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This shepherd’s pie recipe is the kind of food that you serve to your man when you want something.  A new purse, a new car, a new baby…the sky is the limit.  It’s that delicious.

This isn’t diet food, Ladies.  This is straight-up comfort food at its finest.

One of the things I love about shepherd’s pie is that it’s a full meal in one casserole dish.  No need for sides.

Another thing I love is that my 2 year old gobbles it up.

I mean, look at this.  Who wouldn’t?!

Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Unlike the traditional shepherd’s pie with lamb, I make my shepherd’s pie with ground beef.

I also make my own simple sauce instead of using gooey condensed soup.

And behold the secret ingredient: Good ‘ole fashioned American cheese.

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - cheese

This shepherd’s pie recipe starts on your stovetop and ends in your oven, so it takes more time than the ’15-Minute Recipes’ in my cookbooks.

If you’re looking for quick recipes, check out my slow cooker party pork and BBQ chicken foil packs.  Save this recipe for special occasions and days when you have more time in the kitchen.

You can also prepare this shepherd’s pie earlier in the day when your little ones are happy and store it in the refrigerator until it’s time to bake for dinner.  (I love cooking while my 2 year old naps.)

You can bet I’ll also be freezing a pan of this shepherd’s pie to enjoy after my third baby arrives this fall.  To freeze, simply prepare to Step 9 and cool to room temperature instead of baking.  Then you can cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 3 months in a standard freezer.  (In a previous blog post, I shared my best freezer meal tips for beginners.)

Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped (about one cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups 2% milk (or whatever you have on-hand), divided
  • 3/4 cup beef broth (If you buy a can with 2 cups, you can use the leftover broth in my Slow Cooker Spicy Pepper Beef recipe)
  • 1.5 cups frozen corn
  • 6 medium-sized russet potatoes
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 slices of American cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Add ground beef, onions, and garlic to a pan and cook on medium-high heat until beef is cooked through and onions are translucent.

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - ground beef

3.  In a large non-stick pan, create sauce: Melt 1/4 cup butter.  Add flour, and stir to combine.  Add 1 cup milk and beef broth and bring to boil.  Boil 90 seconds.  Reduce heat, and simmer 2-5 minutes, until thickened.

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - sauce

4. Add ground beef mixture to sauce pan.  Add corn, and reduce heat to low.

(At this point your house is starting to smell heavenly and you’re thinking about how much you love me for sharing this recipe.)

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - corn

5. Add water to a medium-sized pot and bring to boil.

6. Peel, wash, and chop potatoes into 1″ cubes.

(They don’t have to be exact.  You have little kids.  Time is of the essence.)

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - potatoes

7. Add potatoes to pot and bring to boil.  Boil 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft.  Strain and return to pan.

8. Heat remaining 1 cup milk in the microwave for 90 seconds and then add to cooked potatoes along with remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  (Heating the milk helps give your mashed potatoes a creamy texture.)

Mash.

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - butter

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - mashed

9. Layer ground beef mixture, slices of cheese, and mashed potatoes in an 8×8 casserole dish.

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - add cheese

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - spread

10. Bake 30-45 minutes, until bubbly and starting to brown around edges.

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - baked

Nitty-Gritty Directions (without pics)

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Add ground beef, onions, and garlic to a pan and cook on medium-high heat until beef is cooked through and onions are translucent.
  3. In a large non-stick pan, create sauce: Melt 1/4 cup butter.  Add flour, and stir to combine.  Add 1 cup milk and beef broth and bring to boil.  Boil 90 seconds.  Reduce heat, and simmer 2-5 minutes, until thickened.
  4. Add ground beef mixture to sauce pan.  Add corn, and reduce heat to low.
  5. Add water to a medium-sized pot and bring to boil.
  6. Peel, wash, and chop potatoes into 1″ cubes.
  7. Add potatoes to pot and bring to boil.  Boil 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft.  Strain and return to pan.
  8. Heat remaining 1 cup milk in the microwave for 90 seconds and then add to cooked potatoes along with remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  Mash.
  9. Layer ground beef mixture, slices of cheese, and mashed potatoes in an 8×8 casserole dish.
  10. Bake 30-45 minutes, until bubbly and starting to brown around edges.

Remove from oven and try to resist eating for 5 minutes to set.

Serve!

Shepherd's Pie Recipe from @kellymcnelis

Shepherd's Pie Recipe from @kellymcnelis 2

Question: Have you ever made shepherd’s pie before?  What’s your favorite comfort food?

 

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Bea Logan
Bea Logan
10 years ago

Instead of cream sauce in the ground beef, I use canned tomato sauce (maybe even diced tomatoes). Delicious and not “gooey”. And you added another “vegetable” to the dish.

Tierra
Tierra
9 years ago

What would baking time be after freezing? I’m making one now and freezing one for after baby – eta 6/1/14.

Myra
Myra
9 years ago

I use a recipe very similar to this, but for the sauce, we use canned creamed corn. I don’t remember where I even picked it up from, but it gives a mild sweet to the savory. I never thought to put the cheese under the potatoes, but I really like the idea. It won’t scorch if it is in an extra couple of minutes. Very good idea. I’ll try it next time.

Ellen
Ellen
9 years ago

I love this recipe. I always make shepherd’s pie after the holidays when I have tons of mashed potatoes left {I always make too many, but they never go to waste}. I am making freezer meals for the month, would this be one I could freeze? And if I thaw if overnight and all day, would it be thawed enough for the regular cooking time? I try to pull tomorrow’s meal out of the freezer when I pull tonight’s meal out of the fridge. Your recipe is radically different from mine, so thought it would give the kids and hubby… Read more »

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Nikki
Nikki
9 years ago

In England we call it Cottage Pie when its made with beef and Shepherds Pie when its made with lamb. It’s a great family meal as you can bulk out the ground meat with baked beans or mixed veg to make it go further. Delicious and comforting winter food and can be cooked and frozen.

ruth
ruth
7 years ago
Reply to  Nikki

Thank you Nikki, Cottage Pie sounds great! and I agree with adding more on the side to stretch and help stop over indulging in the deliciousness.