Description
A hearty and comforting Shepherd’s Pie featuring ground beef, mixed vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes baked to golden perfection. This classic dish is perfect for a family meal, combining savory flavors and easy preparation.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 1/2 cups mild chunky salsa
- 15 ounce can mixed vegetables, drained
Topping
- 4 cups prepared instant mashed potatoes
Garnish
- Minced fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to get it ready for baking the shepherd’s pie.
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a frying pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef with garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper for about 5-7 minutes. The beef should still have a slight pink center while the outside is browned. Drain off any grease.
- Thicken the Mixture: Stir in the cornstarch until combined with the beef mixture to help thicken the sauce.
- Add Salsa: Slowly add the mild chunky salsa to the beef mixture, mixing well. Heat over medium until it begins bubbling.
- Cook and Combine Ingredients: Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until the mixture thickens and is cooked through. Remove from heat and fold in the drained mixed vegetables.
- Layer the Pie: Spoon the beef and vegetable mixture evenly into a 9.5-inch deep pie plate or baking dish.
- Add Mashed Potato Topping: Spread the prepared instant mashed potatoes evenly over the top of the meat and vegetable layer.
- Bake: Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the meat mixture is bubbly and the mashed potatoes are golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle with minced fresh parsley if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- Using instant mashed potatoes makes preparation quick and easy, but homemade mashed potatoes can be used for a richer flavor.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground lamb for a traditional shepherd’s pie.
- Drain the vegetables well to avoid excess moisture making the pie soggy.
- If you like a crispy potato topping, place the shepherd’s pie under the broiler for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking—watch carefully to prevent burning.
- This recipe serves 5 but can be doubled for larger groups.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/5 of pie)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
