Ultimate Comfort Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef and Veggies Recipe
Introduction
This Shepherd’s Pie is the ultimate comfort food, blending seasoned ground beef and mixed vegetables under a creamy mashed potato topping. Baked to golden perfection, it’s a hearty and satisfying dish perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds potatoes (peeled and cut into big chunks)
- 4 tablespoons butter (half a stick)
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ to ½ cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 cups frozen peas, carrots, and corn medley
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Step 2: Boil the potatoes in water to cover until fork tender, then drain.
- Step 3: Mash potatoes with butter, sour cream, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Step 4: In a large skillet, brown ground beef with diced onion and minced garlic. Drain excess grease.
- Step 5: Add frozen vegetable medley to the skillet and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Step 6: Sprinkle flour over the meat and vegetables, stirring to combine.
- Step 7: Stir in tomato paste, then add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Simmer on low uncovered for 10 minutes, adding broth if needed to keep moist.
- Step 8: Remove from heat and discard bay leaf. Spread meat mixture evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick spray.
- Step 9: Spread mashed potatoes over the meat layer evenly. For extra texture, use a fork to create ridges in the potatoes, which will brown nicely during baking.
- Step 10: Bake for 30 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling. Optionally, broil for a few minutes to brown the potatoes further.
Tips & Variations
- Allow the meat filling to cool for about 20 minutes before topping with mashed potatoes to prevent sinking.
- Try piping the mashed potatoes for an elegant presentation before baking.
- Use leftover cooked vegetables or fresh diced vegetables if preferred instead of frozen mix.
- For a richer flavor, add a splash of cream to the mashed potatoes.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through to keep the topping crisp. You can also microwave individual portions, but the texture may soften.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use ground lamb instead of ground beef?
Yes, ground lamb is traditional in Shepherd’s Pie and will add a richer flavor to the dish.
Can I prepare this recipe in advance?
Absolutely. Prepare the filling and mashed potatoes separately, then assemble and bake when ready. You can also freeze the assembled pie before baking for up to 1 month.
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Ultimate Comfort Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef and Veggies Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
Description
This classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe is the ultimate comfort food, featuring a savory ground beef and mixed vegetable filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes, all baked to golden perfection. It’s a hearty American dinner casserole that will satisfy your cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients for mashed potato topping:
- 2 pounds potatoes (peeled and cut into big chunks)
- 4 tablespoons butter (half a stick)
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ to ½ cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
Ingredients for filling:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 cups frozen peas, carrots, and corn medley
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook potatoes: Boil the peeled and chunked potatoes in water until they are fork tender, then drain the water completely.
- Mash potatoes: Add butter, sour cream, milk, salt, and pepper to the drained potatoes, then mash with a hand masher or mixer until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Brown beef and aromatics: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat along with diced onions and minced garlic. Drain any excess grease to keep the filling from being too oily.
- Cook vegetables: Add the frozen vegetable medley to the skillet with the beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally to heat through.
- Thicken filling: Sprinkle flour over the meat and vegetables, stirring well to coat everything evenly.
- Add flavorings: Stir in tomato paste, then add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding broth if needed to keep it moist.
- Assemble the pie: Remove the bay leaf and spread the meat and vegetable mixture evenly in a 9×13-inch casserole dish sprayed with nonstick spray.
- Top with mashed potatoes: Layer the mashed potatoes on top of the meat filling evenly. Optionally, pipe the potatoes decoratively or spread them with a spoon and create ridges with a fork to help them brown nicely.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top.
- Optional broiling: For extra browning, you can place the pie under the broiler for a few minutes at the end of baking.
Notes
- Allow the meat filling to cool for about 20 minutes in the casserole dish before layering the mashed potatoes to prevent sinking.
- You can pipe the mashed potatoes for a decorative look or simply spread and texture with a fork to create browning ridges.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Dinner Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Shepherd’s Pie, Comfort Food, Mashed Potatoes, Ground Beef Casserole, American Dinner
