Easy Shepherds Pie (Print version)
Classic British comfort food with seasoned beef, vegetables, and fluffy mashed potato topping baked to golden perfection.
# Ingredient List:
→ For the Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 1 cup frozen peas
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 1 cup beef broth
08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tsp dried thyme
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - ½ tsp black pepper
12 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
→ For the Mashed Potato Topping
13 - 2 lbs Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
14 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
15 - ½ cup milk
16 - ½ tsp salt
17 - ¼ tsp black pepper
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Place potatoes in a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well.
03 - While potatoes cook, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and carrots, sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
04 - Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and no longer pink.
05 - Stir in tomato paste, cook 1 minute. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes. Stir in peas, cook 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.
06 - Mash the drained potatoes with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
07 - Spread the beef mixture evenly in a 2-quart baking dish. Top with mashed potatoes, spreading to cover the filling completely.
08 - Use a fork to create ridges on the surface. Bake for 20 minutes or until the top is lightly golden and filling is bubbling.
09 - Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The way the creamy mashed potatoes soak up all those savory juices underneath creates this incredible flavor exchange that makes every bite feel like a discovery.
- It reheats beautifully and somehow tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had extra time to become best friends.
02 -
- Dry potatoes are the enemy so make sure you drain them really well and let them steam in the hot pot for a minute before mashing.
- That fork ridge trick isn't just for looks it creates way more surface area for crispy golden bits to form.
03 -
- Warming your milk before adding it to the potatoes keeps them hot and absorbs more easily.
- If your filling seems too juicy add a tablespoon of flour when you add the tomato paste.