Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (2024)

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A traditional shepherd’s pie recipe gets a makeover, with a twist. Flavorful bison and nutrient packed sweet potatoes make this comfort food irresistibly good. Thank you to Kroger for helping me share this recipe with you.
Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (1)

I can't tell you how many times I reach for chicken or ground turkey when I'm making dinner, which often produces some of our favorites, such as Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken and . That's all well and good until my kids' shoulders start to slump when I tell them that dinner is "something with chicken". That's always a sure sign that I need to switch things up.

And all of that fits in nicely with our Week 3 challenge for the Healthy New Year 6-Week Challenge:

To recap, in Week 1 Liz and I focused on Boosting Protein at Breakfast to Fuel Your Day and in Week 2 we added in the challenge of Go Ethnic at Dinner.

THIS WEEK'S GOAL IS...TRY A NEW LEAN PROTEIN

If you're like me, you probably get stuck in a rut, cooking with the same ol' proteins week after week. Not only is it important to switch things up for the sake of our taste buds, but trying new lean proteins is also a great way to fuel our bodies with a range of nutrients.

Some examples? Vitamin D in shrimp; omega-3s in salmon; antioxidants, fiber, iron, potassium (and more) in beans; lean protein in pork; iron in lean beef; and so on.

Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (2)

I remember when bison burgers became all the rage about 10 years ago, introducing all of us to a lean protein that is rich in omega-3s. In our house, we started using bison in chili, burger and . And then we discovered that we could buy bison steaks, which eventually replaced beef tenderloin in our annual New Year's Eve meat fondues. Leaner on the hips and the wallet. A win-win!

Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (3)

We've started buying the bison products at Kroger groceries. Over the past couple of years, I've noticed that the amount of natural/organic products in Kroger stores has grown exponentially. There is everything from meat (pork, beef, bison) and poultry (chicken, turkey) to dairy, fresh produce and canned goods. Just look for the Simple Truth products on the shelves throughout the stores. And, quite honestly, they're usually cheaper than comparable products at other stores, which is exactly why we buy our fondue bison there!

Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (4)

I grew up eating my grandmother's shepherd's pie, filled with ground lamb and topped with the creamiest mashed potatoes. For this recipe, I took inspiration from her recipe and switched things up by using ground bison and topping the shepherd's pie with sweet potatoes. The flavors are so complementary - a little mix of sweet and savory - and the dish reaches a 10 on the comfort scale. I think my grandmother would approve.

Be sure to check out Liz's comforting, healthy Bison Chili this week!

Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (5)

Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (6) If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Printable Recipe

Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (7)

Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Sweet Potato & Bison Shepherd’s Pie…A hearty, classic casserole recipe with a twist!

4.54 from 30 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Entrees

Cuisine: Irish

Keyword: Healthy Dinner Recipes

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 Servings

Calories: 310.4kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

The Sweet Potatoes:

  • 1 ¼ pound sweet potatoes peeled & cut into ½-inch dice
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup nonfat milk
  • teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon pepper

The Filling:

Instructions

The Sweet Potatoes:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a 1 ½ quart baking dish with cooking spray.

  • Place the sweet potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 10 minutes.

  • Drain and return the potatoes to the saucepan.

  • Mash the potatoes with the butter, milk, salt and pepper until smooth.

The Filling:

  • Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick saucepan set over medium-high heat.

  • Add the onions and cook until they are starting to brown, about 4 minutes.

  • Add the ground bison. Cook, crumbling with a fork, until the meat is cooked through.

  • Add the tomato paste, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper, and cook for 1 minute.

  • Stir in the broth, reduce heat slightly and simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Stir in the peas.

Assembling:

  • Transfer the filling to the prepared baking dish.

  • Dollop the sweet potatoes on top of the filling and, using a rubber spatula, spread the potatoes evenly on top, all the way to the sides. Be sure that the potatoes are sealed at the sides of the baking dish so that the filling doesn’t bubble through while cooking. Using a fork, make hatch marks on the potatoes, if desired.

  • Place the baking dish on top of a baking sheet.

  • Bake until the potatoes are just starting to brown, about 30 minutes.

  • Let rest for 10 minutes. Serve.

Notes

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I provide nutritional information for my recipes as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using the LoseIt! calculator. While I attempt to provide information that is as accurate as possible, you should calculate the nutritional information independently before relying on it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Scant Cup | Calories: 310.4kcal | Carbohydrates: 18.3g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 15.5g | Saturated Fat: 6.6g | Cholesterol: 75.2mg | Sodium: 354.2mg | Fiber: 3.9g | Sugar: 5.2g

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kroger. All opinions are my own. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (8)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. MJ

    Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (13)
    Thank you for sharing your recipes. My twist on your recipe is that I cook the bison in a non-stick pan (minus oil) and as the bison’s moisture starts to seep through, I add onion, garlic and tomato paste. Then I add the vegetables( peas, shredded carrots; broccoli; black beans & whatever one has on hand) plus a cup of broth with powdered brown gravy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. As this simmers, I add my herbs (no salt). I boil the potatoes (sweet mostly and add carrots and rutabaga) separately while the meat & veggies simmer. Once the meat is ready, I set aside for 20 minutes while the potatoes finish boiling (minus any salt). I put the meat in a non stick pan and whip the potatoes/veggies and add a small amount of broth. This is a no added fat, salt and mostly dairy free recipe. At times, I may add a bit of cheese to the whipped potatoes for added flavour. I then bake in 350F degree oven for 45 minutes. I have adapted the recipe because my spouse suffers from high cholesterol and hypertension. So loaded with a lean protein, lots of veggies both in the meat and in the potatoes.

    Reply

  2. Josephine

    Can I use whole milk instead of nonfat milk?

    Reply

    • Dara

      Yes, that will work.

      Reply

  3. Nikki Ellis

    Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (14)
    Wow I was trying to come up with something out of the box for bison and this was perfect!

    Reply

  4. Samantha

    Hello!,
    I plan to make this for dinner tonight. What size baking dish do you recommend for this? 9x9?

    Reply

    • Dara

      Hi Samantha, a 9x9 should work perfectly! I hope you enjoy the recipe.

      Reply

  5. Carolyn N

    Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (15)
    Never have had bison before but just found it in the store. This is is great recipe! Very tasty and love the sweet potatoes. I’m happy it was so flavorful!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Dara

      That's so great to hear!

      Reply

      • Kim

        Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (16)
        This was so delicious!! I made it on a whim because we had bison and sweet potatoes, and I’m SO GLAD I did! It is definitely a keeper to add to the family dinner arsenal.
        Only change I made is that I used tomato sauce as I didn’t have tomato paste on hand, and left out the broth to make up for the extra liquid from the sauce. Again, this was so tasty! Thank you!

        Reply

  6. Mel

    Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (17)
    This recipe was a GREAT find! We eat bison fairly regularly in place of ground beef and we love sweet potatoes, so this was the perfect recipe to add to our regular dinner menus.

    Reply

  7. Erika

    Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (18)
    So I tried this and this called for too much of the beef broth to wear it was flowing over the sweet potato and ruined it... Maybe half a cup would've been better but now its a job disappointment. Might was to suggest half a cup to 1 cup of the broth. The flavors are great but the recommendation for the broth amount wasn't accurate.

    Reply

    • Dara

      Hi Erika, I'm a bit confused because there shouldn't have been any liquid left by the time you transferred the bison mixture to the baking dish. In step 5, the directions read, "Stir in the broth, reduce heat slightly and simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes." Be sure to simmer long enough so that the liquid is absorbed, then there shouldn't be any issues.

      Reply

      • Nikki Ellis

        Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (19)
        I actually didnt even use beef broth and it was still a great success! even our picky eaters loved it

        Reply

        • Dara

          So great to hear!

          Reply

      • Tiffany

        Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (20)
        I’ve made this before and it’s wonderful and a big hit with my family. One question, could you make this in advance and prep it to cook in the oven a few hours later? Will it become mushy if I do this? Thanks in advance!

        Reply

        • Dara

          Hi Tiffany, I'm so glad you've enjoyed it! Prepping a few hours ahead should be fine. I have specifically tried it with this recipe, but have done so with several other more traditional shepherd's pie recipes.

          Reply

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Sweet Potato Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Cookin Canuck (2024)

FAQs

How does Martha Stewart cook sweet potatoes? ›

Directions. Preheat oven to 375 degrees with rack in center position. Scrub and pat potatoes dry. Pierce potatoes all over with the tines of a fork and bake in oven, directly on rack, until soft and caramelizing, 1 1/2 hours.

How to make James Martin shepherd's pie? ›

Method
  1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees.
  2. Place the onions and halved garlic into a roasting tray, and top it with the lamb. Season well and pour in the wine, stock and rosemary. ...
  3. Pop the meat, onions and garlic onto a board to rest. When cool enough, shred the meat and pop into an ovenproof dish. ...
  4. Turn the oven to 200c.

Why is it shepherds pie? ›

If it is made with lamb (or mutton, however mutton is rarely sold in England in the modern day) it is usually called "shepherd's pie" (because a shepherd looks after sheep) and has a topping of mashed potato, patterned to represent sheep's fleece.

Who is the black singer who makes pies? ›

"This is like your singing in a pie." During her prolific career, Patti LaBelle has sold over 50 million records and, if Al Roker and Sheinelle Jones have their say, the iconic singer's new pie should go platinum, too.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: The main secrets to achieving that incredible crispy texture, is to soak the cut sweet potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This helps remove the starch from the sweet potatoes so they´re not limp & soggy.

Is it better to boil sweet potatoes or bake sweet potatoes? ›

Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.

Do sweet potatoes get sweeter the longer you cook them? ›

The longer and slower you cook a sweet potato, the more maltose is formed and the sweeter it will taste. So if you want a much less sweet potato try steaming it, or cut it into small pieces and roast on a higher heat.

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›

Tips to prevent the mashed potato topping from becoming soggy during baking: Ensure the filling is not too watery. Make sure to cook the liquid down before transferring the meat mixture to the casserole dish. Cool the filling before adding the mashed potatoes.

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

What is traditional shepherd's pie made of? ›

This traditional shepherd's pie recipe is made with a mixture of lamb and sirloin, lots of veggies, and a creamy, cheesy mashed potato topping ⁠— sure to delight everyone at the table! Nicole McLaughlin produces the educational and entertaining food series from Allrecipes; You Can Cook That.

Why does my shepherd's pie taste bland? ›

If you feel it is missing something before you put mashed potatoes on top, try mixing in a bit of msg (accent), if you aren't serving anyone averse to it. You can also add a bit more cracked fresh black pepper to help as well. I would think adding more salt would also help before adding the potatoes on top.

Why is flour used in shepherds pie? ›

Flour: All-purpose flour will thicken the beef gravy. Ketchup: Ketchup will add a little tang to the ground beef mixture. Beef Broth: Beef broth creates a gravy-like consistency in the middle. Cheese: Top the shepherd's pie with extra Cheddar for a cheesy finish.

Why do Irish people eat shepherd's pie? ›

It's called cottage pie in the U.K. because they use beef and in Ireland since the shepherds tend sheep, it's shepherd's pie. No doubt, the English put out an excellent cottage pie, but in Ireland it used to be a delicacy since the Irish couldn't afford beef they repurposed any unused veggies and meat.

Who created Patti LaBelle's sweet potato pie recipe? ›

Kinna Thomas, Creator of Patti LaBelle Sweet Potato Pies, Credits Her Success To Her HBCU Experience. Kinna Thomas is currently a Senior Buying Manager (Director) for Cakes and Pies at Walmart Stores, Inc. She has a multitude of experience in merchandising and manufacturing.

How much does a Patti LaBelle sweet potato pie cost? ›

If you multiply them out, Walmart has sold over 65 million pies since the product debuted — enough for everyone in America to have a nice-sized slice — even though inflation has now raised the price to a still very reasonable $3.98.

Does Patti LaBelle sweet potato pie have to be refrigerated? ›

Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, then cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

What are the ingredients in Patti LaBelle's peach cobbler? ›

Ingredients For Patti LaBelle's Wicked Peach Cobbler

For this recipe, you'll need peaches, corn starch, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, butter and vanilla extract. If you're making the crust instead o buying a premade option, you'll need flour, Crisco shortening, salt and water.

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