Traditional Shepherd's Pie with Mashed Potatoes
A classic English comfort food featuring a savory beef and vegetable filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes. This English-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, layers ground beef, carrots, celery 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 620 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
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 2, peeled and diced carrots
- 2 stalks, diced celery
- 1, diced onion
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 lbs, peeled and cubed potatoes
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook the 1.5 lbs ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until browned, breaking it into crumbles. Drain excess fat, then add the 2 diced carrots, 2 diced celery stalks, and 1 diced onion. Cook for 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
- Step 2: Add the 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, then add 1 cup beef broth and 1 tsp dried rosemary. Simmer for 5 minutes until liquid reduces slightly.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, boil the 2 lbs peeled and cubed potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes until fork-tender. Drain, then mash with 3 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup milk, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Step 4: Transfer the beef filling to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the top, using a fork to create a textured surface. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until golden and bubbly around the edges.
- Step 5: Let rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set.









