Are you ready to spice up your dinner routine with a new twist on a classic comfort food? If so, then this recipe is for you! Introducing the Southwestern Shepherd’s Pie, a casserole that combines the savory flavors of a traditional Shepherd’s Pie with a southwestern kick.
Picture this: a meaty mixture of lean ground beef or turkey, black beans, corn, and red and green bell peppers, seasoned with chili powder, cumin, and tomato paste, all simmering together on medium heat in a large skillet. Meanwhile, in another large pot, sweet potatoes are boiling away until fork-tender, ready to be mashed with a little bit of butter, salt, and black pepper.
When the meat mixture is ready, it gets transferred to a casserole dish and topped with the mashed sweet potatoes. A sprinkle of cheddar cheese on top, and into the oven it goes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Sounds amazing, right? Well, the good news is that it’s also easy to make, perfect for weeknight dinners when you don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen. Plus, it’s a great way to switch up your usual dinner routine and add some extra flavor to your life.
Additional Tips
Saute Onion and Garlic for Extra Flavor
To add even more depth of flavor to the meat mixture, saute the yellow onion and garlic in olive oil until they are softened and fragrant before adding the ground beef or turkey.
Add Some Extra Spice
If you like things on the spicier side, add some diced green chiles or a few dashes of hot sauce to the meat mixture.
Serve with Green Beans or Mixed Vegetables
To balance out the richness of the casserole, serve it with some steamed green beans or mixed vegetables on the side.
Looking for more variations of this recipe?
For a Sausage Shepherd’s Pie recipe, combine sausage, ground pork, and adobo sauce in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour the mixture into a lightly greased 9-inch square baking dish and top with mashed potatoes. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes.
For a Vegan Shepherd’s Pie recipe, replace the meat with lentils or chickpeas and the cheese with a vegan alternative.
For a Gluten-Free Shepherd’s Pie recipe, skip the bread crumbs and make sure your other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
We hope you enjoy this Southwestern Shepherd’s Pie recipe as much as we do! Don’t forget to top it with some fresh cilantro leaves for an extra pop of color and flavor. If you make it, let us know how it turns out in the comments below.
Southwestern Shepherd's Pie Recipe
This hearty Southwestern Shepherd's Pie combines seasoned ground meat, black beans, and corn, all topped with a layer of creamy sweet potato mash and melted cheddar cheese. The result is a flavorful and satisfying dish that's perfect for a cozy family dinner or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can corn, drained
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1/2 cup beef or chicken broth
- 4 cups mashed sweet potatoes
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add the onion, red and green bell peppers, jalapeño pepper, and garlic. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
- Add the chili powder, cumin, and oregano to the skillet and stir to combine.
- Add the black beans, corn, salsa, and broth to the skillet. Stir well and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the mixture has thickened.
- Transfer the meat mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Spread the mashed sweet potatoes over the top of the meat mixture.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top of the sweet potatoes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can use ground beef or ground turkey for the meat in this recipe, depending on your preference or dietary restrictions.
- If you don't have sweet potatoes on hand, you can use regular potatoes or even mashed cauliflower instead.
- For a spicier version, you can leave the seeds in the jalapeño pepper or add some cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the meat mixture.
- The recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but you can also use a blend of Mexican cheeses or a vegan cheese alternative if desired.
- To make the dish more colorful, you can use a mix of red, green, and yellow bell peppers.
- You can garnish the finished dish with chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado, or a dollop of sour cream if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1/Amount Per Serving: Calories: 570Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 739mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 7gSugar: 20gProtein: 32g