Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

This Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie gives the classic dish a sweet twist! Packed with hearty vegetables and your choice of beef, bison or venison.

There is nothing better than a cozy, hearty casserole that you can make ahead of time, store in the freezer, or serve up immediately to a large crowd. This Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie is the perfect balance of sweet and savory and we love serving it up for a hearty weeknight dinner. My husband is OBSESSED with Shepherd’s Pie and I love making something with a bit of a twist to keep things fun.

You know we’re big fans of cozy food like my Award Winning Chili, some homemade Venison Stew, or my Venison Pie this time of year. Plus, if you’re looking for some simple soups, you have to check out my Venison Hamburger Soup or my Creamy Chicken Corn Soup.

This Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe gives the classic dish a sweet and savory twist that your family will love! Combined with tender, seasoned ground meat (beef, bison, or venison work great), topped with a fluffy, golden layer of mashed sweet potatoes. It’s packed with hearty vegetables like carrots, peas, and onions, making it a filling and nutritious meal perfect for any day of the week (and makes for the perfect meal prep meal). This combo of the rich meat filling and the naturally sweet potatoes brings a fresh take to the comfort food we all know and love.

Plus, it’s an absolute lifesaver for busy families! You can double or triple the recipe and freeze for those hectic back-to-school evenings. I’m prepping meals for baby #2 and I have one of these ready for us in the freezer! Simply thaw in the fridge overnight or just pop it directly in the oven, and dinner’s ready with minimal fuss + cleanup.

This Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie is sure to become a go-to in your kitchen, offering warmth, nutrition, and a whole lot of flavor as summer winds down and schedules pick up!

WHAT IS SHEPHERDS PIE?

Shepherd’s pie is a classic comfort food dish made with a savory filling of ground meat (traditionally ground lamb, but beef is often used as well, in this case, we are using venison) and vegetables, topped with a layer of mashed potatoes. The dish is baked until the potatoes form a golden, crispy crust. The filling typically includes vegetables like onions, carrots, peas, mushrooms (I leave these out for my family), and sometimes celery, all cooked in a flavorful gravy or sauce.

INGREDIENTS AND KITCHEN TOOLS

• Butter
• Yellow onion
• Carrots
• Celery
• Ground venison (bison or beef will also work)
• Garlic cloves
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Dried thyme
• Ground sage
• Tomato paste
• Dark beer, like Guinness or a stout
• Apple cider vinegar 
• Frozen peas
• Sweet potatoes
• Milk
• Ground cinnamon 
• Ground nutmeg (fresh if you have it)
• Optional – fresh sage, 2 Tbsp. butter – for crispy sage

Kitchen tools:

When combining your mixture, you’ll want a large skillet. Also, make sure you have a large pot to boil your potatoes in. A nice large cutting board and a sharp knife for chopping veggies. A stand mixer to easily mash your potatoes, but a hand mixer will also work. Lastly, you’ll want a nice large casserole dish to bake your Shepherd’s Pie in.

STEP BY STEP

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400F. 

Step 2: Start by heating the 1 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Also, put a large pot of water on to boil the sweet potatoes in. 

Step 3: Add the diced onion, carrots and celery to the skillet and sauté until they start to soften, which takes about 8 minutes. 

Step 4: Then add the ground venison and brown, this takes about 10 minutes. Next add the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of the sea salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, dried thyme, and sage. Saute everything for 2 additional minutes to let the spices release their flavor. 

Step 5: Add the beer and cider vinegar and allow the alcohol to cook off, this takes about 5 minutes. Finally, stir in the tomato paste. 

Step 6: Bring the mixture to a boil and turn it down to simmer for 10-15 minutes while you prepare the sweet potatoes. When you’re ready to assemble the dish, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the frozen peas. 

Step 7: When your water is boiling, cube the potatoes and carefully add them to the pot. Boil them for about 15 minutes, you want them to be nice and soft. 

Step 8: Drain and add the potatoes to a large bowl or the bowl of a standing mixer. Start whipping the potatoes with a standing or handheld mixer (or by hand) and add in the remaining butter. Gradually add the milk until you get the texture you want. I like my potatoes to be a little thinner than mashed potatoes for this dish. It helps the topping get nice and crispy. 

Step 9: Spoon the meat filling into a greased baking dish, and then top with the whipped sweet potato topping. Smooth the sweet potatoes out into an even layer. 

Step 10: Bake the Shepherd’s Pie for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. 

Step 11: To top with some crispy sage, allow the two tablespoons of butter to get hot in a small saucepan over medium heat. Then add the sage for 2-3 minutes until it turns fragrant and darker in color. Remove from the butter and set on a towel to drain. 

Step 12: Top the pie with the sage and serve!

HOW TO SERVE

This recipe has everything you need in one dish. Veggies, starch and protein. Personally, I love adding the special touch of the crispy sage, but if you are crunched for time, it isn’t necessary. You can also serve with a simple side salad for a fresh touch.

STORING AND REHEATING

This recipe stores great. You can portion out in individual airtight containers and refrigerate for 3-5 days. You can freeze this as well.

I recommend doubling the recipe, freezing one in a foil pan, and enjoying one immediately. You’ll want to assemble your casserole, allow it to cool to room temperature, cover it, and place it in the freezer. When you’re ready to eat, let it thaw in the fridge overnight and bake exactly to the recipe directions, if you’re baking from frozen, double the cooking time until it is thawed, hot, and bubbly. It’s the perfect freezer meal.

OTHER VENISON RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• Venison Shepherd’s Pie
• Venison Hamburger Soup
• The Best Ever Venison Stew
• Venison Marry Me Meatballs
• Venison Pie

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