Description
This Easy Shepherd’s Pie features a savory ground beef and vegetable filling topped with creamy homemade mashed potatoes, all broiled to golden perfection for a comforting, hearty meal that’s perfect for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
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 (homemade or store-bought)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
Topping
- 3 cups mashed potatoes (homemade recommended)
Instructions
- Prepare the Potatoes: Make a half batch of your favorite homemade mashed potatoes, or prepare store-bought mashed potatoes to total 3 cups. Set aside and keep warm while you prepare the filling.
- Prepare the Filling: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add finely diced onions and celery, sauté for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
- Cook Ground Beef: Turn heat to high and add the ground beef, cooking and crumbling until fully cooked through. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Thicken and Flavor the Filling: Reduce heat to medium-high and sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of flour, stirring to coat the beef mixture. Add 1 tablespoon tomato paste and ½ teaspoon dried thyme, cooking for 1-2 minutes to enhance flavors.
- Deglaze Pan: Pour in ½ cup chicken broth, using a silicone spatula to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan—this adds depth to your filling.
- Add Gravy and Vegetables: Stir in half of the 1 cup brown gravy and 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables. Cook until vegetables are heated through and the filling is well combined.
- Season and Adjust: Taste the filling and season with salt and pepper as needed. If you prefer a saucier filling, add the remaining gravy. Remove the pan from heat.
- Assemble the Pie: Transfer the filling into a lightly greased 9-inch pie pan or 7 x 11-inch casserole dish. Carefully spread the warm mashed potatoes evenly on top of the filling.
- Decorate Mashed Potatoes: Use a fork to rake decorative lines or patterns into the mashed potatoes to create texture that will brown nicely under the broiler.
- Broil the Pie: Position your oven rack about 5 inches from the broiler element and preheat to high broil, approximately 550°F (288°C).
- Browning: Place the shepherd’s pie under the broiler for about 5 minutes, watching closely after 2 minutes to prevent burning, until the mashed potatoes develop a crispy, golden brown top.
- Serve: Carefully remove from the oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving warm.
Notes
- Use homemade or store-bought brown gravy according to your preference; homemade will add a richer flavor.
- For a thicker filling, use less chicken broth or gravy; for a saucier filling, add more gravy.
- The broiling step requires close attention as the potatoes can quickly burn after browning.
- Substitute ground beef with ground lamb for a traditional shepherd’s pie.
- You can prepare mashed potatoes in advance and reheat before assembling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Broiling
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: Shepherd's pie, ground beef casserole, mashed potato topping, comfort food, easy dinner recipe
