Description
A hearty and easy shepherd’s pie recipe, perfect for a comforting family dinner. This classic dish features a savory ground meat and vegetable filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Topping:
- 4 large Russet Potatoes
- 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter
- 1/2 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1/2 cup Milk or Half-and-Half
- 1 large Egg Yolk
- For the Filling:
- 2 tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 large Yellow Onion
- 2 cloves Garlic Cloves
- 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
- 1 pound Lean Ground Beef or Ground Lamb
- 2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Beef Broth or Chicken Broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Fresh Thyme
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 cup Frozen Peas and Carrots
Instructions
- Cut the russet potatoes into uniform chunks, cover with water in a pot, and bring to a boil. Cook until fork-tender, about 12-16 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
- Mash the potatoes until smooth, then mix in the unsalted butter, Parmesan cheese, kosher salt, ground black pepper, milk, and egg yolk. Stir until creamy and fluffy.
- Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped yellow onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until it softens.
- Stir in minced garlic and tomato paste before adding the lean ground beef or lamb, cooking until browned.
- Sprinkle in the all-purpose flour, stirring well. Gradually add the beef or chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, fresh thyme, and bay leaf. Let it simmer until the mixture thickens, around 10 minutes.
- In a baking dish, layer the meat and vegetable filling, spreading it evenly. Top with the creamy mashed potatoes, smoothing out the surface.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
- Allow to cool briefly before serving.
Notes
- Optional: Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley for a touch of color.
- For a dairy-free version, omit the egg yolk and use olive oil instead of butter in the topping.
- Substitute ground turkey or plant-based alternatives for a lighter twist on the filling.
- Feel free to add extra vegetables like corn or green beans to the filling.
- If your filling seems too greasy, drain off excess fat after browning the meat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg