Rustic Cottage Pie with Sweet Potato Mash

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-29 · Updated 2026-06-29

Comforting cottage pie layered with savory ground beef and vegetables, topped with creamy mashed sweet potatoes. 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 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 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 2 medium, diced carrots
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 large (about 1.5 lb) sweet potatoes
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Peel and chop 2 large sweet potatoes into 1-inch chunks. Place in a pot of salted water, bring to a boil, and cook for 15 minutes until tender. Drain and mash with 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/4 cup milk, and 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
2. Step 2: Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 2 diced medium carrots, sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1/2 cup beef broth, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 cup frozen peas, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens.
5. Step 5: Transfer the beef and vegetable mixture into an 8x8-inch baking dish. Evenly spread the mashed sweet potatoes on top, smoothing with a spatula.
6. Step 6: Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until the edges are bubbly and the sweet potato topping is slightly golden. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.