Description
Comforting shepherd’s pie delivers classic British warmth with hearty ground lamb, rich gravy, and creamy mashed potato topping. Perfect weeknight dinner brings rustic charm and satisfying flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Meat:
- 1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
Vegetables:
- 3/4 cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 rib celery, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
Seasoning and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup brown gravy
- Salt
- Pepper
Topping:
- 3 cups mashed potatoes
Instructions
- Submerge potatoes in generously salted water, simmering for 15-20 minutes until effortlessly pierced with a fork.
- Drain potatoes completely and return to hot pan, allowing residual heat to evaporate excess moisture.
- Incorporate softened butter and warm milk, gently mashing with a potato masher until creamy yet maintaining a light, fluffy consistency.
- Delicately season potato mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- In a large skillet, brown ground meat over medium-high heat until no pink remains, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Add diced onions, minced garlic, and aromatic herbs, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Sprinkle flour over meat mixture, stirring to create a light coating that will help thicken the sauce.
- Pour in beef broth and tomato paste, stirring continuously to develop rich, complex flavors.
- Introduce frozen mixed vegetables, simmering until liquid reduces and mixture becomes slightly thickened.
- Transfer meat filling to a baking dish, creating an even, compact layer.
- Carefully spread seasoned mashed potatoes over meat filling, using a fork to create decorative peaks for crispy edges.
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 25-30 minutes, until potato topping turns golden brown and filling bubbles around edges.
- Allow pie to rest for 10 minutes before serving, enabling flavors to settle and making portioning easier.
Notes
- Choose waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold for the creamiest mashed potato topping that spreads smoothly and browns beautifully.
- Drain potatoes thoroughly after boiling to prevent excess moisture from making the pie soggy and ensuring a perfectly fluffy texture.
- Let the mashed potatoes cool slightly before spreading to help them maintain structure and create a more stable top layer on the pie.
- For a lighter version, swap whole milk with low-fat milk or use Greek yogurt instead of butter to reduce calories while keeping the creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg