Baked Shepherd's Pie with Savory Beef and Mashed Potato Crust

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-09 · Updated 2026-05-09

A comforting shepherd's pie featuring a rich ground beef filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes baked to golden perfection. This British-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, layers ground beef, onion, carrots into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium, diced onion
• 2 medium, diced carrots
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 lbs, peeled and quartered potatoes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 2 lbs peeled and quartered potatoes into a large pot and cover with cold water. Add 1 tsp salt and bring to a boil, cooking for 15-20 minutes until fork-tender.
2. Step 2: While potatoes cook, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced onion and 2 diced carrots, sautéing for 5 minutes until softened. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef to skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Sprinkle 2 tbsp all-purpose flour over the beef and stir for 1 minute to cook the flour.
4. Step 4: Stir in 1 cup beef broth, 2 tbsp tomato paste, and 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, simmering for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the beef mixture. Stir in 1 cup frozen peas, then season with 1/2 tsp black pepper. Remove from heat.
5. Step 5: Drain potatoes and return to pot. Add 4 tbsp butter and 1/2 cup milk, mashing until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Step 6: Transfer beef mixture into a 9x9-inch baking dish, spreading evenly. Spoon mashed potatoes on top and spread with a spatula, creating peaks for a crispy edge.
7. Step 7: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the potato crust is golden and edges bubble. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.