Dinner Comfort Food Beef Classic

The Best Shepherd's Pie

Hearty and easy shepherd’s pie packed full of seasoned beef and vegetables, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and parmesan cheese.

Prep Time 35m
Cook Time 30m
Total Time 65m
Yield 8 servings

Beef & Vegetable Filling

  • Butter or olive oil 2 tablespoons
  • Medium onion (finely diced) 1
  • Large carrot (finely diced) 1
  • Garlic (minced) 2 cloves
  • Ground beef (lean preferred) 1 lb
  • Tomato paste 2 tablespoons
  • All-purpose flour 2 tablespoons
  • Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons
  • Italian seasoning 3 teaspoons
  • Beef broth 1 cup
  • Salt 1/2 teaspoon
  • Black pepper 1/2 teaspoon
  • Frozen peas 1 cup

Creamy Potato Mash

  • Russet potatoes (peeled and halved) 2 lbs
  • Salted butter (4 tablespoons) 1/2 cup
  • Heavy cream (or milk) 1/3 cup
  • Salt 1/2 teaspoon
  • Parmesan cheese (freshly grated) 1/2 cup
Dinner Comfort Food Beef Classic

The Best Shepherd's Pie

Prep: 35m Cook: 30m Total: 65m Yield: 8 servings

Meat Filling

1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and garlic; cook 5-7 minutes until softened.

2

Add beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain excess fat.

3

Stir in tomato paste, flour, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, beef stock, salt, pepper, and peas. Simmer for a few minutes until thickened. Transfer to an 8x11 dish.

Potato Mash

4

Add potatoes to heavily salted cold water and bring to a boil. Cook until fork tender (10-20 mins).

5

Drain and add potatoes back to the pot. Add butter, cream, and salt; mash until smooth.

Assembly & Baking

6

Spread mashed potatoes over the filling. Fluff with a fork to create peaks and sprinkle with parmesan.

7

Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Use the broiler for extra browning if needed.

Baker's Notes

  • • Taste the filling and the mash separately to ensure they are properly seasoned.
  • • This is a great use for leftover mashed potatoes.