IMPRESSIVE!! The combination of ground beef, vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes makes the best Shepherd’s Pie recipe. This hearty meal is perfect to prepare for weekday evenings or Sunday dinner !!
INGREDIENTS
– 1 1/2 to 2 pounds potatoes (about 3 large potatoes), peeled and quartered
– 8 Tablespoons (1 stick) butter
– 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
– 1-2 cups vegetables—diced carrots, corn, peas
– 1 1/2 lbs ground round beef
– 1/2 cup beef broth
– 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
– Salt, pepper, other seasonings of choice
HOW TO MAKE IT :
1. Boil the potatoes: in medium sized pot, place the peeled and quartered potatoes and cover with at least an inch of cold water. Next add a teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes, or until tender.
2. Sauté vegetables: On medium heat, in a large sauté pan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter while the potatoes are cooking. The add the chopped onions and cook for about 6 to 10 minutes (until tender).
It’s best to add vegetables, if included, according to their cooking time. Make sure to cook carrots with the onions, because they take as long to cook as the onions do.
It’s best to add peas or corn, if included, toward the end of the cooking of the onions, or after the meat starts to cook, because they take very little cooking time.
3. Add the ground beef, then Worcestershire sauce and broth: Add ground beef to the pan with the onions and vegetables and cook until no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the Worcestershire sauce and beef broth then please bring the broth to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Then immediately cook uncovered for about 10 minutes, adding more beef broth if necessary to keep the meat from drying out.
4. Mash the cooked potatoes: Now that the potatoes are done cooking (a fork can easily pierce), you may want to remove them from the pot and place them in a bowl with the remaining 4 Tbsp of butter. Using a fork or potato masher, mash and then season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Layer the meat mixture and mashed potatoes in a casserole dish: Preheat oven to 400°F. Now please spread the beef, onions, and vegetables (if using) in an even layer in a large baking dish (8×13 casserole).
Make sure to spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the ground beef then rough up the surface of the mashed potatoes with a fork so there are peaks that will get well browned. To make creative designs in the mashed potatoes, you can also use a fork .
6. Bake in oven: Place in a 400°F oven and cook for 30 minutes, or until browned and bubbling. You may also broil for the last few minutes (if necessary) to help the surface of the mashed potatoes brown.
Suggested variations:
Put a layer of creamed corn between the ground beef and the mashed potatoes.
Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the top of the mashed potatoes before baking.