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Classic Shepherd’s Pie

Serves Serves 8-10     adjust servings

Ingredients

For the mashed potatoes

  • 5 pounds potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1 or 2 inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup milk, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

For the beef mixture

  • 4 tablespoons (half stick) salted butter
  • 1 medium onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
  • 4-5 medium carrots, (about 1 and 1/2 to 2 cups)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups frozen peas
  • 1 and 1/2 pounds ground ground beef
  • 1 and 1/2 cups beef broth*
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Beef paste* (see note)
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Fill a large stock pot with plenty of water. Add the chopped potatoes and make sure the water covers them.
  2. Bring to a boil, covered, over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and continue boiling for about 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are fork tender.
  3. Drain the potatoes and return to the pot.
  4. Add 1/2 cup butter. Mash with a potato masher or mixer until they are as smooth as you like them.
  5. Stir in sour cream, milk, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, seasoning salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. All seasonings are to taste. Cover and set aside.
  6. In a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat.
  7. Add the onions and carrots. Saute for about 8 minutes, until the carrots are tender.
  8. Add the ground beef and cook and crumble until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes.
  9. Drain the fat.
  10. Add the frozen peas.
  11. In a small bowl, stir together beef broth* and cornstarch.
  12. Add this mixture to the meat, as well as the Worcestershire sauce.
  13. Cook over high heat for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture boils and the sauce has thickened. Cook and reduce until it has reached a consistency you like.
  14. Season with salt and pepper. Taste it and see how you like it! Add other seasonings if you want.
  15. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  16. Pour the meat mixture into a deep 9x13 inch casserole dish.
  17. Top with the mashed potatoes and spread evenly.
  18. Top with cheddar cheese.
  19. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, or until bubbly. (You could do 375 if you are in a hurry. Check it at 20 minutes.)
  20. Broil on the top rack for about 2 minutes if you are obsessed with crunchy brown cheese like my family is. Don't walk away!!
  21. Now invite over the neighbors. Because this pie feeds a crowd!

by

Recipe Notes

*I'm a little obsessed with Better Than Bouillon. I use 1 teaspoon of the stuff per cup of water to equal however many cups of broth I need. (so for this recipe, 1 and 1/2 cups water + 1 and 1/2 teaspoons paste.) I tried this the second time with 1 and 1/2 cups beef broth from a box, but I still added one teaspoon of Better than Bouillon. It just adds so much flavor!

All of the seasonings in the mashed potatoes are totally according to taste, of course! If it doesn't taste like you want to eat 12 more bites when you taste it, add more salt :)

All images and text © The Food Charlatan