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Grandma’s Shepherd’s Pie for Busy Families

A comforting casserole layered with seasoned beef, creamy mashed potatoes, and vibrant vegetables, topped with golden-brown cheese for a hearty meal.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 8
Calories 254 kcal

Ingredients
  

For Shepherd's Pie:

  • 3 cups mashed potatoes or see the instant mashed potato recipe below
  • 1 ½ Tbsp butter
  • 1 egg slightly beaten
  • 2 cups lean ground beef cooked (or substitute ground lamb for a traditional Shepherd’s Pie)
  • 4 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • ¼ cup celery finely chopped
  • 4 oz can mushroom stems chopped (reserve the juice)
  • 10 oz package frozen peas and carrots cooked and drained
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Black pepper to taste
  • ⅓ cup 18% cream heated (not boiling)
  • 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tbsp butter

For the Tomato Sauce:

  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 2 Tbsp onions chopped
  • 1 Tbsp flour
  • 16 oz can of tomatoes
  • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 6 stuffed green olives sliced thin
  • ½ cup green pepper finely chopped
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ⅛ tsp sweet basil
  • Dash of cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp capers drained

Instructions
 

Shepherd’s Pie:

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F and grease a 9x13 casserole dish.
  • Spread half of the mashed potatoes on the bottom of the baking dish.
  • In a large skillet, combine the cooked beef, parsley, celery, mushrooms, peas, carrots, salt, black pepper, and hot cream. Mix well and spread over the potato layer.
  • Top with the leftover mashed potatoes, sprinkle top of the potatoes with grated Parmesan cheese, and dot with butter.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top of the mashed potatoes is golden brown.
  • While the casserole bakes, prepare the tomato sauce.

Tomato Sauce Instructions:

  • Heat butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add onions and cook until tender.
  • Stir in the flour.
  • Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and stir until well blended.
  • Add olives, green peppers, salt, basil, cayenne, sugar, and capers.
  • Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes.
  • Serve over the casserole.

Nutrition

Calories: 254kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 16gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 587mgPotassium: 515mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 542IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 2mg
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