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A golden sweet potato cottage pie with a rich beef filling, topped with creamy mashed sweet potato and baked until lightly crisp.
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Sweet Potato Cottage Pie

This sweet potato cottage pie is a lighter, slightly sweeter twist on the traditional recipe. Packed with veggies and topped with creamy sweet potato mash and golden bubbling cheese, it’s hearty, wholesome, and the perfect family dinner.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: British
Keyword: beef, British, budget friendly, Cottage, Mince, Pie
Servings: 6
Calories: 395kcal
Cost: from £1.23

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp vegetable oil
  • 500 g beef mince around 10% fat
  • 2 onions peeled and diced
  • 3 carrots peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks washed and diced
  • 4 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves chopped
  • 1 red wine stock cube dissolved into the hot beef stock
  • 500 ml hot beef stock made with 2 stock cubes
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée
  • Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 kg sweet potatoes peeled and chopped
  • 25 g unsalted butter
  • 100 g grated mozzarella

Instructions

Cook the Beef

  • Heat the sunflower oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the mince and fry until browned all over, breaking it up as you go.

Soften the Veg

  • Add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and thyme to the pan. Fry gently for about 10 minutes until starting to soften.

Build the Flavour

  • Stir in the tomato purée and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the red wine beef stock and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer and let bubble for 5 minutes. Season well with salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and cook gently on low for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Make the Mash

  • Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the sweet potatoes and cook for around 20 minutes, until soft and tender. Drain, mash well, and stir through the butter.

Assemble the Pie

  • Preheat the oven to 180℃/350℉ fan, 200℃/400℉ conventional, Gas Mark 6. Transfer the cooked mince mixture into a baking dish. Spread the sweet potato mash on top, smoothing it out evenly. Sprinkle over the mozzarella.

Bake & Serve

  • Bake for about 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling. Serve hot with green veg or a crisp side salad.

Notes

  1. Swap beef for turkey mince for a leaner version.
  2. Add a handful of frozen peas or sweetcorn to the mince for extra veg.
  3. Make ahead: Assemble the pie up to a day in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Just bake when ready to serve.