Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients
For the Mashed Potatoes
- 6 medium russet potatoes
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- salt, to taste
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
For the Ground Beef Filling
- 1½ pounds ground beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, medium dice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups diced carrots
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 teaspoon dry thyme leaves
For the Gravy
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
For the Mashed Potatoes
- Peel potatoes and cut into chunks. Put in sauce pot and fill pot with cool water to cover the potatoes. Add salt, to taste. Bring the potatoes to a boil and cook until fork tender. Drain well.
- Mash potatoes well. Blend in the cream cheese. Thin with a little milk, if needed. Taste and correct seasonings, if needed.
For the Hamburger Filling
- While the potatoes are cooking, make the hamburger filling. Over medium heat, heat a large, deep skillet. When hot, add the olive oil to the skillet. Add ground beef and break apart to brown.
- Sprinkle with granulated onion, granulated garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the onions, garlic, carrots. Cook, covered, over medium or medium low heat until carrots are tender. Stir as needed. Stir in peas.
For the Gravy
- Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Butter a 2-quart casserole, set aside.
- Over medium low heat, melt the butter in the pan with the hamburger and vegetables. Sprinkle the flour over top. Stir to combine well, until the flour cannot be seen. Cook, stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes.
- While stirring, add the beef broth. Be careful because the liquid may spatter and steam will rise.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce and seasoning salt. Cook and stir until gravy has thickened. Transfer all to the prepared baking dish.
Finishing
- Top with the mashed potatoes; spread potatoes evenly. Note: it is easier to work with a somewhat looser mashed potato. Add more milk, if necessary. Sprinkle the grated cheese over the mashed potatoes.
- Place casserole dish on a lined baking pan to catch any spills from the hamburger filling while baking. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Notes
You may notice in the picture at the top of the page that I topped the casserole with breadcrumbs. This, of course, is completely optional. I used 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs mixed with 2 tablespoons melted butter.