Shepherds Pie Ground Beef (Print Version)
Comforting casserole with savory beef filling and creamy mashed potato topping, baked until golden.
# What You Need:
→ Filling
01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 large carrots, diced
05 - 1.1 lbs ground beef
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 1 cup frozen peas
08 - 1 cup frozen corn
09 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
12 - 1 cup beef broth
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Mashed Potato Topping
14 - 2.5 lbs potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
15 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 - 1/2 cup milk, plus more as needed
17 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Optional Garnish
18 - Chopped fresh parsley
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Place potatoes in a large pot of salted water and boil until fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot. Mash with butter and milk, adding more milk if needed for desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
03 - While potatoes cook, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and carrots, sautéing until softened, about 5 minutes.
04 - Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 8 minutes.
05 - Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary. Stir well to combine and coat the meat evenly.
06 - Pour in beef broth and bring to a simmer. Cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in frozen peas and corn. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Transfer beef mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes evenly over the filling. Use a fork to create ridges on the surface for better browning.
08 - Bake for 25 minutes until the top is lightly golden and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
09 - For a crispier potato topping, switch to broil and cook for 2-3 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
10 - Let the shepherd's pie rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Everything bakes together in one dish, which means less cleanup and more time for seconds
- The mashed potato topping creates this incredible golden crust that everyone fights over
- It tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or unexpected guests
02 -
- Don't skip the fork ridges on the potatoes because they create those irresistible crispy browned bits everyone fights over
- Letting the dish rest for those 5 minutes seems impossible but it keeps the filling from running all over the plate
03 -
- Warming the milk before adding it to the potatoes keeps them hot and easier to mash
- Adding an egg yolk to the mashed potatoes creates an even more golden and luxurious topping