A comforting and hearty classic shepherd’s pie recipe with a savory ground beef and vegetable filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Perfect for family dinners and freezer-friendly.
Author:oliviarosewood
Prep Time:25 min
Cook Time:45 min
Total Time:70 min
Yield:6 servings 1x
Category:Dinner
Method:Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 cup beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup frozen peas
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 pounds potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain and mash with milk and butter until smooth. Stir in cheddar cheese if using. Season with salt and pepper.
While potatoes boil, heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain excess fat.
Add onion, carrots, and celery to the skillet. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
Stir in garlic, thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
Stir in frozen peas. Season the meat mixture with salt and pepper to your liking.
Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat mixture in the skillet. Use a fork to create texture on top, which helps it brown nicely.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a richer flavor, you can use ground lamb instead of beef for a traditional shepherd’s pie.
Ensure your skillet is oven-safe if you plan to bake directly in it. Otherwise, transfer the filling to a baking dish before topping with mashed potatoes.
This dish freezes well. Let it cool completely, then cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven until heated through.