Homemade Shepherd's Pie
Make the ultimate comfort food for your family: Homemade Shepherd's Pie (or Cottage Pie) with ground beef - simple, yummy and easy to make. See notes if you want to make this with lamb for a fully authentic version!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 clove garlic (chopped)
- 2 onions (finely chopped)
- 2 medium carrots (finely diced)
- 2 sticks celery (finely diced)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground paprika
- ground black pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons white flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/3 cup red wine (OR more broth if avoiding alcohol)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped thyme
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
- 4 cups mashed potatoes ((click for my recipe and you'll have some leftovers to sneak during cooking))
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
- 1
Brown meat and vegetables:Heat the oil over medium high heat in a large, deep skillet. Brown the ground meat, then add the chopped vegetables and sauté until softened.
- 2
Season and deglaze the pan:Sprinkle salt, paprika, pepper and flour over the pan. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring all the time, until it smells roasted (about 1 minute). Pour in the red wine (OR beef broth if you prefer!), scratching any browned bits off the bottom.
- 3
Finish filling and cool:Then stir in broth, herbs and peas, simmer 4-5 minutes and then let cool in a 7x11 inch baking dish.
- 4
Prep mash:In the meantime, make your favorite mashed potatoes. You need about 4 cups of mash to top off the casserole. About 1.5 pounds of peeled potatoes should yield enough.
- 5
Bake pie:Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Spread the mashed potatoes over the cold filling. (Be careful not to mix up the two.) Criss-cross with a fork for a great look and crispy edges! Sprinkle with the cheese. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes or until golden (I recommend baking on a lined baking sheet to catch any spills).