Healthy and hearty sweet potato Shepherd’s pie cooked and baked in a cast iron skillet. Beef sautéd with fresh veggies, topped with a creamy sweet potato mash. Bring it all together by finishing it up in the oven.
We are in the heart of fall here in Western Washington and that typically means rain, rain and yup more rain. While the weather keeps us mostly inside we still like to get out as much as we can. This means we need all the warming comfort food we can handle.
While I love a good soup, and they are typically the majority of our menu, a good skillet dish is our second go to.
This cast iron sweet potato Shepherd’s pie is one to add to your list! It’s full of veggies cooked with ground meat topped with a creamy sweet potato mash. I feel really good about serving my kids this dish especially with the substitution of a russet potato with sweet potatoes.
What if I Don’t Have a Cast Iron Skillet?
No need to have a cast iron skillet. This dish will work with any stove to oven safe skillet. As long as it is oven safe and deep enough it will still work great!
If you are in the market for a good cast iron this 15″ lodge is the most used pan in our house. It’s size can take on just about any dish.
Another option would be to transfer the beef and veggie mix to a baking dish when done and bake it that way. Cooking in a skillet is just easier and less dishes to do later.
How to make Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
Prepare Sweet Potatoes
Start out by dicing and boiling sweet potatoes in a large stock pot. Once they are tender and a fork can easily pierce it, drain and add to a large bowl.
Add in all other ingredients and mix with hand mixer until the lumps are gone and it’s creamy and smooth. Set aside.
Make the Beef and Veggie Mix
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Saute Onions
While the sweet potatoes are boiling, warm a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
Add in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and saute onions until soft
3. Add Carrots and Celery
Cook just until they start to soften.
4. Brown Meat
Add in ground meat and cook until completely brown.
Note: I typically use ground venison in most of my meat dishes. If you are looking for a good venison recipe give this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie a try. Venison typically has a slightly “gamey” taste to it but in this dish there is enough seasoning, tomato paste, and other ingredients to really compliment the flavor. We are use to the flavor of venison, but some may not be and this is a great recipe if you’re just getting started cooking with venison.
5. Add in garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant
6. Add peas, liquid and seasonings
Add in frozen peas, water, beef bouillon, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme. Mix all together and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and allow to cook until the liquid reduces down. About 5 min.
7. Tomato Paste
Add in tomato paste and mix. Bring back to temp over medium heat. About another 5 min
8. Assemble and Bake
Spread the sweet potatoes on top of the meat and veggie mix, and sprinkle with paprika.
Transfer to oven for 20-25 min or until bubbly.
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The cast iron I used in the recipe is a 15″ Lodge. It is the most used cast iron pan in my house. Although it’s very heavy it gets just about every job done.
Would love to hear if you made this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie. Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @dirt.dough.
Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
Sweet Potato Mash
- 2 lbs Sweet Potatoes Peeled and Diced in Cubes
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 tsp Salt more to taste
- Pepper to taste
Beef and Veggie Mix
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Onion Diced
- 2 Carrots Peeled and Diced
- 3 Stalks of Celery Diced
- 1.5 lbs Ground Beef
- 3 Cloves Garlic Minced or Pressed
- 1 Cup Frozen Peas
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 tsp beef bouillon paste Could substitute bouillon paste and water for 1 cup of beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tsp Salt
- Pepper to Taste
- 1.5 tsp Dried Rosemary
- 1 tsp Dried Thyme
- 6 oz Tomato Paste
- Paprika To Garnish
Instructions
Sweet Potatoes
- Start off by peeling and dicing sweet potatoes into 2" cubes
- Fill a Large stock pot with water and bring to a boil
- Add a couple tablespoons of salt to the water and mix until dissolved. Add in potatoes and boil until tender. A fork should be able to easy pierce the potatoes.
- Once cooked through transfer to a large mixing bowl and with a hand mixer add in all the other ingredients and whip until lumps are gone. Set Aside.
Beef and Veggie Mix
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- While the potatoes are cooking prepare the meat and veggie mix in a large oven safe skillet.
- Over medium heat add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet.
- Add in onion and sauté until soft. About 6-8 min
- Add in carrots and celery and cook for 2-3 more minutes. Or until they start to soften.
- Add in beef and cook until completely browned.
- Add in garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant
- Add in frozen peas, water, beef bouillon, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme. Mix all together and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and allow to cook until the liquid reduces down. About 5 min.
- Add in tomato paste and mix. Bring back to temp over medium heat. About another 5 min
- Spread the sweet potatoes on top of the meat and veggie mix, sprinkle with paprika and transfer to oven for 20-25 min or until bubbly.
- Serve Warm
Tallia
This looks really good! I love how many veggies it has and that it can all be done in a skillet. That’s my favorite way to cook for sure!
Kristin
Thank you! It really is one of our favorites. I love all the veggies to and that there is enough other stuff so my kids eat all of it. And yes only getting one dish dirty is a bonus!
Shelly
Yum! This looks AMAZING!! Can’t wait to give it a go!
Kristin
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.
Michelle
This recipe looks so easy and so hearty, it’s the perfect healthy meal for winter!
Kristin
Thank you!
Alexa Gibbons
That photo of the sweet potatoes with the butter makes me drool. I’ve never tried this before but it looks delicious!
Kristin
Thank you! Makes me drool to. It’s one of our favorite fall dinners.
Megan
Wow! This looks amazing! Love that you used sweet potatoes instead of the usual!
Kristin
Thank you! I do to. My kids actually like to so thats always a win.
Don
First time attempting a Shepherd’s pie. It was easy to follow the recipe and turned out really good! Everyone loved it. Healthy and filling. Will be cooking this more in the future.