Description
This easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe combines a hearty ground beef and vegetable filling with creamy homemade mashed potatoes, creating a comforting, classic dish perfect for weeknight dinners or cozy meals. Made from scratch with simple ingredients, it offers savory flavors with tender vegetables and rich gravy topping.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 rib celery, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb. ground beef (85% lean)
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup brown gravy (prepared)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
For the Topping
- 3 cups homemade mashed potatoes (about half a batch of the recipe)
Instructions
- Prepare the Potatoes. Boil and mash potatoes according to your preferred mashed potato recipe to yield about 3 cups. Set aside while you prepare the filling.
- Prepare the Filling. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add diced onions and celery and sauté for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Cook the Ground Beef. Increase heat to high and add ground beef to the pan. Cook, breaking it apart, until fully browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Thicken and Flavor. Reduce heat to medium-high. Sprinkle flour over the cooked beef mixture and toss to coat evenly. Stir in tomato paste and dried thyme. Cook for 1-2 minutes to develop flavor.
- Deglaze the Pan. Pour in chicken broth and use a silicone spatula to scrape the browned bits from the pan bottom; these add rich flavor to your filling.
- Add Gravy and Vegetables. Stir in half of the brown gravy, then mix in frozen mixed vegetables. Cook until the vegetables are heated through.
- Season. Taste the filling and adjust salt, pepper, and additional gravy as needed. Remove the pan from heat.
- Assemble the Shepherd’s Pie. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie pan or 7×11-inch casserole dish. Transfer the beef and vegetable filling into the dish. Carefully spread the warm mashed potatoes evenly on top of the filling.
- Create the Topping Texture. Using a fork, make rake-like lines over the surface of the mashed potatoes to create texture that will crisp nicely if baked (optional step for appearance and crisping if baking).
Notes
- Use homemade brown gravy or store-bought for convenience; adjust amount to preferred consistency and flavor.
- Ensure to drain excess fat after browning meat to prevent greasy filling.
- To add a golden crust, bake assembled pie at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes until the mashed potatoes are slightly browned (optional).
- Frozen mixed vegetables typically contain carrots, peas, and corn; you can substitute with fresh vegetables if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Stovetop
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Shepherd's pie, ground beef, mashed potatoes, comfort food, easy dinner, classic recipe
