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    HOME » Recipes » Beef

    Published: Jan 7, 2023 · Modified: Jan 15, 2023· This website generates income via ads ·

    Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe With Instant Mashed Potatoes

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Traditional shepherd's pie also referred to as cottage pie, is made with ground lamb, vegetables, and mashed potato. Shepherd's pie is the ultimate comfort food for a weeknight meal. My Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe With Instant Mashed Potatoes is a complete meal in a casserole dish! You have protein from beef, vitamins and minerals from vegetables, and starch from instant potatoes.

    My spouse described his childhood shepherd's pie with cheddar cheese, and I have not looked back in 25 years. The cheese adds so much flavor and a gooey texture to my easy shepherd's pie recipe. There are lots of shepherd's pie recipes but none are as easy as this amazing recipe.

    Baking dish with bubbly shepherd's pie being spooned out.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Enjoy This
    • Ingredients
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Optional Adaptations
    • Looking for More Yummy Casseroles?
    • Food Storage Tips
    • Recipe

    Why You'll Enjoy This

    • Budget-conscious? My calculated cost for this dish is only $2.31 per serving, coming in well below our cheap meal category of dishes under $3.00 per person!!
    • This recipe is perfect for meal preppers and planners. Make ahead and bake when ready!
    • If you are cooking for two, make the full recipe for four, assemble two casseroles, and freeze one, unbaked.
    • It is just as good the next time you bake and serve it.
    • It is an easy dinner recipe with ingredients you probably have on hand.
    • It is a comforting meal that everyone will enjoy.

    Ingredients

    All the ingredients for Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe With Instant Mashed Potatoes.

    Ingredient Notes

    • Ground Beef - Feel free to substitute any ground meat you chose, be it ground turkey, lamb, pork, or chicken.
    • Instant Mashed Potatoes - You can also use leftover mashed potatoes, packaged mashed potatoes, or mash some potatoes just for this dish. You can even use mashed sweet potatoes!
    • Frozen Vegetables - I use frozen vegetables because I always have them in the freezer. Any vegetable you like will work. Mixed vegetables with green beans are popular. You can also use fresh vegetables. If you use fresh, make sure to cut them to sizes that will cook for the same amount of time. I always blanch and par-cook fresh vegetables so that they will be fully cooked by the time the casserole is baked. Canned vegetables will work too, but might become mushy since they are already fully cooked.
    • Gravy Mix - We love the richness brown gravy gives the dish when it bubbles up over the creamy mashed potatoes. I use a gravy packet and mix it with water, but jarred gravy works well too. You can also use beef broth and a thickener like cornstarch to make your own gravy. You can even omit the gravy entirely and add a pat of butter over the hot mashed potatoes when the dish comes out of the oven.
    • Cheese - I use whatever cheese I have in the fridge. My preference is cheddar cheese for its flavor, but any grated cheese will work. If you like a traditional shepherd's pie, you can omit the cheese. I encourage you to try it once though. Got kids? They love it.

    Full ingredients list & measurements are provided in the recipe card.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Ground beef browned in a skillet.

    Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat.

    Ground beef in a small oval casserole dish.

    If serving four, add the ground beef to the bottom of a small casserole dish.

    Two small baking dishes with ground beef on the bottoms.

    If serving two, add the ground beef to two smaller casserole dishes.

    Small pot with brown gravy and whisk.

    Prepare the brown gravy according to the package directions.

    Ladle pouring brown gravy over the ground beef.

    Spoon the gravy over the ground beef. Do not cover the meat. Save the rest.

    Baking dishes with mixed vegetables on top of meat.

    Place frozen vegetables in an even layer over the ground meat mixture.

    Baking dishes with cheese layer placed on top of vegetables.

    Top the vegetables with grated cheese in an even layer.

    Prepared mashed potatoes in a bowl.

    Prepare the instant mashed potatoes according to the package directions.

    Baking sidhes with ashed potatoed placed over the top of the cheese.

    Place the mashed potatoes over the cheese to just over the top of the baking dish.

    One small baking dish cover with plastic wrap. Aluminum foil in the picture.

    If freezing one, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, then cover it with aluminum foil.

    Small baking dish with aluminum foil over top and label on top, in the freezer.

    Label with name and date and freeze for up to two months.

    Fully baked she[herd's pie with bubbly gravy along edges.

    Bake the remaining casserole for 30 mins. on medium heat, 350 degrees f.

    Shepherd's pie served on a plate.

    Optional Adaptations

    • If you like Worcestershire in your shepherd's pie, add it to the gravy.
    • If you like garlic powder in your shepherd's pie, I would add it to the meat as you are browning it, or to the gravy.
    • If you like tomato-based gravy, add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste to a cup of boiling water. Reduce it a bit over high heat, and add it over the ground meat in place of the brown gravy.
    • Add sour cream to your mashed potatoes to add a little tang to an otherwise rich dish.

    Looking for More Yummy Casseroles?

    Lasagna with red sauce and cheese.

    Lasagna with Meat Sauce and Spinach

    Individual pot pie with cauliflower crust.

    Chicken Pot Pie with Cauliflower Crust

    Food Storage Tips

    To freeze for later use, allow the casserole to come to room temperature to make sure the ingredients are not still hot. Then cover the casserole tightly with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil to create an airtight container. Label with the name of the dish and the date. Freeze for up to two months for the best results. Then when ready to eat, allow the casserole to thaw in the refrigerator for several hours before baking.

    Recipe

    Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe With Instant Mashed Potatoes

    With a couple of convenience items, my Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe With Instant Mashed Potatoes and packaged gravy mix can be ready to serve in 40 minutes!
    4.98 from 45 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course
    Main Course
    Servings 4
    Budget
    Cheap
    serving $2.31

    Equipment

    • One medium or two small baking dishes.
    • Small skillet
    • Small pot

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 ounces ground beef or other ground meat
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 cup brown gravy
    • 1.5 cups vegetables fresh or frozen
    • 1 cup cheese
    • 1.5 cups mashed potatoes
    • 1 tablespoon butter optional

    Instructions
     

    • Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat.
    • If serving four, add the ground beef to the bottom of one small casserole dish. If serving two, add the ground beef to two smaller casserole dishes to eat one now and freeze one for later.
    • Prepare the brown gravy according to the package directions.
    • Spoon the gravy over the ground beef. Do not cover the meat. The gravy should come to just under the top of the meat. Save the remainder to serve tableside if desired.
    • Place the frozen vegetables in an even layer over the ground meat mixture.
    • Top the vegetables with grated cheese in an even layer.
    • Prepare the instant mashed potatoes according to the package directions.
    • Place the mashed potatoes over the cheese to just over the top of the baking dish.
    • If freezing one, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, then cover it with aluminum foil.
    • Bake the remaining casserole for 30 mins at 350 degrees f.
    • Enjoy this dish piping hot, with a pat of (optional) butter on top, right from the oven.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 42Calories: 330kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 19gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 876mgPotassium: 327mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 3750IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 228mgIron: 2mg

    Approximate nutrition information is provided as a convenience and courtesy only. You are encouraged to do your own calculations if precise data is required.

    We take every effort to ensure that the estimated meal cost per serving is accurate. We use a meal cost analysis application that estimates the cost of a recipe based on groceries purchased at a Walmart store in my geographical area, northern California.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jere says

      January 09, 2023 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      My hubby grew up eating shepherds pie and I never have made it so your recipe is perfect for his supper. He loved it so I will be making this again.

      Reply

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    I am Mary, the blogger behind "Oh That's Good!" I am a former nurse, former hobby farm blogger, former vintage shop owner, and current food blogger. I live with my husband and our little mutt Tucker in a lovely retirement community. I am cooking for two and taking inspiration from old cookbooks, magazines, and memories of watching my mother and grandmother cook. I like reducing my food waste and exorbitant grocery bills! I am busy rewriting my recipes for two servings with the option of adjusting the recipe up to four or six servings with just one click.

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