Fluffy mashed sweet potatoes top a saucy mixture of seasoned ground beef and vegetables to make this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie.

Can you Make Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potatoes?

Yes, you can! Traditionally, a shepherd’s pie is topped with mashed potatoes. However, in this recipe, savory sweet potatoes create a welcome depth of flavor in this dish.

While we’re talking about traditional shepherds pie, let’s go ahead and note that classic shepherds pies are made with ground lamb vs the more popular beef today. For my everyday cooking though, ground beef is simply more accessible.

The beef here is seasoned with Italian seasonings and a splash of balsamic vinegar. In addition to that, a bit of green chile is in the mix as well. While you can certainly skip the chile, it works nicely to enhance the flavors without bringing much heat at all.

Most people call this type of dish a shepherd’s pie regardless of the meat inside it. Technically, when made with beef, this is a Rancher Pie or a Cottage Pie. (Though many believe that a cottage pie should be made with layered slices of potatoes vs the mashed potatoes that are more common.)

In other words, you’ll never please everyone. So, call it whatever you like, but rest assured it will be devoured just about as soon as it hits the table.

Mouthwatering is not the word I typically use to describe a shepherd pie or a cottage pie. This is man food, right? Truth be told I have never been a big fan of dishes featuring ground beef as a main component.

I have come to love the simple flavor and the way I can add a few easy ingredients to create a delicious and filling meal for my hungry crew. Filling them up in a budget-friendly way is not an easy feat! Ground beef has become my best friend in the process.

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Broiled Tilapia with a lemon garlic marinade is quite frankly the easiest and some of the best fish I have ever made.

Broiled Tilapia

The garlicky lemon marinade was absolutely perfect for the tilapia. I can imagine using this marinade again and again with all kinds of different meats.

I was inspired to try broiling tilapia after I saw this recipe over at Mel’s Kitchen Cafe. I’m so glad I tried the broiler because it turned out perfectly. This recipe is a keeper for sure.

How To Broil Tilapia

Tilapia is finished cooking when it flakes apart with a fork and is opaque or white all the way through. Remember that fish will keep cooking once you remove it from the oven, so be sure to remove it a minute or two early.

For those of us in the midwest, Tilapia is a great way to change up meal time and enjoy seafood in a rather budget-friendly way. Tilapia is a freshwater farm-raised fish that is high in protein and considered low in saturated fat.

I have found it to be super simple to prepare and it tastes fantastic with a simple marinade and cooks in less than 10 minutes, sometimes less than 5 minutes. Fast and flavorful, I think we can all agree on the awesomeness of that combination.

How Long to Broil Tilapia

Broiling has become my favorite way to prepare fish. It takes just minutes and (as long as I watch it closely!) it almost always turns out well. If the broiler intimidates you, did you know that you can broil with the oven door open? You may need to add a minute, but it still works beautifully.

Depending on the size of your Tilapia filets broiling for this recipe takes very little time. I have found the sweet spot to be about 4-7 minutes depending on the size and thickness of the filets.

All the ingredients we love in classic Chinese Egg Rolls come together in this Egg Roll Stir Fry recipe. This is an irresistible bowl of deconstructed egg rolls and you’re going to love it.

Don’t skip the crispy fried wonton strips on top to give your meal a true egg roll flavor and crunch!

Egg Roll Skillet

It’s not exactly a secret that I love Chinese food. From Kung Pao Chicken to Egg Drop Soup, very few things make me happier than all those garlicky savory-sweet flavors coming together in one meal.

Most of the time, I prefer to skip the take out order and make my own favorite Chinese inspired recipes at home–it’s usually just as fast and way more budget-friendly.

However, when it comes to egg rolls I don’t always have the time or patience to wrap the filling in individual egg roll wrappers.

That’s where this deconstructed egg roll comes to the rescue! This dish is everything I love about pork egg rolls made in a quick and easy Egg Roll Stir-Fry.

If you could happily eat a whole meal of just egg rolls then you’re going to LOVE this Egg Roll in a Bowl! 

Deconstructed Egg Rolls

Cooked in a skillet, this easy weeknight meal is exactly what the name suggests: an egg roll unwrapped, deconstructed and served in a bowl.

While you could make a similar eggroll in a bowl with ground beef or ground turkey, I’m partial to the ground pork in this version. The pork is cooked with fresh ginger and garlic for that authentic flavor I can’t get enough of.

The ginger and chili paste in this egg roll stir-fry give the dish a bit of a kick that replicates the best egg rolls from my favorite Chinese restaurants.

Soy sauce and 5-Spice complete the irresistibly savory flavor profile while just a touch of cornstarch helps the sauce thicken up to the perfect texture.

I used a bag of coleslaw mix to make this even quick

Loaded Baked Potatoes with Homemade Cheese Sauce

The baked potatoes get sliced in half, baked in the oven and then loaded with bacon, broccoli and homemade cheese sauce. A super, easy family favorite dish on your table in 30 minutes.

Loaded baked potatoes are a very popular in our house. I mean, who doesn’t love bacon, broccoli, and cheese stuffed in a baked potato? It’s a  glorious combination we just can’t get enough of. It’s also an easy dinner option to feed the family or to feed a crowd. I’d like to know if there’s one person out there who hasn’t had a baked potato bar at a family reunion, girls’ camp, scout camp, church function, etc. You get the point! Cheesy baked potatoes just make people happy!

What Do I Need to Make Baked Potatoes?

One of the best things about baked potatoes is that they only take 4 ingredients to make, and they are failproof! Here is what you will need for the potatoes:

• Russet Potatoes – wash them well, and slice them half
• Olive Oil – rub it all over the potatoes, this helps them get so nice and crispy
• Salt and Pepper – adds flavor

Ingredients for Homemade Cheese Sauce

You won’t believe how simple it is to make cheese sauce at home. The ingredients for the base sauce are most likely items you already have at home and the things you add to it are totally up to you…though broccoli and bacon are a dream team with this cheese sauce! Here is what you will need:

• Whole Milk – it has to be whole milk, don’t use any other type of milk
• Butter – unsalted, adds flavor and richness
• Flour – just simple all-purpose works great
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese – sharp cheddar adds that bold cheesy flavor that shines in this sauce
• Hot Sauce – adds a just a hint of heat and flavor you don’t want to miss
• Cayenne Pepper – feel free to add more if you want the cheese to be more spicy
• Broccoli – steamed and chopped into very small pieces
• Bacon – cooked until crispy and chopped into small bits
• Salt and Pepper – add flavor

The measurements for each ingredient and instructions for making this recipe can all be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

What Potatoes Are Best For Baking?

Starchy potatoes such as Russet and sweet potatoes are best for baking or roasting. They work the best for the dry heat of an oven and end up with a fluffy c

Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’ve had a fun week in the sunshine while visiting friends in Utah. Shawn, Natalie, and I did an easy hike on Aspiration Trail one morning and snapped this photo at the top.

There are hundreds of rocks lining the path all the way up the hill and it was a great way to spend some time outdoors. If you’re visiting the St. George area, this walk/hike needs to be on your to-do list.

ON THE BLOG this week: Is there anything better than coming home to the smell of a meal that’s simmering in the crock-pot? Making corned beef and cabbage in the slow cooker is so easy it practically makes itself.

Lucky enough to have corned beef leftover? Crispy hot potatoes and cabbage are combined with bites of tender, salty, corned beef to create the corned beef and cabbage hash of your dreams.

My husband’s favorite soup takes all of the Reuben flavors you love and combines them in a steaming hot bowl of soup, perfect for these chilly nights. Don’t skip the rye bread for serving with the soup, it adds the perfect final touch.

For something a little different next time you’re making corned beef, baked corned beef with honey mustard glaze turns out moist and juicy with a sticky sweet glaze on top that no one can resist.

Tender, salty, corned beef, bite-size chunks of potatoes, and shredded green cabbage are combined in a savory broth to make this hearty corned beef soup. This meal never fails to make everyone in my family happy.

Chicken and vegetables simmer in a creamy filling underneath a flaky biscuit topping to make these individual chicken pot pies. Prefer a casserole? Just bake it that way instead. Whichever way you choose to make it, this dinner disappears fast.

Tired of making banana bread when those bananas on the counter have passed their prime? Banana pancakes with chocolate chips are a quick, easy breakfast that I’d happily eat for dessert as well.

Air fryer Brussels sprouts are the popcorn of the vegetable world. There is no way you can eat just one – they are such a great snack or side. I feel like brussels sprouts are finally getting the attention they have long deserved. Eat straight out of the air fryer or drizzled with a balsamic glaze, I could happily snack on these every day. 

What I’m CRAVING: These banana split freezer bites look like a lot of fun and they could al