Description
This Easy Shepherd’s Pie is a classic comfort food featuring a savory ground beef and vegetable filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes, baked to golden perfection. Ready in just 45 minutes, it’s a hearty dish perfect for family dinners and satisfying meals any night of the week.
Ingredients
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cup frozen pea and carrot mix
- 2 pounds ground beef
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
Other
- 2 cups prepared brown gravy (store bought or homemade)
- 4 cups instant mashed potatoes (or homemade mashed potatoes)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 400℉. Lightly grease a 9×11 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Sauté Vegetables: In a large 12-inch skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and frozen pea/carrot mix, sautéing over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and beginning to caramelize.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet along with salt, black pepper, dried rosemary, thyme, and granulated garlic. Break up the meat with a wooden spatula and cook until browned and no longer pink throughout.
- Simmer with Gravy: Pour in the 2 cups of prepared brown gravy. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing the gravy to thicken slightly and flavors to meld. Then remove from heat.
- Assemble the Pie: Transfer the beef and vegetable mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Spread 4 cups of prepared mashed potatoes evenly on top of the beef mixture, smoothing the surface.
- Bake Shepherd’s Pie: Place the baking dish on a sheet pan to catch any overflow. Bake in the preheated oven at 400℉ for 20 minutes, until the filling is bubbling on the sides and the mashed potato topping turns a light golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the shepherd’s pie rest for 15 minutes before serving to allow it to set for easier slicing and enhanced flavor distribution. Enjoy your comforting meal!
Notes
- Use fresh or homemade mashed potatoes if desired instead of instant for a richer flavor.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground lamb to make a more traditional shepherd’s pie.
- For a thicker filling, reduce the amount of gravy slightly or simmer longer.
- Adding a sprinkle of shredded cheese on top of the mashed potatoes before baking can add a delicious cheesy crust.
- This dish can be made ahead and refrigerated; reheat covered with foil at 350℉ until warmed through.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
