Layered Shepherd's Pie with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-08 · Updated 2026-05-08

A comforting layered shepherd's pie featuring savory ground beef and a fluffy garlic mashed potato topping baked to golden perfection. This british-inspired beef ready in about 65 minutes layers ground beef, medium, diced yellow onion, medium, diced carrot 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 520 calories and feeds 4, 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 yellow onion
• 2 medium, diced carrot
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3 large, peeled and quartered russet potatoes
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 3 large, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 3 large peeled and quartered russet potatoes into a large pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Cook for 15-18 minutes until potatoes are fork-tender.
2. Step 2: While potatoes cook, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 2 diced medium carrots, sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet with the vegetables, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned and cooked through, then stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 cup beef broth, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the meat.
4. Step 4: Stir in 1 cup frozen peas and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. Step 5: Drain the cooked potatoes and return to the pot. Add 4 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/2 cup whole milk, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Mash until smooth and fluffy. Season with salt to taste.
6. Step 6: Spread the beef mixture evenly in a 9x9-inch baking dish. Dollop the garlic mashed potatoes on top and spread evenly with a spatula. Use a fork to create shallow ridges on the surface for crisp edges.
7. Step 7: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the potato topping is lightly golden and edges are bubbling. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.