Shepherd’s Pie with Garlic Mashed Potato Crust
A hearty and comforting shepherd’s pie featuring a savory ground beef and vegetable filling topped with creamy garlic mashed potatoes baked to golden perfection. This British-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 60 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
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 lbs, peeled and cubed potatoes
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Boil 2 lbs peeled and cubed potatoes in salted water until fork-tender, about 15 minutes.
- Step 2: While potatoes cook, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 diced onion and 2 diced carrots, sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
- Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, cooking until beef is browned and no longer pink, about 7 minutes.
- Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 cup beef broth, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 cup frozen peas, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.
- Step 5: Drain potatoes and mash with 4 tbsp butter, 1/2 cup milk, and additional salt to taste until creamy and smooth.
- Step 6: Transfer beef mixture to a 9x9-inch baking dish, spreading evenly. Top with mashed potatoes and smooth with a spatula.
- Step 7: Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes until the potato crust is lightly golden and edges are bubbly. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.







