer carbs), white potatoes really aren’t a great option. But, thankfully you can enjoy this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe any time you like.
If you want to make this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe Whole 30 compliant, you will need to replace the butter and milk with something else. You can use ghee for the butter and coconut milk for the dairy milk. Other than that, you should not have a problem with the ingredients.
If you’d like to make this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie vegetarian, you can substitute a non-meat alternative like Beyond Meat or Gardein. You should be able to find them both in your local grocery store. As a non-vegetarian, we’ve tried the Gardein before and it’s pretty good.
So, if you enjoy your Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie with cheese, you can use Parmesan, Cheddar, Monterey Jack or even Colby on top of this right before you bake it. Or, if you want a vegetarian version, you can try the Daiya shreds. We made an allergy-friendly broccoli au gratin with it that was really delicious.
Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie Recipe variations
This Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe is so easy to modify depending on what you like and what you have on hand. If you want o to reduce the fat content, you can use ground lentils or ground turkey instead of the ground beef. If you’re not a fan of mushrooms, leave them out. It’s OK. If you’re lactose intolerant like my daughter, use ghee and coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk if you prefer.
Can you freeze Shepherd’s Pie?
Every now and then I have one of those days where I am exhausted when I get home from work. I just do not have the energy to make a healthy, homemade meal from scratch. On those days, I love being able to take something healthy out of the freezer for my family. Just make the recipe as the directions say to below, but before you bake it, freeze it. Make sure that you use a pan that can go from the freezer to the oven. And allow for extra cooking time since it will start out frozen rather than warm.
Can you use regular potatoes in this recipe?
Sure, if you don’t happen to have sweet potatoes on hand, you can use regular white potatoes in their place.
What should I serve with this recipe?
This is really a complete meal since you have a protein, starch, and vegetable. But, since there aren’t a ton of mushrooms and peas in this recipe, you might want to add a tossed salad as a side dish. Or you could try my Aeolian salad for a nice change.
So, just a few more reasons that you should eat more sweet potatoes and try this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe:
- They are high in fiber and in potassium.
- One medium sweet potato with the skin has only about 103 calories.
- Sweet potatoes are low on the glycemic index.
- They are high in beta-carotene.
- They are high in Vitamin A which is important for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin C which is great for your immune system. And, Vitamins C and E help promote good eye health.
- If you suffer from inflammation from arthritis or an immune system disorder, sweet potatoes contain choline which may be beneficial.
You’ll want to start by microwaving the sweet potato. It’s so much quicker than peeling and boiling it. Check out this post for a few tips. Or, watch the video:
If you love sweet potatoes, try my real simple sweet potato pie recipe.
Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie Recipe
You are going to love this easy sweet potato shepherds pie recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground chuck
- Onion, chopped
- 1 (8 ounce) package mushrooms, sliced
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground thyme
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- For the sweet potato topping:
- 2 to 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cooked
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter
- ½ to ¾ cup milk, depending on desired consistency
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine cooked sweet potatoes, butter, and ½ cup milk. Beat until
combined. Add additional milk if needed.
3. Then, in a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the mushrooms and onions, crumbling as it
cooks. Drain well.
4. Add remaining ingredients to the skillet with the beef, except for the mashed sweet
potatoes. Bring to a simmer.
5. Spoon mashed sweet potatoes over beef mixture. Smooth the top.
6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.
7. Sprinkle with smoked paprika or chopped parsley as garnish if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 645Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 153mgSodium: 505mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 6gSugar: 14gProtein: 51g
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.