This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe is healthy, easy to make, and so scrumptious. The perfect fall recipe and the ultimate comfort food that can be on your dinner table in no time.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Classic Shepherd’s Pie is traditionally made with lamb meat. Another great option would be to use lean ground meat instead of lamb. But for our super healthy and leaner option, this healthy shepherd’s pie recipe is made with lean ground turkey, peas, and a variety of spices and then topped with a layer of fluffy mashed sweet potatoes. This dish is gluten-free and is an ultimate comfort food that is specially made during St. Patrick’s but can be enjoyed all year long!
Want to make a vegetarian version of Shepherd’s pie? Then check my Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie recipe.
Why I love this dish
- Filling: This shepherd’s pie is so filling and a well rounded meal with lean protein and fiber to keep you full and satisfied for a while.
- Delicious: Super tasty and packed with warm spiced flavors to awaken your taste buds. ts one of those meals that you make that has its unique taste that you crave after you wait a while to remake.
- Healthy: This shepherd’s pie is made healthier by using lean ground turkey and sweet potatoes as the topping instead of regular potatoes. This dish is perfect for those who meal prep too.
- Easy to make: Don’t overthink this dish. It is really not that hard to make. The final product is just so rewarding and works great as leftovers so you can enjoy it for a few days.
Ingredients you will need
- Sweet Potatoes peeled and chopped. Not sure how? Checkout this post on How to Cut sweet potatoes.
- Italian Seasoning Blend: if you don’t have any you can make a homemade Italian Seasoning.
- Kosher Salt or Sea salt and pepper, to taste
- Olive Oil: you may also use avocado oil or whatever oil you normally cook with.
- Medium Yellow Onion: you may also use white sweet onions
- Lean Ground Turkey Meat: don’t like turkey? use lean ground meat.
- Tomato Paste: or use tomato sauce
- Garlic Cloves: do use fresh garlic cloves instead of garlic powder for the best flavor.
- Dried Oregano: fresh would be even better.
- Smoked Paprika: don’t have smoked? use any paprika you have on hand. But I love smoked.
- Chicken or Beef Broth/stock. Either one will work
- Frozen Peas or any other veggies like corn, carrots, defrosted
HOW TO MAKE SHEPHERD’S PIE
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the sweet potatoes in a large saucepan with just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender about 10 minutes.
Drain and mash, then season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning blend.
Heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions for 3-4 minutes, then stir in the garlic and cook for a minute or so. Add the ground meat and cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until the meat is cooked through.
Stir in the tomato paste, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper, and broth.
Simmer for a few minutes then stir in the peas or any other veggies you would like to use. Spread the meat mixture into a 2-quart baking dish. Add mashed sweet potato mixture on top and spread it evenly all the way to the sides.
Bake until the potatoes are just starting to brown, about 25-30 minutes. Rest, then serve and enjoy!
Recipe notes and Tips
- Don’t like sweet potatoes? Use regular potatoes like Gold potatoes. You can even make a low-carb version by blending cooked cauliflower. That will act just like any potato.
- You can cook in a cast iron skillet instead of a baking casserole dish.
- Swap the veggies: if you don’t like peas, use any veggies of your choice. Chopped green beans would be another great option.
- Mash your potatoes using a potato masher, a food processor or simply use a form by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Shepherd’s pie is an Irish dish made with ground lamb, tomato sauce base or broth, veggies like peas and carrots, and a crust of mashed potatoes. It is sometimes topped with a layer of cheese. Shepherd’s pie is also referred to as cottage pie when ground beef is used instead of lamb. There are many variations of this recipe.
You can freeze already cooked and baked shepherd’s pie or make it ahead and right before you bake, you can freeze it until the day you are ready to serve it. Wrap it tightly to prevent freezer burns. Freeze for up to one month. Simply remove it from the freezer a day before and allow it to thaw. Then place in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes.
It is best to cook your shepherd’s pie in the oven. Baking your shepherd’s pie anywhere between 350-400 F would be an ideal temperature.
Two ways to reheat shepherd’s pie. You may either reheat individual servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Or you may reheat it in the oven by baking it again at about 350 F for about 20-25 minutes.
HOW TO LAYER SHEPHERD’S PIE
Layering is simple. You need the bottom layer to be the meat and veggie filling, then top that with a layer of whatever potato you are using. Top layer options: mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, or cauliflower mash for a low-carb option! If you want to make this low-carb, replace the sweet potato layer with this Cauliflower Mash.
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: Store leftover sweet potato shepherd pie in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Shepherd’s pie is freezer-freiendly. You can also place it in a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: You can reheat leftovers two ways. Either reheat individual servings of your shepherd’s pie in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until it is heated through, or you may reheat it in the oven by baking it again at about 350 F for about 20 minutes.
Sweet potato recipes you may also like
- Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Roasted Smoked Sweet Potatoes
- Pumpkin Spice Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Pancakes
- Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
- Sweet Potato Chili
- Baked Smashed Sweet Potatoes
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Recipes you may Also like
- French Onion Pasta
- Shrimp Creole Recipe
- Creamy Tuscan Salmon
- Creamy Vegetable Soup
- Beef Noodle Soup
- Turkey Pumpkin Chili
- Keto ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Remember to subscribe to my NEWSLETTER for free and receive recipes like this Healthy Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie Recipe delivered right to your inbox!
Finally, if you try a recipe and you like it, please use my hashtag #healthyfitnessmeals on INSTAGRAM for a chance to be featured! FOLLOW Healthy Fitness Meals on FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER for all of my latest blog posts and recipes.
Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
Equipment
- Non Stick Frying Pan
- baking dish
- Chef's knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs Sweet Potatoes , peeled and chopped
- ½ Tsp Italian Seasoning Blend
- Sea salt and pepper, to taste
The Filling:
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion, diced
- 1½ lbs Lean Turkey Meat
- 2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
- 3-4 Garlic Cloves, minced
- ½ Tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 Cup Chicken or Beef Broth
- 1 Cup Frozen Peas , or any other veggies like corn, carrots, defrosted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F
- Place the sweet potatoes in a large saucepan with just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender. About 10 minutes.
- Drain and mash, then season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning blend.
- Heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions for 3-4 minutes, then stir in the garlic and cook for a minute or so.
- Add the ground meat and cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until the meat is cooked through.
- Stir in the tomato paste, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper, and broth. Simmer for a few minutes until the liquid is reduced, then stir in the peas.
- Spread the meat mixture into a 2-quart baking dish. Add mashed potatoes on top and spread it evenly all the way to the sides.
- Bake until the potatoes are just starting to brown, about 25-30 minutes. Rest, then serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- White potatoes will work well instead of sweet potatoes
- Consider using lean ground beef or ground chicken
- Any broth will work
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So healthy and delicious. Thank you!
Thanks, Donna.
Delicious and making it again for sure. Easy peasy recipe, yummy!! Everyone loved it.
Thanks for the feedback Ann. Really appreciate it and am glad everyone loved it.
Hi Rena,
I made this for dinner tonight and both my husband and I loved it. I made just a couple of changes but it turned out fabulous and I will be making this often. I added a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the filling mix because my husband likes a little heat and for the sweet potatoes, I added 2 Tbsp reduced fat cream cheese and 2 tablespoons of 1/2 and 1/2, to make them a little more creamy. Yummy! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Hi Kelli. Thanks for the feedback and glad you guys loved it.
I wish I had pulled a similar recipe without smoked paprika. Never have I had a shepard’s pie with it. Not good. But I will eat it anyway.
You never mention when to add the frozen peas
Hi Katie. It is in step 6
Super easy, healthy, and flavorful. It’s a staple in my house.
Thank you! Glad you loved it
This was absolutely delicious!
This recipe is SO SO delicious! I am Making it for the second time tonight but with ground beef. I cannot wait until it’s finished! It is a great family meal. Plus my “picky eater” 3year old son approves! Definitely saved this in my favorites! Thank you @healthyfitnessmeals
It was pretty tasteless so for me, there weren’t enough seasoning
I added more tomato, soy sauce, chilli, and now it tastes better
Also I felt we used a lot of pans so I would prefer in the slow cooker.
How much salt would be a happy medium for the sweet potatoes? 1/2 tsp? 1 tsp?
Thanks!
would say 1 tsp for that amount