Sweet Potato Cottage Pie

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Hearty and flavorful, sweet potato cottage pie is an easy and healthy comfort food dinner for cozy nights! Made in one skillet, it’s packed with vegetables and seasoned ground beef for an instant family favorite.

A wooden spoon in a cast iron skillet with sweet potato cottage pie with a piece taken out.

Quick Look at the Recipe

🍽️ Flavor: Rich and savory beef and vegetables in a tomato-based sauce.
⏱️ Prep Time: 30 minutes
🔥 Cook Time: 1 hour
🕒 Ready In: 1 1/2 hours
👥 Servings: 8 people
🥣 Main Ingredients: Ground beef, sweet potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, peas, tomato sauce
📋 Protein: 24 grams
📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, paleo, Whole30
❄️ Freezer Friendly: Yes!
👩‍🍳 Tip: Apple cider vinegar brightens and enhances the flavor of this dish and helps the vegetables soften more quickly.

Woman smiling while standing in a sunny room.

Family Favorite Skillet Meal

My family eats sweet potatoes all the time, and they’re a favorite food in our healthy diet. Whether it’s sweet potato fritters for breakfast or healthy sweet potato casserole on Thanksgiving, you name it, we love it!

So when it comes to cottage pie, sweet potatoes are the obvious topping choice. This simple skillet version has been one of our go-to comfort dinners for years, and I think it will become a staple in your home too.

What Makes this Cottage Pie Special?

Easy skillet meal so you don’t have to spend all evening washing dishes.
Nutrient-dense dinner absolutely loaded with meat and a variety of veggies.
Rich, flavorful filling with simple pantry staples.

Ingredients

Ground beef – I typically use 80/20 or leaner ground beef, but you can use whatever you have on hand. If you prefer to make a traditional shepherd’s pie, use ground lamb instead.
Sweet potatoes – Cottage pie is usually made with white potatoes, but sweet potatoes add a delicious, nutrient-dense twist.
Carrots
Baby portobello mushrooms – Or your favorite mild mushroom variety.
Frozen peas – If you prefer, you can substitute fresh peas. However, fresh peas take longer to cook, so they would need to be added along with the other vegetables instead of at the end.
Tomato sauce
Apple cider vinegar – The perfect flavor enhancement that also speeds up the cooking process.
Coconut aminos – You can substitute Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or amino acids.
Coconut oil – Butter is a delicious substitute if you don’t have coconut oil on hand.

Tools Needed

15″ cast iron skillet

Step-By-Step Instructions

Three sweet potatoes on a stainless steel baking sheet ready to bake.

Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Then place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and poke a few holes in each of them with a fork. Roast them for 1 hour or until soft through.

Ground beef and diced onions browning in a cast iron skillet with a wooden background.

Step 2: While the sweet potatoes are baking, place the beef and chopped onions in a large skillet and brown the meat on medium heat.

Meat, carrots, and other vegetables cooking in a skillet.

Step 3: Once the meat is browned, stir in the carrots, mushrooms, tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, spices, and salt.

Turn the skillet down to low to medium heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Mashed sweet potatoes in a metal mixing bowl surrounded by a kitchen towel.

Step 4: Once the sweet potatoes are done, turn the oven down to 350 degrees. Then remove the skins from the potatoes, place in a bowl, and add coconut oil and salt. Mash the sweet potatoes and mix in the coconut oil and salt.

Mashed sweet potatoes spread over meat and vegetable mixture in a skillet on a wooden table.

Step 5: Now stir the frozen peas into the meat mixture and evenly spread the potatoes over it.

A cast iron skillet filled with sweet potato cottage pie with a wooden spoon in it surrounded by a kitchen towel.

Step 6: Finally, place the skillet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

A wooden spoon holding a scoop of sweet potato cottage pie above the dish.

If you’re looking for more healthy skillet dinners, check out my Tuscan chicken and gluten-free Salisbury steak!

Tips for Success

Don’t pour off the grease – Unless you’re using extremely fatty beef, after browning the meat, leave the grease in the pan for additional flavor.

Make sure the potatoes are fully cooked – For the best flavor and texture, they should be soft through and easy to mash. Stick a fork into them to check the doneness before removing from the oven.

Don’t skip resting – For a juicy casserole that’s easy to serve, let the cottage pie sit for 10-15 minutes before serving. This helps the filling absorb additional liquid and fully set.

Prep In Advance

To prep sweet potato cottage pie ahead of time, prepare the sweet potato and beef and vegetable mixtures and assemble in a 9″ x 13″ glass baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

When you’re ready to bake it, place the cottage pie in the oven while it’s preheating to avoid glass breakage, and then bake as usual.

A cast iron skillet filled with sweet potato cottage pie with a wooden spoon in it.

Easy Freezer Meal

Cottage pie is a fantastic freezer meal for postpartum meal prep or to just have on hand for busy days. To freeze, prepare the sweet potato and meat mixtures and assemble in oven-safe food storage containers or a 9″ x 13″ glass baking dish. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to serve, let the cottage pie thaw overnight in the fridge. Remove the cover and place the meal in the oven while it’s preheating and then bake as usual.

FAQs

What’s the difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie?

Traditionally, cottage pie is made with ground beef, while shepherd’s pie is made with lamb. However, the terms are often confused, and you may sometimes hear cottage pie called shepherd’s pie.

How do I store leftover cottage pie?

You can store leftover cottage pie in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For best results, reheat in the oven.

If you try this recipe, let me know in the comments! Tag me on Instagram @violet_rightathome