Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie Recipe – Easy AIP Diet, Whole 30, Dairy Free & Paleo Recipes for a family dinner with lamb mince, sweet potatoes and veggies.

Shepherd's Pie with paleo, whole 30 sweet potato topping

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

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. 

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Easy AIP Diet, Whole 30, Dairy Free & Paleo Recipes for a family dinner with lamb mince and veggies.

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.

Baked shepherd's pie - paleo. whole 30 and aip diet

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. 

Easy AIP Diet Dinner Idea - plate of shepherd's pie

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

More Easy Dinner Recipes: 

Egg Roll In A Bowl

Mushroom Risotto

Pesto Chicken Bake

Yield: 6

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Shepherd's Pie with paleo, whole 30 sweet potato topping

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.

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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.

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