Shepherd’s Pie with Garlic Mashed Potato Topping
A comforting classic featuring savory ground beef and vegetables beneath a fluffy garlic mashed potato crust. This British-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, layers ground beef, carrot, onion 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 480 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 carrot
- 1 medium, diced onion
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 lbs, peeled and quartered potatoes
- 4 tbsp butter
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Boil 2 lbs peeled and quartered potatoes in salted water for 15-20 minutes until fork-tender.
- Step 2: While potatoes cook, heat 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 diced onion and 1 diced carrot, sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
- Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook until browned, about 7-8 minutes. Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1 cup beef broth, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1 cup frozen peas. Cook for 5 minutes until thickened, seasoning with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 4: Drain potatoes and mash with 4 tbsp butter, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1/2 cup milk until smooth and fluffy.
- Step 5: Spoon the beef mixture evenly into a 9x9-inch baking dish, then spread the mashed potatoes over the top, smoothing with a spatula.
- Step 6: Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until the topping is golden and edges are bubbling. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.








