Shepherds Pie ground beef (Printable)
Hearty dish of seasoned ground beef and vegetables topped with creamy mashed potatoes, baked to golden.
# What You Need:
→ For the Filling
01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
05 - 1 celery stalk, diced
06 - 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 1 1/2 cups beef broth
09 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
12 - 1 cup frozen peas
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ For the Mashed Potato Topping
14 - 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
15 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 - 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed
17 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
18 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Boil the potatoes in a large pot of salted water until fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well.
03 - Mash the potatoes with butter, warm milk, Parmesan if using, salt, and pepper until creamy. Set aside.
04 - While potatoes cook, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 2-3 minutes until soft.
05 - Add carrots and celery; cook for another 4-5 minutes.
06 - Stir in ground beef; cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat if needed.
07 - Mix in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
08 - Pour in beef broth; simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes until slightly thickened.
09 - Stir in frozen peas; cook 2 minutes more.
10 - Transfer the beef mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat filling; use a fork to create ridges for browning.
11 - Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is lightly golden. Broil for 2-3 minutes if a crispier top is desired.
12 - Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between that crispy ridged potato crust and the rich beef underneath is the kind of comfort food that actually silences a table
- It reheats beautifully and somehow tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had time to really settle in and become friends
02 -
- I learned the hard way that if your potato layer is too thick, it wont heat through before the top burns, so aim for about an inch of topping spread evenly
- Creating those fork ridges is not optional if you want the crispy texture contrast that makes this dish feel special instead of like something you threw together
03 -
- Warming the milk before adding it to the potatoes prevents that gummy texture that happens when cold dairy hits hot potatoes
- Taste your beef filling before you top it with potatoes because once its assembled, you cannot adjust the seasoning