Easy Shepherd’s Pie
What?! Another recipe so soon? 🙂 Yep! This is a favorite meal in our family. I actually have to try hard not to make it once a week, because I really don’t want us to get tired of it! 🙂
If you’re in the market for an easy supper recipe that’s full of flavor (and nutritious veggies!), then you’ll have to try this out. Shepherd’s pie is another type of hot dish or casserole, and this meal is definitely one to have ready in your arsenal when your family is hungry and it’s time for something comforting that’s still packed full of good food!
Shepherd’s pie is typically a mixture of cooked meat and veggies, underneath a layer of mashed potatoes. This shepherd’s pie recipe involves a really delicious homemade gravy/sauce stirred into the meat and veggie layer, which boosts the flavor and makes everyone want more!
And I love how simple it is to make – it feels almost too easy preparation-wise, in exchange for the amount of flavor you get! You do pop it in the oven briefly, but that’s just to broil it – everything is fully cooked already by that point!
My daughter is a light eater, but she typically has at least 3(!) servings when we have shepherd’s pie for supper! (And she loves saying “shepherd’s pie,” since she’s getting into saying 3 syllable ‘words’ lately. Just imagine Sophie chanting “Shep-herd’s Pie! Shep-herd’s Pie!”) This is a great hearty meal for little ones, and it’s easy to incorporate lots of veggies, too.
RELATED READING: Superfood Breakfast Cookies
I have tweaked this recipe enough from the original (quantity-wise and ingredient-wise) that I feel comfortable sharing my own version here on my blog! I’ll note right now that the original recipe I used to use wanted me to boil and mash my own potatoes. I honestly find it easiest to purchase pre-made mashed potatoes. It saves me a lot of time and effort, although this recipe would be great if you wanted to boil and prepare your own!
Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef
salt & pepper
3 large carrots, peeled and diced (you want small pieces, so they’ll cook fairly quickly)
3/4 of a white onion, chopped
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups beef broth
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen corn
paprika (to sprinkle on top)
mashed potatoes (I like to buy the kind that are pre-made)
Directions:
Season the meat generously with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, brown the beef, spooning away the fat. Add diced carrot and chopped onion to the meat, cooking veggies for at least 5 minutes or until they are a bit softer.
In a second small skillet, melt butter. Quickly whisk in flour until smooth. Cook butter and flour together for about 2-3 minutes, whisking frequently. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce, and let the gravy thicken for a minute or two.
Add gravy to your meat and vegetable mixture. Stir in the frozen peas and corn, and cook for a few more minutes until the peas and corn have heated up. Preheat broiler to high, leaving open open a crack.
Pour the entire meat/veggie/gravy mixture into a 13×9 casserole dish. Spoon your mashed potatoes on top, and spread them out evenly. Sprinkle paprika on top of the potatoes and broil on high, leaving oven open a crack, until potatoes are warm or golden brown! (We’re usually impatient by this point and only broil for 6 minutes or so – but that’s fine, since everything is already fully cooked by this point!)
Enjoy!!
I can’t wait to hear if you try this recipe! If you make it, please feel free to comment below OR tag me on Instagram (@hannahbeeolson) so I can see! 🙂 Happy eating, friends!
PS – if you enjoy breakfast recipes, be sure to check out our Superfood Breakfast Cookies!