If you love shepherd's pie, you are really going to love this Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie with lean ground turkey. It's a healthier shepherd's pie, but it's every bit as delicious as the original.
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Shepherd's pie (which some people spell as shepard's pie), is a classic Irish dish, usually made with a filling of cooked ground lamb and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes and baked.
If you make it with ground beef, it is actually a cottage pie. This recipe has ground turkey, like this Mexican Shepherd's Pie and I'm just going to call it shepherd's pie.
What's to Love?
- This sweet potato shepherd's pie is a delicious twist on the classic.
- This lean ground turkey shepherd's pie topped with sweet potatoes is much healthier version.
- It's a hearty and satisfying meal that's cooked and baked in one pan.
- This healthy shepherd's pie recipe is every bit as easy to make as the regular version.
- This recipe is perfect for using leftover sweet potatoes.
- It's great for meal prep and make ahead, and it freezes well, too.
- This recipe is gluten free and dairy free so everyone can enjoy it!
Ingredient Notes
- Lean ground turkey Choose the package that's labeled "lean ground turkey", and not "ground turkey breast". The lean ground turkey is a mixture of breast and thigh meat and is juicier and more flavourful than ground turkey breast.
- Sweet potatoes You will need one large sweet potato, or two medium. (which I know isn't very helpful because they come in all kinds of sizes. So I'll just say that you need enough for 6 cups of cubed sweet potato.
- Peas and Carrots You can save time by using frozen peas & carrots. I used frozen peas and fresh carrots. If you do use frozen carrots, add them along with the peas.
- Celery and Onion Dice the onion finely. I like this little chopper for making short work of all the vegetable chopping.
- Chicken Stock or turkey stock, if you have it. If you have homemade stock on hand, use it. Otherwise you can use canned, or bullion.
- Cornstarch Cornstarch thickens the gravy without lumps and as a bonus, it means this recipe is gluten free.
- Rosemary & Thyme These add delicious flavour and you can use fresh or dried.
Here's How To Make It
- Cook the sweet potatoes in boiling, salted water, then drain.
- Mash them with a little olive oil until they're creamy and set aside.
- While the potatoes are cooking, in an oven safe skillet, cook the vegetables (except peas) along with the garlic, until they begin to soften.
- Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking up with a spoon.
- Add the chicken stock, salt and pepper.
- Stir until everything is combined.
- Stir in the peas
- Smooth the mashed sweet potatoes evenly over the filling.
Finally, bake in the oven, allow to cool slightly and serve!
Tips and Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can assemble the whole dish up to a day ahead. Keep it refrigerated until you want to bake it.
You can reheat it in the microwave for individual portions, or you can reheat the whole dish in the oven at 350° 15-20 minutes.
Yes, this recipe freezes beautifully! There are a couple of ways to do it. First, you can freeze the whole pie without baking it, or, you can freeze it in individual portion sizes after it's baked and cooled. (It's a perfect recipe for meal prep).Use airtight freezer safe containers and use within 3 months.
Variations and Substitutions
- Change the meat. Use ground beef, ground lamb or ground chicken instead of ground turkey.
- Change the topping. Regular potatoes, mashed rutabaga, cauliflower mash, or even Parsnip Puree all are delicious substitutions for the sweet potato topping.
- Add more vegetables You can add just about any vegetable to the shepherd's pie filling, including spinach, green beans, chopped bell peppers, mushrooms and corn.
- Spice it up. Add some crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce to the filling.
- Make it vegan. Use lentils instead of ground turkey, and switch the chicken stock for vegetable stock.
Serving Suggestions
Although shepherd's pie is a complete meal on it's own, you can also serve it with a vegetable side dish like Sautéed Green Beans, or a crisp salad. This fall salad would be perfect: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad With Apples.
Do You Love Sweet Potatoes?
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Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie (With Ground Turkey)
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato peeled and cubed (six cups)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 onion diced
- 2 carrots chopped (one cup)
- 2 celery ribs chopped
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon rosemary
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¾ cup chicken or turkey stock
- 1 cup peas
Instructions
- Place the sweet potato cubes in a pot and add enough water to cover them
- Boil the sweet potatoes until they are fork tender, then drain and mash them with one tablespoon of olive oil.
- In an oven safe skillet, heat one tablespoon of the olive oil
- Add the carrots, onion, and celery and cook
- Preheat oven to 400°
- In an oven safe skillet, heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat.
- Add carrots, celery, and onion to the skillet and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes
- Stir in the cornstarch, rosemary and thyme
- Add the ground turkey, salt, and pepper to the skillet and cook, breaking up with a spoon until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken stock and stir to combine completely
- Stir in the peas and remove from heat
- Using a spatula, smooth the mashed sweet potatoes over the filling evenly to cover.
- Sprinkle with paprika (optional)
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the potatoes form a crust and the filling is bubbling
- Allow the shepherd's pie to cool for about 5 minutes before slicing.
Cathleen
This shepherd's pie sounds amazing!! I have never made it with sweet potatoes before, but now I am intrigued!! Bookmarked to make over the weekend, thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
Colleen
Cathleen, I would love to hear how it turns out. I know you'll love it!
Heather
ground turkey is the absolute best & sweet potatoes - not only are they both more nutritious but more flavourful!
Colleen
Definitely tasty and nutritious, Heather. Enjoy!
Lisa
Love shepherd's pie with sweet potatoes! It's not only lighter than regular potatoes, but it's a more festive color! Thanks for sharing!
Colleen
You're welcome, Lisa. Enjoy!
Sabrina
My family loved this. The sweet potato was so yummy on top of the turkey filling. Definitely a make again recipe.
Colleen
Sabrina, I'm super happy to hear this! Thanks for letting me know!
Cindy Mom, the Lunch Lady
This is my ultimate version of shepherds pie! Since I don't care for ground beef, ground turkey is my go to. And who doesn't love mashed sweet potatoes?
Colleen
So happy that you love it, Cindy!
nancy
I love this option with sweet potato that is a little healthier and makes you more full! Pinning this to make later!
Colleen
You'll love it, Nancy!
Angie
I haven’t made this yet but am going to. What a great idea to use sweet potatoes for a shepherd’s pie!
Colleen
Hi Angie. I hope to hear back how it went for you. I know you'll love it!
Vanessa
I love this twist! Such a great Fall recipe too with the turkey and sweet potatoes! Yum!
Colleen
Hi Vanessa. It's so yummy! I hope you give it a try!
Caroline
Love the idea of a sweet potato top - that bit more flavorful, to me, and better for you too.
Colleen
It's also delicious, Caroline!
Bernice
Such a great idea. I love your lightened up version of this comforting classic. Pinned to try for next weekend!
Colleen
Enjoy, Bernice!
Gail Montero
I love this yummy and healthier spin on shepherd's pie. I'm a big fan of sweet potatoes so this is right up my alley!
Colleen
You will love this version then, Gail. Enjoy!
Mirlene
I love the idea of this version of sheperds pie. I will definitely switch to lean ground turkey instead of ground beef.
Colleen
Hi Mirlene, you definitely can use lean ground beef and it would still be delicious, but I think the sweet potatoes are really great with turkey.
Stephanie
I love the idea of making a healthier version! Shepherd's Pie is such a great dinner with so many yummy things in it.
Colleen
Hi Stephanie! We really love this version, and I know you will, too!
Marta
This is an amazing idea! Your instructions are so detailed, I can't wait to try it.
Colleen
Thanks Marta! I think you'll love it!
Jamie
This was delicious! It has all the flavors of fall and my family loved it! We'll be making it for Thanksgiving!
Colleen
Hi Jamie, I'm so happy that your family loved this recipe. Happy Thanksgiving!
Kristen Wood
I just pinned this to make for the holidays. It looks great...we can't wait to try it!
Colleen
You're going to love it Kristen! Enjoy!