Shepherd's Pie with Sweet Potato Mash

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-08 · Updated 2026-05-08

A comforting shepherd's pie featuring rich ground beef and vegetables topped with a vibrant sweet potato mash for a colorful twist. This british-inspired beef ready in about 60 minutes layers ground beef, olive oil, medium, diced 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 520 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
• 3/4 cup frozen peas
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 2 large, peeled and cubed sweet potatoes
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp, divided salt
• 1/2 tsp, divided black pepper
• 1 tsp, chopped fresh thyme

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 2 large peeled and cubed sweet potatoes in a large pot of salted water (1/2 tsp salt) and bring to a boil. Cook for 15 minutes until tender, then drain.
2. Step 2: While potatoes cook, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion, 2 diced medium carrots, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes, breaking up meat with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink.
4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 cup beef broth, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 3/4 cup frozen peas, 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 8 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the meat.
5. Step 5: Mash the drained sweet potatoes with 3 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup milk, and remaining 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper until smooth and creamy.
6. Step 6: Transfer the beef mixture to a 9x9-inch baking dish and spread evenly. Top with the sweet potato mash, smoothing with a spatula.
7. Step 7: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until the top is lightly golden and the filling is bubbling. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.