Description
This Cheesy Sweet Potato Cottage Pie is a colorful twist on a classic British comfort food. It swaps the traditional white potato topping for a vibrant, creamy sweet potato mash that sits atop a savory, spiced ground beef filling. With a bubbling layer of sharp cheddar cheese and a rich meat sauce packed with green soybeans, this hearty casserole is a wholesome and satisfying dinner for the whole family.
Ingredients
The Minced Meat Filling
- 600 g ground beef (lean preferred)
- 250 ml chicken broth or beef broth
- 100 g frozen green soybeans (edamame) or sweet peas
- 1/2 onion, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon concentrated tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika (spicy or sweet)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
The Sweet Potato Mash
- 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 regular potato (white/russet), peeled and cubed
- 150 ml milk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- Salt and black pepper
The Topping
- 50 g sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Sauté Onion
In a large skillet or pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the minced onion and cook for about 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
Brown Beef
Season the ground beef with salt and pepper. Add it to the pan along with the minced garlic. Sear until the meat is browned and cooked through.
Simmer Filling
Pour in the broth. Stir in the cumin, paprika, and oregano. Reduce heat and simmer until the liquid is almost entirely evaporated (about 10 minutes). Why? This step concentrates the flavor and prevents a soggy pie.
Boil Potatoes
While the meat simmers, place the cubed sweet potatoes and regular potato in a pot of cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until soft and fork-tender. Drain well.
Make Mash
Return the drained potatoes to the pot. Add the butter, milk, nutmeg (if using), salt, and pepper. Mash until smooth and creamy.
Finish Meat Sauce
Once the liquid in the meat pan has reduced, stir in the tomato paste and the frozen green soybeans (or peas). Cook for 1–2 minutes to warm them through.
Assemble
Transfer the meat filling to a casserole dish or ovenproof baking dish. Spread the sweet potato mash evenly over the top. Sprinkle the grated sharp Cheddar cheese over the mash.
Bake
Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling at the edges.
Serve
Sprinkle with a little extra paprika and fresh parsley. Let it cool for 5 minutes to set before serving.
Notes
The “One Potato” Trick: Adding a single regular potato to the sweet potato mash creates a better texture. Sweet potatoes can be fibrous or watery; the starch from the white potato binds the mash, making it fluffy and creamy.
Liquid Control: Ensure you let the broth reduce significantly in step 3. If the meat filling is too wet, the liquid will bubble up through the mash and make the dish soupy.
Texture Tip: Before adding the cheese, drag a fork across the surface of the mash to create ridges. These little peaks will catch the heat in the oven and become extra crispy.
Make Ahead: You can assemble the entire pie, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When ready to eat, bake as directed (you may need to add 10–15 minutes to the cook time if baking from cold).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner / Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British Twist
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving (approx. 1/6 of pie)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: sweet potato cottage pie, shepherds pie twist, ground beef casserole, healthy comfort food, edamame recipes, sweet potato mash, family dinner ideas