Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie With Beef

It’s hearty comfort food at its finest. Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie is a family-pleasing, meal-prep-friendly, delicious, and perfect fall recipe. You will make it again and again!

Beef and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie: A Comforting Classic with a Healthy Twist

Hearty comfort food at its finest. Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie is a family-pleasing, meal-prep-friendly, delicious, and perfect fall recipe. You will make it again and again!

When the craving for ultimate comfort food strikes, there’s nothing quite like a hearty meal of shepherd’s pie to satisfy your soul. This sweet potato shepherd’s pie recipe brings a delicious meal to your table that’s not only packed with flavor but also dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, Paleo, and Whole30 compliant. It’s a healthy twist on the traditional shepherd’s pie that the whole family can enjoy, offering all the richness of a classic dish with the added benefits of nutrient-dense ingredients.

This dish is so comforting that I love sharing this recipe. It is a standard go-to on my dinner menu, and I often repeat it. You can’t beat a dish made of hearty, wholesome comfort foods, right?

The Ingredients For Sweet Potato Sheperd’s Pie

Sweet potato Shepard Pie is made with ingredients that can be tweaked to fit what you have on hand or what sounds good to you. For example, if you don’t care for mushrooms, go ahead and omit them and add zucchini instead (or another veggie of your choosing). No grass-fed ground beef or ground lamb on hand? Use organic ground turkey instead. Or maybe you want to make it vegan-friendly? If so, you could try using lentils and mushrooms. You do YOU!

Ground Beef: Choosing grass-fed ground beef adds a layer of rich, savory flavor to the meat mixture while providing higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Ground meat is the heart of this dish, bringing that satisfying depth that defines a traditional shepherd’s pie.

• high in Vitamin B6, which reduces homocysteine in the blood, reducing risk of heart disease
• excellent source of Vitamin C, which enhances immunity, produces collagen for healthy skin & bones and promotes healthy digestion
• a good source of Vitamin D, which is essential for energy and mood as well as bone and skin health
• the rich orange color indicates that sweet potatoes are high in carotenoids like beta carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A, which promotes eye health and enhances immunity. Rich in anti-aging antioxidants (carotenoids).

Mushrooms: These earthy, umami-packed fungi are the perfect addition to the beef mixture. They add a meaty texture that complements the ground beef. Mushrooms also bring extra veggies into the dish, enhancing the nutritional profile without compromising on taste.

Carrots: Carrots add a natural sweetness and vibrant color to the meat mixture, balancing the savory notes of the ground meat and mushrooms. They’re an excellent option for adding a healthy twist to this classic recipe, ensuring that each bite is delicious and packed with vitamins.

Onion & Garlic: Aromatic and flavorful, onions and garlic are sautéed in olive oil over medium heat to create a delicious base for the beef mixture. These ingredients infuse the entire time with a depth of flavor that is unmistakably comforting.

Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes are a great addition to a pop of tangy sweetness. They bring a concentrated tomato flavor that pairs perfectly with the savory ground beef and the rich gravy sauce created by the beef broth and tomato paste.

Chili Powder & Fresh Sage: These spices elevate the flavor profile of the beef mixture. Chili powder adds a mild heat, while fresh sage brings an earthy, aromatic quality that ties all the flavors together. The combination is perfect for creating that traditional shepherd’s pie taste with a subtle twist.

Tomato Paste: This thick, concentrated tomato sauce is a key ingredient in building the rich, hearty base of the beef mixture. It enhances the flavor and contributes to the deliciously thick texture of the meat mixture.

Sweet Potatoes: The star of this sweet potato shepherd’s pie recipe, creamy mashed sweet potatoes replace the regular potatoes typically used in traditional shepherd’s pie. Their natural sweetness and vibrant orange color contrast the savory beef mixture, making them an excellent addition for those following a special diet. The sweet potato mash is fork-tender and spreads easily over the meat mixture, forming a golden brown crust when baked in a large casserole dish.

A Complete Meal

This sweet potato shepherd’s pie is more than just a delicious meal; it’s a complete meal that’s perfect for meal prep. The combination of savory ground beef, extra veggies, and the buttery mashed sweet potato topping ensures this dish is satisfying and nutritious. It’s the perfect comfort food for a weeknight dinner or to store as a freezer meal for those busy days when you need something hearty and wholesome.

For those looking to try a variation, lean ground turkey or ground lamb can be substituted for ground beef, offering a different take on this classic recipe. And if you’re catering to different taste preferences, you can always add a layer of mashed white potatoes or red potatoes alongside the sweet potatoes for a traditional shepherd’s pie experience with a twist.

Shepherd’s Pie is freezer-friendly, too.

I’m all about freezer-friendly recipes. Cooking once and eating twice (or more) is my jam! This dish freezes nicely, so you can double the recipe by making two 9×9 dishes and freezing one for a future meal. No need to do the final baking (see recipe below) with the one you freeze, as you’ll bake it the day you serve it. You can even take it a step further by portioning out servings into individual containers (I like these smaller containers). Having a freezer full of already-prepared meals makes for easy weeknight dinners.

Whether you’re freezing it for later or keeping it in the fridge, make sure it’s covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to retain its moisture and flavor. When ready to serve, reheat in a large skillet over medium-high heat or bake in the oven until the sweet potato mash is golden brown and the meat mixture is heated through.

Pair this dish with a side of green beans or a fresh salad for a complete meal that’s as nutritious as it is comforting. And for those who love to share delicious recipes, this sweet potato shepherd’s pie is sure to become a favorite that you’ll want to make again and again.

Enjoy this classic dish with a healthy twist and savor every bite of this comforting, delicious meal that’s perfect for any occasion.

LET’S GET COOKIN’

A hearty and satisfying meal for the entire family to enjoy. This dish freezes well, so you can go ahead and double the recipe and freeze half for a future meal. Having a freezer full of already prepared meals makes for easy weeknight dinners. Feel free to substitute regular potatoes for the sweet potatoes if you wish.

Hungry for More? Subscribe to get our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox! And be sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

Serve It With

Kale Salad with Pomegranate Seeds

Light, Healthy Broccoli Salad (No Mayo)

Simple Spring Salad Recipe With Fennel

Mizeria – Polish Cucumber Salad In Sour Cream Recipe

Easy Roasted Beet and Fennel Salad

______________________

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thetastesoflifeholisticblog

Yum