Shepherds Pie Comfort Casserole (Printable)

Savory ground meat and veggies topped with creamy mashed potatoes, baked to a golden finish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meat Filling

01 - 2 lbs ground beef or ground lamb
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 1 cup frozen peas
06 - 1 cup frozen corn
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
11 - 1 cup beef or chicken broth
12 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Mashed Potato Topping

15 - 2½ lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
16 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
17 - ½ cup whole milk
18 - ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
19 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How To:

01 - Set oven to 400°F to prepare for baking.
02 - Boil peeled potatoes in salted water for 15 to 20 minutes until fork-tender, then drain thoroughly.
03 - Mash the drained potatoes with butter and whole milk until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Fold in shredded cheddar if desired and set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté onions and carrots for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
05 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Incorporate ground beef or lamb, breaking it apart, and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
06 - Mix in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle flour evenly over the mixture and stir thoroughly.
07 - Pour in broth and simmer for 5 minutes to thicken. Stir in peas and corn, cooking for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.
08 - Transfer meat filling evenly into a 9x13-inch baking dish.
09 - Spread mashed potatoes over the meat filling, smoothing the surface. Use a fork to create ridges for a crisp finish.
10 - Bake the assembled dish for 25 to 30 minutes until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbling.
11 - Allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes prior to serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • One dish that feels like a warm hug and comes together faster than you'd expect.
  • The crispy potato top and savory meat filling create the perfect contrast that keeps people asking for seconds.
  • You can prep everything ahead and bake when guests arrive, making it the ultimate low-stress dinner.
02 -
  • Drain excess fat from the meat before adding the flour, or you'll end up with a greasy filling that separates instead of thickening properly.
  • Make sure your potato topping completely covers the filling, or the edges will dry out and separate from the sides of the dish.
  • The resting time before serving isn't just courtesy—it lets everything set so it slices cleanly instead of falling apart on the plate.
03 -
  • Keep the broiler door open briefly if your topping isn't golden after 25 minutes—sometimes ovens run cool, and the filling might need extra heat without overcooking the potatoes.
  • If the kitchen smells like it's burning but the top isn't golden yet, cover the dish loosely with foil and drop the oven temperature by 25 degrees to finish gently.
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