Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Turkey

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This Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie is a lighter, cozier twist on the basic—made with lean floor turkey and topped with creamy mashed candy potatoes.

Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potatoes

This Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie, impressed from my basic Shepherd’s Pie is a lighter twist on the basic consolation dish, made with lean floor turkey, loads of greens, and a creamy mashed candy potato topping. It’s cozy and hearty but nonetheless balanced sufficient for a weeknight dinner. The candy potatoes add pure sweetness that pairs completely with the savory turkey filling, and the entire dish bakes collectively right into a bubbly, golden casserole your loved ones will love. For a meatless model attempt my Portobello Shepherd’s Pie and for a enjoyable twist, attempt my Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Stuffed Sweet Potato.

Why This Recipe Works

I created this recipe within the fall of 2012, across the time Superstorm Sandy hit, adopted by a nor’easter. Thousands of individuals, together with us, misplaced energy for a number of days. This candy potato shepherd’s pie recipe jogs my memory of that point and the way grateful I’m for all of the little issues we generally take without any consideration.

Comfort food: Warm, nourishing, and satisfying
Nutritious twist: Sweet potatoes present extra fiber and antioxidants than common potatoes, and floor turkey is a leaner protein supply than beef.
Great for meal prep and leftovers: You could make it forward and bake whenever you’re prepared.

Ingredients You Will Need

Below is every thing you’ll must make this healthy turkey shepherd’s pie. See the recipe card beneath for the precise measurements.

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie ingredients

Mashed Sweet Potato Topping Ingredients:

Sweet potatoes: Peeled and cube
Creamy Ingredients: 1% milk, hen broth, and reduced-fat bitter cream to make the potato topping creamy but gentle.
Peeled Garlic Cloves, Kosher Salt, and Black Pepper for taste

Shepherd’s Pie Filling Ingredients:

93% Lean Ground Turkey: Ground hen or beef may also work
Vegetables: Celery, parsnip, mushrooms, frozen blended greens (like peas, carrots, and corn)
Aromatics: Diced onion and garlic
All Purpose Flour thickens the filling, gluten-free may also work
Low-sodium Chicken Broth creates the sauce
Flavor: Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste add taste
Fresh Herbs: Chopped Rosemary or recent thyme
Seasoning: Kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika

How to Make Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

This shepherd’s pie has two elements: boiling and mashing the candy potatoes and making the turkey filling. See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes — Make the candy potato topping

Brown the ground turkey — Make the candy potato topping

Make the mashed candy potatoes: Boil the diced potatoes and complete garlic cloves in salted water. The garlic mellows because it cooks, so it’s not too sturdy. Once tender, drain them and return them to the pot. Add the remaining elements and mash with a potato masher.
Brown the turkey in a big skillet. Season with salt and pepper, then switch to a plate as soon as it’s cooked by.
Cook the greens: Sauté the onion, then add the celery, parsnip, salt, and pepper. Once the celery’s gentle, stir within the garlic and mushrooms. Add the flour, adopted by the frozen greens, broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, rosemary, and floor turkey.
Simmer the filling, coated, on low till thickened.
Assemble the shepherd’s pie: Spread the meat combination within the backside of the baking dish. Top with mashed candy potatoes. Use a fork to scrape the tops of the potatoes, creating ridges, then sprinkle with paprika.
Bake: In a preheated oven at 400°F for half-hour. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes earlier than eating.

Add the remaining vegetables and broth — Add the remaining greens and broth

Variations

Individual Servings: Make them in six oven protected meal prep containers or small baking dishes.
Swap candy potatoes with russet or Yukon Gold potatoes. You may additionally use butternut squash.
Dairy-free shepherd’s pie: Use rice, oat, or almond milk and dairy-free cream for the candy potato topping.
Broth choices: Feel free to make use of hen bone broth for additional protein.
Switch up the protein: Use lean floor beef or lamb. This recipe would even be nice with leftover Thanksgiving turkey or rotisserie hen. Just skip the browning step and add it alongside with the frozen greens.
No parsnips? Omit, or use extra blended veggies.
Not a mushroom fan? Omit them and add extra of one other vegetable.
Gluten-free shepherd’s pie: Use a gluten-free flour like Cup4Cup as an alternative of AP flour, and ensure your Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free.
Herbs: Swap rosemary for thyme or sage. If you don’t have recent herbs, dried ones will work as properly.

How to Make Ahead

This dish could be ready forward of time, then baked within the oven whenever you’re able to eat. It additionally freezes and reheats properly.

To make forward and refrigerate: You can assemble this candy potato shepherd’s pie as much as 2 days early, then bake as directed.
To freeze, observe the directions as much as step 9, then freeze in a freezer-safe casserole dish or particular person containers for as much as 3 months. If your containers don’t have lids, cowl them tightly with plastic wrap and foil to stop freezer burn.
Thaw in a single day within the fridge, then bake as directed (don’t neglect to take away the plastic wrap). You might have so as to add a number of additional minutes, so test it within the center to substantiate it’s heat.