Baked Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato Topping

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-09 · Updated 2026-05-09

A comforting layered dish featuring savory ground beef and vegetables topped with creamy mashed sweet potatoes baked to golden perfection. This British-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, layers ground beef, olive oil, yellow onion into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 2 medium, diced carrots
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 large (about 1.5 lbs) sweet potatoes
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Peel and chop 2 large sweet potatoes into chunks, then boil in salted water for 15 minutes until tender.
2. Step 2: While sweet potatoes cook, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion and 2 diced medium carrots, sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 7 minutes.
4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 cup beef broth, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 cup frozen peas, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.
5. Step 5: Drain sweet potatoes and mash with 3 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup milk, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder until smooth and creamy.
6. Step 6: Spread the beef mixture evenly in a 9x9 inch baking dish, then spoon the mashed sweet potatoes on top, smoothing with a spatula.
7. Step 7: Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until the edges are bubbly and the top is lightly golden. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.