Make this comforting AIP Shepherd’s Pie with tender lamb mince, carrots, vegetables and a creamy mashed sweet potato topping. This easy sweet potato shepherd’s pie is a delicious dairy-free dinner idea for the whole family, with options for Paleo and Whole30-style meals.

Jump to Recipe

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

This AIP Shepherd’s Pie is a comforting family dinner made with tender lamb mince, carrots, onion, leek and garlic, topped with creamy mashed sweet potatoes. It’s a delicious way to enjoy a classic shepherd’s pie while following an Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), Paleo or Whole30-style diet.

The filling is cooked on the stovetop before being topped with mashed sweet potatoes and baked until everything is hot and delicious. With simple ingredients and plenty of flavour, this sweet potato shepherd’s pie is ideal for a cosy weeknight dinner or for preparing ahead when you want an easy meal ready to bake.

You can also adapt the recipe to suit your preferences, with options for using beef mince or adding different vegetables when they fit your dietary requirements.

I’ve mentioned enjoying this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie twice through my first week on the AIP Diet – it’s just so good and the whole family loved it that I made it twice in a week! And, it’s a tasty family favorite meal on a budget.

Since then it’s been added to our weekly meal roster, much to the delight of the family. So, I thought I’d share the great recipe so that you can your family can enjoy this easy meal too. 

It also happens to be the perfect make ahead healthy dinner, especially on a busy weeknight. I tend to meal prep the Shepherd’s Pie the day before it’s needed, store it in the fridge and then just heat the classic meal in the oven and dinner is ready with little effort. 

How To Make A Shepherd’s Pie With Sweet Potato Topping

This Shepherd’s Pie is really is to make. All you do is melt coconut oil in a frying pan or large skillet on the stove top over medium-high heat, add chopped onion, leek, garlic and salt and then cook until the vegetables start softening. 

Once the mixed vegetables have softened, add a package of lamb mince and salt. By the way – the difference between a Shepherd’s and Cottage pie is in the mince. Ground Lamb Mince = Traditional Shepherd’s Pie and Ground Beef Mince = Cottage Pie.

I like using lamb mince in this recipe, hence the name. If you’re prefer to use beef mince instead, or a mix of the two ground meat options, then you’re welcome to do that. 

Brown the lamb mince and then add a couple of chopped carrots, 1-2 cups of chicken stock, beef broth or bone broth and a couple more of shakes of salt. I like to cut half of the carrots into rounds and dice the other half. 

Because this recipe is AIP Diet friendly, I’ve kept the seasoning and flavoring AIP compliant. You can feel free to adapt the recipe to your own tastes and dietary requirements and add in simple ingredients like tomato paste, tinned tomatoes, Worcestershire Sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, green peas, chili powder, black pepper, green beans or your fresh herbs of choice.

Then, let the meat sauce bubble away for about 20-30 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated or been absorbed. Once it’s done, move the meat mixture into a baking dish. 

While the meat is bubbling, make the sweet potato topping. Peel and chop the sweet potato, move it to a saucepan and cover with plenty of salted water. Bring up to the boil and simmer until the sweet potato is easily mashable. 

You can of course swap the sweet potatoes in shepherds pie for regular potatoes if you include them as part of your diet. (Note that regular mashed potatoes or white potatoes are not AIP compliant.)

Once the sweet potato is soft, remove it from the heat and mash, along with a tablespoon of coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil or coconut milk for a creamy mash. Then, move the sweet potato mixture to top the mince and smooth it out. You could use a fork to “draw” a lined pattern along the top. 

At this point you can either allow the comforting meal to cool completely and pop it into the fridge to enjoy within the next day. Or, if you’ll be enjoying the Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie immediately, then move it to a preheated oven to cook for 25 to 30 minutes or until done to your liking. 

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

• 1 Onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 Leek, chopped
• 3-4 Garlic Cloves, peeled and chopped
• 500g/1.1lbs Lamb Mince
• 3-4 Carrots, chopped
• 1-2 Cups Chicken Stock or Bone Broth
• 750g/1.65lbs Sweet Potatoes, peeled and chopped 
• Salt
• Coconut Oil, for frying 
• 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil/Coconut Oil/Coconut Milk (for the mash) 

1. Melt coconut oil in a frying pan, preheat the oven to 180C/350F (if baking straight away) and get out a baking dish or large casserole dish. 
2. Once the coconut oil has melted and the pan is hot, add the chopped onion, leek and garlic. 
3. Allow the vegetables to soften for a few minutes, then add more coconut oil and the lamb mince, along with a couple of shakes of salt. 
4. Toss to brown the lamb evenly and then add the carrots and stock, along with another couple of shakes of salt. 
5. Bring the sauce up to the bubble and then reduce to simmer for 20 minutes or until the liquid has mostly evaporated. 
6. Meanwhile, add the sweet potatoes to a large pot, along with plenty of water and salt. 
7. Bring the sweet potatoes up to the boil and then simmer until easily mashable. 
8. Once the meat has cooked and liquid evaporated, move it to the baking dish. 
9. When the sweet potatoes are ready to be mashed, drain the cooking water and then mash with a potato masher.
10. You can add salt and a tablespoon (or more) of coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil or coconut milk to the mash for creaminess. 
11. Move the sweet potato mash to the baking dish to cover the meat. Smooth the mash around the dish and you could use a fork to “draw” lines from end to end. 
12. Either allow to cool completely , store in the fridge for a day and then cook or place into the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until done to your liking. 

More Easy Dinner Recipes: 

Egg Roll In A Bowl

Mushroom Risotto

Pesto Chicken Bake

Yield: 6

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie Recipe

4.4 Stars (14 Reviews)

Print

Easy Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Paleo, AIP Diet, Whole 30 & Dairy Free.

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 Leek, chopped
• 3-4 Garlic Cloves, peeled and chopped
• 500g/1.1lbs Lamb Mince
• 3-4 Carrots, chopped
• 1-2 Cups Chicken Stock or Bone Broth
• 750g/1.65lbs Sweet Potatoes, peeled and chopped 
• Salt
• Coconut Oil, for frying 
• 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil/Coconut Oil/Coconut Milk (for the mash)

Instructions

1. Melt coconut oil in a frying pan, preheat the oven to 180C/350F (if baking straight away) and get out a baking dish. 
2. Once the coconut oil has melted and the pan is hot, add the chopped onion, leek and garlic. 
3. Allow the vegetables to soften for a few minutes, then add more coconut oil and the lamb mince, along with a couple of shakes of salt. 
4. Toss to brown the lamb evenly and then add the carrots and stock, along with another couple of shakes of salt. 
5. Bring the sauce up to the bubble and then reduce to simmer for 20 minutes or until the liquid has mostly evaporated. 
6. Meanwhile, add the sweet potatoes to a saucepan, along with plenty of water and salt. 
7. Bring the sweet potatoes up to the boil and then simmer until easily mashable. 
8. Once the meat has cooked and liquid evaporated, move it to the baking dish. 
9. When the sweet potatoes are ready to be mashed, drain the cooking water and then mash with a potato masher.
10. You can add salt and a tablespoon (or more) of coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil or coconut milk to the mash for creaminess. 
11. Move the sweet potato mash to the baking dish to cover the meat. Smooth the mash around the dish and you could use a fork to "draw" lines from end to end. 
12. Either allow to cool completely , store in the fridge for a day and then cook or place into the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until done to your liking.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 388Total Fat: 17.1gSaturated Fat: 7.7gCarbohydrates: 42.3gFiber: 6.6gSugar: 3.6gProtein: 17g

Recipe Video Tutorial

Here’s the video tutorial for how to make the ultimate comfort food delicious meal – Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie. Hit play below or click here to watch on YouTube.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is shepherd’s pie AIP-friendly?

Shepherd’s pie can be adapted to suit an AIP-style diet. This recipe uses lamb mince, vegetables and a mashed sweet potato topping, without dairy or traditional white potato mash. Check that your stock and any additional seasonings meet the requirements of your particular AIP protocol.

Can I make shepherd’s pie with sweet potato instead of regular potatoes?

Yes! Sweet potatoes make a delicious topping for shepherd’s pie. Boil the peeled and chopped sweet potatoes until tender, drain well, then mash with coconut oil, olive oil or coconut milk before spreading over the cooked filling.

Can I use beef mince instead of lamb?

Yes. You can substitute beef mince for the lamb mince in this recipe. Traditionally, a pie made with beef is called cottage pie, while shepherd’s pie is made with lamb. Choose mince that suits your preferences and dietary requirements.

Is this sweet potato shepherd’s pie dairy-free?

Yes. The recipe uses coconut oil, olive oil or coconut milk instead of butter or dairy milk in the sweet potato mash. Check the ingredients of your chosen stock or broth to ensure it is also dairy-free.

Can I make AIP shepherd’s pie ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare the meat filling and sweet potato topping, assemble the pie in an oven-safe dish, then refrigerate promptly in a suitable covered container. When ready to eat, bake until piping hot throughout. You can also prepare the components ahead and assemble them just before baking.

Can I freeze sweet potato shepherd’s pie?

Yes. Once cooked, cool the pie promptly, divide it into suitable portions if desired, and freeze in airtight, freezer-safe containers. Defrost in the refrigerator and reheat until piping hot throughout. The texture of the sweet potato topping may change slightly after freezing.

What vegetables can I add to shepherd’s pie?

Carrots, onions and leeks work well in this recipe. You can also experiment with other vegetables that suit your dietary requirements. If you’re following the AIP elimination phase, check each additional ingredient against your particular protocol before using it.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

You don’t need any special equipment to make this sweet potato shepherd’s pie, but a few everyday kitchen tools make preparation easier.

• Potato masher: Makes it easy to mash the cooked sweet potatoes into a smooth topping.
• Large frying pan or skillet: Gives the lamb mince and vegetables plenty of room to cook evenly.
• Vegetable peeler: Helps you quickly prepare the sweet potatoes and carrots.
• Oven-safe casserole dish: Ideal for layering the meat filling and sweet potato topping before baking.

Updated in October 2026 with new recipe tips, variations, FAQs and serving suggestions.

Disclaimer – this post is meant for informational post only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your health professional before making any dietary changes.

Disclosure – this post contains affiliate links.