Beef and Vegemite Shepherd's Pie with Sweet Potato Topping

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-11 · Updated 2026-07-11

A comforting shepherd’s pie combining savory beef and vegetables with a rich Vegemite-infused gravy, topped with mashed sweet potatoes. This australian-inspired beef ready in about 70 minutes layers ground beef, medium onion, diced, medium carrots, diced 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 450 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
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 tbsp Vegemite
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 tsp, divided salt
• 1 tsp, divided black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Boil 2 large peeled and cubed sweet potatoes in salted water (1 tsp salt) for 15 minutes until tender. Drain and mash with 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/4 cup milk, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until smooth. Set aside.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 diced onion, 2 diced carrots, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef to the vegetables and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, for 6-7 minutes until browned.
4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, cooking for 2 minutes until the flour is lightly toasted.
5. Step 5: Gradually pour in 1 1/2 cups beef broth while stirring, then add 1 tbsp Vegemite and 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.
6. Step 6: Stir in 1 cup frozen peas, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Remove from heat.
7. Step 7: Transfer beef mixture to a 9-inch baking dish and spread evenly. Top with the sweet potato mash, smoothing with a spatula.
8. Step 8: Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbling. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.