Savory ground beef is cooked with vegetables in a savory gravy and topped with a cheesy sweet potato mash for a homey and comforting main dish!
Course Main Course
Cuisine English, Irish
Keyword clean shepard's pie, gluten free shepards pie, shepard's pie, shepard's pie orgin, shepard's pie recipe
Prep Time 30 minutesminutes
Cook Time 45 minutesminutes
Servings 6
Calories 463kcal
Author Tessa the Domestic Diva
Ingredients
For the topping:
2mediumsweet potatoes1.5-2 pounds worth. I like Garnet or Jewell varieties, peeled and 2"dice. May use yellow or russet potatoes too, or any combo of the varieties!
1/2cupsharp cheddar cheeseor favorite dairy free cheese shreds like Daiya
1/2teaspoongarlic powderoptional. Add 1 teaspoon if you like more garlic flavor.
non-dairy unsweetened milkthis is ONLY necessary if using more starchy russet or yellow potatoes. Add enough milk to create a smooth and creamy mashed potato. Start with 1/2 cup.
For the filling:
1.5poundsground beefor lamb
1mediumyellow oniondiced
4clovesgarlicminced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 tablespoonsrice flouror any flour, this is just for thickening. Cassava for Whole30 and Paleo. 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum for keto.
Place the diced sweet potatoes (or whatever potatoes you've selected) in a pot of fresh salted water and bring to a boil. Cook until under fork tender and mashable. Apx 15-20 minutes. Remove and do the same with the yellow potatoes if you are using them.
Beef & Vegetable Filling
Meanwhile...sauté the ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until lightly browned; pour off the fat if desired; return the skillet to the stove. Stir in rice flour. Stir in the ketchup, broth, herbs, and vinegar. Season to taste with sea salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer to thicken, then turn off.
Sweet Potato Mash
Drain the cooked sweet potatoes in a colander and place in a food processor...this is a little trick to make the sweet potatoes have an extra creamy mouth-feel with out lots of fat...it gives you the feeling like you are having a really rich cheesy topping! Mix in cheese and allowed butter and process for a minute or two until silky smooth (or mash it all together by hand if you want to forgo this step).
Mashed Potato Topping
Alternately, if using regular potatoes, mash them with butter and milk by HAND, using a hand masher. Unlike sweet potatoes, you can not process these or you will have some very gummy mash on your hands! You can mix in the cheese here too! Mash with enough preferred milk to create a smooth and creamy mashed potato. Starchier potatoes will require more milk, just keep going until it's nice a creamy and not super thick. Season with sea salt, ground pepper, garlic powder.
Layer the beef and veggie mixture in a casserole or baking dish.
Top with the mashed sweet potatoes, or the mashed cheesy potato.
Bake in the center of a preheated oven until bubbling and hot- about 25 minutes.