Classic Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef and Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Classic comfort food doesn’t get much better than this Classic Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef and Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Savory ground beef is simmered with onions, mushrooms, carrots, Marsala wine, and Worcestershire sauce, then topped with a thick layer of mashed potatoes and baked until golden. It’s a hearty, make-ahead friendly dinner that’s perfect for using leftover mashed potatoes and feeding a hungry family.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt (divided)
- ½ teaspoon pepper (divided)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 4 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons Marsala wine
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 carrots (cut into bite size pieces)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 6 cups Mashed Potatoes
Instructions
- Add ground beef to a bowl and add 2 tablespoons water, baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt and a ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Combine and set aside.
- Add olive oil to a 10 inch oven proof skillet, Add onions and mushrooms along with ½ teaspoon salt and a ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Cook until they are soft. Add ground beef and cook until browned.
- Add tomato paste and garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes. Add Marsala and cook until it has evaporated.
- Add chopped carrots, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cook until the carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.
- Combine cornstarch and a tablespoon of water and pour into the mixture, Add flour and cook about 1 minute. Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs.
- Turn the oven to broil and place the oven rack at least 6 inches from the broiler.
- Top with mashed potatoes and smooth with a spoon. Place under the broiler for about 5 minutes until the mixture is bubbly and the potatoes have turned a golden brown.
Barbara's Notes + Tips
- You can use ground lamb or chicken instead of beef. If using chicken, use chicken broth instead of beef.
- You can leave out the wine and use extra broth.
- You can use frozen mashed potatoes, let thaw completely before adding.
- You can use less mashed potatoes, you will need about 3 cups to cover the meat.
- If you don't have an oven proof skillet, put the meat mixture in a 9 x 13 baking dish and cover with mashed potatoes.
- Here is a recipe for Mashed Potatoes along with a video.
Nutrition
Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 363mg | Potassium: 869mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2585IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2mg
