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Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's pie is a warm, comforting dish with layers of savory ground beef, vegetables, and fluffy mashed potatoes baked to golden perfection. The great part about this recipe is that by simply making extra meat and veggies, you can have a head start on a totally different meal for the next night.
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Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 2 –3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2-3 stalks celery chopped
  • 2-3 large carrots diced
  • 8 oz baby portobello mushrooms or any mushrooms you like, chopped
  • 1 can sweet corn drained
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 can fire-roasted tomatoes drained
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning or Herbs De Provence
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: 1 cup broccoli chopped; 1 cup asparagus, chopped; or any extra veggies you enjoy

For the Mashed Potatoes

  • 6 large or 8 medium Idaho gold, or russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Chicken broth as needed, for desired consistency

Topping for Shepherd's Pie

  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Prepare the meat and veggie filling:
  • In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.
  • Add garlic, onions, celery, carrots, and mushrooms to the skillet. Sauté until the veggies are soft, about 8–10 minutes. Stir in the corn, peas, and fire-roasted tomatoes.
  • Sauté any additional veggies you like, such as broccoli or asparagus, for extra texture and flavor.
  • Separate the meat and veggies for the next night:
  • Remove 1/4 to 1/2 of the cooked mixture and set it aside in an airtight container. This will be the base of your spaghetti sauce for tomorrow. You can adjust the amount depending on how hearty you like your spaghetti.

Assemble the shepherd's pie:

  • In a 13x9-inch baking dish, spread the remaining meat and vegetable mixture across the bottom.

Prepare the mashed potatoes:

  • Boil the chopped potatoes in a large pot until tender (about 15–20 minutes).
  • Drain the potatoes, then add the butter, sour cream, cream cheese, salt, and pepper. If you prefer a creamier texture, add a bit of chicken broth.
  • Mash until smooth and creamy with a hand mixer.
  • Top the meat with mashed potatoes:
  • Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat and veggie mixture in the baking dish.
  • Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously over the top.

Bake:

  • Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
  • Serve and enjoy:
  • Let the shepherd's pie cool for a few minutes before serving. Pair it with a simple side salad, and you have a satisfying meal for the whole family.