Beef Shepherds Pie with Peas (Printable View)
Savory ground beef, tender vegetables, and sweet peas layered with creamy mashed potato topping. Baked until golden.
# Ingredient List:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 1 celery stalk, diced
06 - 1.5 pounds ground beef
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1 cup beef broth
14 - 1.5 cups frozen peas
→ Mashed Potato Topping
15 - 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
16 - 0.25 cup whole milk
17 - 3.5 tablespoons unsalted butter
18 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
19 - 0.25 teaspoon white pepper
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Place potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water, and add a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15-18 minutes until fork-tender.
02 - While potatoes cook, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
05 - Add beef broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in frozen peas and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken slightly. Remove from heat.
06 - Drain the cooked potatoes. Mash with milk, butter, salt, and white pepper until smooth and creamy.
07 - Spread the beef filling evenly in a 2-quart baking dish. Top with mashed potatoes, spreading to cover completely. Use a fork to create ridges for extra crispiness.
08 - Bake for 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling at the edges. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The contrast between the silky mashed potatoes and savory beef filling creates this magical mouthfeel that somehow manages to be both rustic and sophisticated.
- Its the perfect make-ahead meal that actually improves overnight as the flavors meld together in the refrigerator.
02 -
- Letting the shepherd's pie rest for at least 10 minutes after baking isnt optional, its essential for the filling to set so it doesnt collapse when you serve it.
- The fork marks on top arent just decorative, they create more surface area that gets beautifully golden and crisp in the oven.
03 -
- When spreading the mashed potatoes over the filling, place dollops all over the surface first then gently spread them together rather than starting from the center, which can cause the filling to mix with the potatoes.
- If youre short on time, use your food processor to chop all the vegetables at once, pulsing until theyre uniformly diced but not pureed.