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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.

top view of an oval dish with a Healthy sweet potato shepherd's pie
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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.
side shot of a white dish with sweet potato shepherds pie

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
side shot of a spoon full of sweet potato shepherd's pie over a dish

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.

chopped sweet potatoes in a bowl full of water

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.

sautéed meat and tomato sauce on a pan

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.

top view of an oval dish with mashed sweet potato over the meat mixture

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

What is Shepherd’s Pie?

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.

Can you freeze Shepherd’s Pie?

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.

What temperature to cook Shepherd’s pie?

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.

Can you reheat Shepherds Pie?

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.

top view up view of a sweet potato shepherd's pie in a dish with a portion taken off

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.

close up view of portion take off sweet potato shepherd's pie

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.

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oval dish with shepherd's pie made with sweet potatoes

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close up view of a portion take off sweet potato shepherd's pie from a dish

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4.83 from 128 votes

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

By: Rena
Servings: 6
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
0 minutes
Total: 1 hour
top view of an oval dish with a Healthy sweet potato shepherd's pie
A classic fall recipe made with lean turkey meat, peas, seasonings, and topped with delicious mashed sweet potatoes.

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
  • 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

Substitutes:
  • White potatoes will work well instead of sweet potatoes
  • Consider using lean ground beef or ground chicken
  • Any broth will work
Storage:
Place leftovers in a container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave when ready to eat. You can freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutritional facts:
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 328kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 25gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 329mgPotassium: 827mgFiber: 6gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 17011IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @healthyfitnessmeals or tag #healthyfitnessmeals!

About Rena Awada

Hi, I’m Rena! Welcome to my blog. I am here to help you prepare delicious, light, fresh meals that your whole family will love!

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4.83 from 128 votes (106 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




49 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    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.

  2. 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.

  3. 5 stars
    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

  4. 4 stars
    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.