Easy Shepherd’s Pie

If you want comfort food, you’ve come to the right recipe.  One of my favorite comfort food recipes is my easy shepherd’s pie.  It’s filling and warm and perfect for any weather.

Typically, shepherd’s pie is made with lamb or mutton.  For me, lamb can be pricey and mutton is difficult to find, so I use ground beef or ground turkey to make my version of shepherd’s pie.  

Did you know that shepherd’s pie is also known as cottage pie?  According to Wikipedia, it was first made when potatoes were considered a food that was affordable for those who lived in modest, cottage homes.

No matter what you call it, this dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner.  You can even make the ground beef filling ahead of time and freeze it, cutting the prep time in half!

Here’s the recipe!

Easy Shepherd's Pie

2014-10-04 17:47:36

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Beef Filling

1. 2 lbs of ground beef
2. 6 oz of tomato paste
3. 12 oz of frozen mixed vegetables
4. 2 tsp salt
5. 1 tsp onion powder
6. 1 tsp garlic powder
7. 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

Mashed Potatoes

1. 4 medium potatoes (peeled and chopped)
2. 1/2 cup of milk
3. 1/4 cup butter
4. 1 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375.
2. In a large pot, boil enough water to cook the potatoes.
3. In a large pot or skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat.
4. Peel and chop the potatoes while the water is boiling and the ground beef is cooking.
5. When the water boils, add the chopped potatoes and boil until soft.
6. When the ground beef is cooked, add the tomato paste, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper and vegetables.
7. Stir to combine.
8. When the potatoes are done, drain the water from them and return them to the pot.
9. Add the milk, butter and salt and mix with a mixer until the potatoes are creamy.
10. Pour the ground beef mixture into a 13X9 baking dish and spread to cover the dish evenly.
11. Add the potatoes to the top of the mixture and spread to cover the beef evenly.
12. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Notes

1. Adding cheese to the top of the potatoes is recommended. One of my sons doesn't like cheese with this dish, so I usually add cheese to only half of it as soon as it comes out of the oven.

By Allison Goines

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