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Shepherds pie in a white baking dish with meat showing at the bottom and potatoes on top.
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5 from 3 votes

Ground Beef Shepherd's Pie

This classic Shepherd's Pie is the ultimate comfort food. It's made with hearty ground beef and veggie filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes. It's perfect for any dinner or gathering!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time55 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: beef, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Halal
Skill Level: Intermediate
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Rena Awada

Ingredients

Mashed Potato Topping

  • 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes about 7-8 medium potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • 1/2 milk of choice or as needed

Filling

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 sweet onion finely diced
  • 2 sticks celery finely diced
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and finely chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound lean ground beef used halal
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Kosher salt and pepper to taste
  • 2/3 cup chicken broth
  • 2/3 cup tomato passata
  • 1 cup frozen peas no need to thaw

Instructions

  • Start with the mashed potatoes topping. Peel and chop the 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes into big chunks. Place them into a large soup pot, covered with water. and stir in 1 tablespoon kosher salt.
  • Place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 15 minutes.
  • While the potatoes are cooking, make the filling. Heat the 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté the 1 sweet onion, 2 sticks celery, 2 medium carrots and 3-4 cloves garlic for 5 minutes.
    Cooked vegetables in a black skillet.
  • Add the 1 pound lean ground beef and cook, mincing the meat with the wooden spoon.
    Raw ground beef over cooked veggies in a black skillet.
  • Once the meat starts to brown, sprinkle it with the 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon dried thyme and season with Kosher salt and pepper. About 3-5 minutes.
  • Add the 2/3 cup chicken broth, 2/3 cup tomato passata and 1 cup frozen peas. Stir well to combine and simmer the sauce until it begins to thicken, around 5-7 minutes.
    Pouring liquid from a measuring cup over beef and peas in a skillet.
  • Transfer the sauce to a 13 x 9 oven-safe dish and preheat the oven to 450F.
  • To make the mashed potatoes, drain the cooked potatoes and mash with the 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream, or sour cream, and 1/2 milk of choice. Season, if needed.
    A hand using a potato masher to mash potatoes in a steel pot.
  • Spoon the mashed potatoes over the meat mixture into the dish.
    A white casserole dish. with a dollop of potatoes on top.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until bubbly. Broil for 2-4 minutes to give a nice charred top.
    Shepherds pie in a white baking dish with meat showing at the bottom and potatoes on top.

Notes

  • Technically a cottage pie since it is made with ground beef instead of ground lamb.
  • Don’t rush the browning process – Let the meat cook until it’s nice and brown for extra flavor.
  • For an extra creamy topping, add a splash more milk if the mashed potatoes seem too thick.
  • Don’t forget the broiling step – A little char on the top makes the pie extra special!

 

Nutrition

Calories: 414kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1651mg | Potassium: 1568mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3748IU | Vitamin C: 62mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 5mg