Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potatoes Recipe

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A hearty and healthy Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potatoes. A nourishing and filling meal full of veggies, protein, potatoes, and more. Get ready for the coziest meal of the season!

an overhead shot of a baking dish filled with sweet potato shepherd's pie

What is Shepherd’s Pie?

Shepherd’s Pie is a big, warm food hug right on your plate. It’s a classic British dish that traditionally features ground or minced meat (usually ground lamb or ground beef) cooked up with onions, carrots, and peas in a yummy, savory gravy. Then, the veggie and meat mixture is topped with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes that and baked to golden perfection.

My version is just as hearty, delicious, and huggable, except it’s made with veggie-forward ingredients and SWEET POTATO! Yep, instead of your traditional russet potato, I opted for creamy mashed sweet potatoes, which gives this savory dish a hint of sweetness. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There are few meals in my mind that are cozier than Shepherd’s Pie, besides this Vegan Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe, that is! This is my meatless, dairy-free take on a classic winter dish, and the best part is that it’s both delicious and nutritious.

Shepherd’s Pie is comfort food to the max! As is, it’s a pretty balanced meal, with a source of protein variety, veggies, and complex carbohydrates thanks to sweet potato.

The dish is fairly easy to veganize, and I’ll provide a few different options because I know some folks prefer an all-veggie dish, some prefer tofu, and some prefer faux meats. It’s a fairly straightforward recipe in two parts–mashed sweet potato and a veggie filling.

This Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potatoes is vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free, and can also be made oil-free.

shepherd's pie with sweet potatoes in a white baking dish with a spoon resting on the side

Ingredient Notes

  • Potatoes → I opted to use white sweet potatoes, but you can use orange sweet potatoes or russet potatoes if you prefer a more classic pie.
  • Frozen veggies → I like a blend of frozen peas, corn, and carrots, but you could also add green beans. If you prefer to use fresh veggie ingredients, just be sure to sauté as needed to cook through.
  • Mushrooms → In place of ground beef, roughly processed mushrooms create an umami, meaty texture and add lots of flavour to the filling. I like to use a mix of shiitake and button mushrooms.
  • Plant protein → On top of the mushrooms, adding a plant protein like tofu, lentils, or faux meat makes the dish a high-protein meal. You can opt to leave this out if you prefer.
  • Vegetable broth → I highly recommend a “beef flavoured” vegetable bouillon to replicate what is typically a beefy filling but feel free to use any vegetable broth you like!
  • Fresh herbs → The standard rosemary, thyme, and sage take the filling to the next flavour level!
  • Mirepoix → As always, our flavor builders, shallot, garlic, and celery, create the base for our delicious filling.
  • Tomato paste
  • Arrowroot starch → Or any gluten-free flour will work. 
  • Salt and Black pepper → To taste.

How to Make Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potatoes

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat while you prepare your potatoes. Remove skins, and chop into chunks.
  2. Once water is boiling, add potato chunks and cook until fork tender, about 8-10 minutes.
  3. Drain and transfer potatoes into a large bowl, then mash until smooth using a potato masher or fork.
  4. Stir in plant milk as needed to help thin, and season lightly with salt and pepper. You want the potatoes to be smooth enough to spread.
  5. In a large saucepan or large skillet over medium heat, sauté shallot, celery, garlic, and fresh herbs in avocado oil or vegetable broth until fragrant and tender. Add tomato paste, arrowroot starch, frozen vegetables, mushrooms, and plant protein (if using) and sauté until evenly combined.
  6. Add vegetable broth and simmer until the mixture thickens about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Transfer the filling to an oven-safe casserole dish or Dutch oven and spread the mashed potato mixture on top in an even layer.
  8. Using a fork, gently score lines into the potato layer, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Broil for 10-15 minutes until the filling bubbles and the potato layer is lightly golden brown.
a cozy dish topped with mashed potatoes next to a plate filled with veggies and sweet potatoes.

Secrets to Success

  • To make this dish in a time-efficient way, I recommend starting with boiling the potatoes and preparing the filling while they’re boiling. The filling and potatoes should be ready around the same time, and you can then mash and top your filling with potato.
  • If you’d like to take your dish to the next level, mash your potato with a little bit of vegan butter to fluff. You can also get creative with your potato pattern by piping your potato filling onto the dish or scoring in different patterns.

Serving Tips

  • Serve warm in a bowl or on a plate with a side salad or by itself. Because it’s made with protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates, it’s actually a complete meal on its own. That’s right, no sides needed!

Storage Tips

  • Store leftover sweet potato shepherd’s pie in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Reheat individual portions and enjoy this cozy dish! 

Recipe FAQs

What is the difference between shepherd’s pie and cottage pie?

Fun fact: When it’s made with lamb, it’s called Shepherd’s Pie. But if it’s made with beef, it’s called Cottage Pie. 

More Cozy Recipes

Sweet Potato Dessert Boats

Holiday Harvest Rice

Lemon & Herb Crusted Tofu Steaks

Cornbread Muffins

Creamy Quinoa Mushroom Bake

If you try this recipe out, tag me on Instagram @veggiekins so I can see your delicious re-creations and feature them! As always, I love it when you share your reviews in the comments below, and if you make any fun substitutions, let me know how it worked out below, too.

Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potatoes Recipe

4.50 from 2 votes
Servings: 5 -6 servings
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
A hearty and healthy Shepherd's Pie with Sweet Potatoes. A nourishing and filling meal full of veggies, protein, potatoes, and more. Get ready for the coziest meal of the season!

Ingredients 

  • 3 large potatoes white sweet or russet
  • 1/2 cup celery finely minced
  • 2 shallots finely minced
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas and carrots
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn
  • 3-4 cups mushrooms pulsed gently in a food processor
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp arrowroot starch or flour of choice
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary
  • 1 tbsp fresh sage
  • 3/4 cup vegetable broth I like this vegan beef-flavoured bouillon, more as needed
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • unsweetened plant milk as needed
  • optional
  • 8 oz extra firm pressed tofu brown/green lentils or vegan ground “beef”

Instructions 

  • Prepare potatoes
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you prepare your potatoes. Remove skins, and chop into chunks.
  • Once water is boiling, add potato chunks and cook until fork tender, about 8-10 minutes.
  • Strain and transfer potatoes into a large bowl, then mash until smooth using a potato masher or fork.
  • Add plant milk as needed to help then, and season lightly with salt and pepper. You want the potatoes to be smooth enough to spread.
  • Prepare filling
  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté shallot, celery, garlic and fresh herbs in oil or vegetable broth until fragrant and tender. Add tomato paste, arrowroot starch, frozen vegetables, mushrooms and plant protein (if using) and sauté until evenly combined.
  • Add vegetable broth and simmer until the mixture thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Assembling the pie
  • Transfer filling into an oven safe baking dish or dutch oven and spread mashed potato mixture on top in an even layer.
  • Using a fork, gently score lines into the potato layer, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Broil for 10-15 minutes until filling is bubbling and potato layer is lightly golden brown.

Video

@veggiekins

Reply to @cherrychapst1ckk Cozy & hearty 🥣 full recipe link in comments! #vegan #vegantiktok #cozyathome #hellowinter #comfortfood #cooking #nyc

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Notes

Secrets to Success

  • To make this dish in a time-efficient way, I recommend starting with boiling the potatoes and preparing the filling while they’re boiling. The filling and potatoes should be ready around the same time, and you can then mash and top your filling with potato.
  • If you’d like to take your dish to the next level, mash your potato with a little bit of vegan butter to fluff. You can also get creative with your potato pattern by piping your potato filling onto the dish or scoring in different patterns.

Serving Tips

  • Serve warm in a bowl or on a plate with a side salad or by itself. Because it’s made with protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates, it’s actually a complete meal on its own. That’s right, no sides needed!

Storage Tips

  • Store leftover sweet potato shepherd’s pie in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Reheat individual portions and enjoy this cozy dish! 

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

Did you make this recipe?Tag @veggiekins on Instagram and hashtag it with #veggiekins

This post may contain affiliate links. 

About Remy

Hi there, I’m Remy! Welcome to Veggiekins Blog, home to nourishing vegan + gluten-free recipes and tips to live your best balanced and holistic life. I’m a human on a mission to empower you to be well and be kind to your mind, body and soul with the healing power of plants.

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4 Comments

  1. Made this / liked it a lot. Just wish it had an umami factor. Soy sauce? Worcestershire sauce? Something to balance out the sweetness of the potatoes. Will experiment next time!

    4 stars