Name: Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie
Ingredients: 4 pounds sweet potato; 2 tbsp unsalted butter; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 cup yellow onions, chopped small; 2 large cloves garlic, smashed; 1 cup celery, chopped small; 1 cup carrots, sliced thin; 2 pounds lean ground beef; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp dried thyme; 2 tbsp unsalted butter; 1 tbsp white all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup heavy cream; 1 cup beef stalk; 1/2 cup peas

This Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie is a twist on the classic Shepherds Pie, topped with mashed sweet potatoes. An easy, winter dinner idea and a great idea for Thanksgiving leftovers.

Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie is not exclusively a recipe you make with Thanksgiving leftovers. It’s a cozy, easy dinner idea for a chilly winter night and also a St. Patrick’s Day favorite. But, if you find yourself with bunch of leftover mashed sweet potatoes it’s a no-brainer Thanksgiving Leftover recipe!

Shepherds Pie actually gets it’s roots in being a leftover meal, historically it was made as a way to use up extra meat. In this recipe we combine ground beef with vegetables and a light cream sauce that serves as the pie filling. This Shepherds Pie is topped with a thick layer of mashed sweet potatoes, a twist from the classic which uses regular mashed potatoes.

How to make Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie

Start by prepping the sweet potatoes. If you have leftover mashed sweet potatoes you are a step ahead! If not, bake sweet potatoes until tender, peel them and then mash with butter and salt.

Sauté the vegetables and then brown the meat. Then make the beef cream sauce in a small sauce pan. Mix the cream sauce in the with meat and vegetables. Transfer the mixture to a large baking dish. Top the pie with a thick layer of mashed sweet potatoes. The last step is browning the potatoes under the broiler, keep an eye on them so they don’t burn!

If you wish, you can make fun designs in the sweet potatoes like I did. Use a tooth pick to draw swirls into the sweet potato before putting it in the oven to broil.

Is Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie a Make-Ahead Meal?

You can make this dish up to 3 days before you want to serve it. Make as directed, but skip the step where you broil the potatoes. Cool and store wrapped in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat it, place in the oven covered at 350°F for 25-30 minutes to warm through, then remove the cover and broil for 2-4 minutes to brown the potatoes.

Can I freeze Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie?

Absolutely! Make as directed, but skip the step where you broil the potato. Cool and wrap tightly to freeze. When you want to eat it, defrost in the refrigerator and then follow the re-heat instructions above.

Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie

Author: Sprinkles & Sea Salt

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Description

This Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie is a twist on the classic Shepherds Pie, topped with mashed sweet potatoes. An easy, winter dinner idea and a great idea for Thanksgiving leftovers.

Ingredients

Scale

Mashed Sweet Potatoes*

4 pounds sweet potato

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 tsp salt

Shepherds Pie Filling

1 tbsp olive oil

1 cup yellow onions, chopped small

2 large cloves garlic, smashed

1 cup celery, chopped small

1 cup carrots, sliced thin

2 pounds lean ground beef

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp dried thyme

2 tbsp unsalted butter

1 tbsp white all-purpose flour

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 cup beef stalk

1/2 cup peas

Instructions

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Preheat oven to 425ºF

Prick the sweet potatoes all over with a fork

Lay the potatoes on a baking sheet

Bake for 50-60 minutes until soft through the middle

When cool enough to handle, peel the skin off of the potatoes

Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes, mash until all the potatoes are broken up

Add in the butter and salt

Continue to mash until the butter is melted and potatoes are smooth, set aside

Shepherds Pie Filling

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat

Add the onions, sauté about 2 minutes

Add the garlic, celery and carrots, sauté 3-4 minutes

Remove vegetable from skillet, set aside in a large bowl

Put the skillet back on the burner and add the ground beef

Season beef with salt, onion powder and thyme

Working with a wooden spoon, sauté until the meat browns

Transfer the beef into a strainer to get rid of any excess oil, then add the beef in with the vegetables

In a small sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat

Add in the flour, working with a wooden spoon, mix the flour in with the melted butter

Slowly add the heavy cream, whisking to form a roux

Slowly pour in the beef broth, mix

Allow the mixture to come to a boil, then reduce to a simmer

Simmer for 5 minutes

Pour the sauce over the beef and vegetables in the large bowl, mix to coat

Mix in the peas

Transfer the beef mixture to a large baking dish

Top with an even layer of mashed sweet potatoes, about 1/2″ thick

Use a tooth pick to draw swirls in the sweet potatoes (optional)

Put the baking dish under the broiler to brown the potatoes for 2-4 minutes, checking frequently so they do not burn

Serve hot

Notes

*If you have leftover mashed sweet potatoes use those, you will need to warm them up in the microwave before spreading them on top of the pie

Keywords: #sweetpotatoshepherdspie, #thanksgivingleftovers, #easydinnerideas

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If you make this Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie, let me know how you like it! Leave a comment here and/or give it a star rating! If you snap a photo I’d love to see it – share it over on Instagram and tag me @sprinklesandseasalt!