Description
This Classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe features a savory ground beef filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked to golden perfection. Enhanced with red wine, bacon, fresh thyme, and peas, this hearty comfort dish is perfect for a family dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1½ pounds 90% lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon water
Vegetables and Bacon
- 4 oz bacon, diced (about 3 slices thick-cut bacon)
- 2 medium yellow onions, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped chives
Filling Liquids and Seasonings
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Mashed Potatoes
- 2½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch chunks
- ¼ cup half & half
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Tenderize the Meat Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon water. Mash the ingredients with your hand to mix thoroughly. Let the mixture rest for 20 minutes to tenderize the meat.
- Prepare the Mashed Potatoes: Place the peeled and chopped potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered until potatoes are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain well and return potatoes to the pan over medium heat; stir and mash with a wooden spoon or masher until dry and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream, butter, half & half, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Mash until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning if needed and set aside.
- Cook the Bacon and Vegetables: Heat a 12-inch oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add diced bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the skillet. Add diced onions and carrots to the bacon fat and cook until softened and starting to brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Deglaze and Build the Filling: Pour in the red wine and raise heat to high. Boil, scraping the browned bits from the pan, until the wine is reduced by half. Stir in the flour to dissolve. Add the reserved ground beef mixture, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook on high, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Simmer the Filling: Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring and scraping any browned bits from the pan, until the mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Stir in fresh thyme, black pepper, frozen peas, and the reserved cooked bacon. Warm through and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Assemble the Shepherd’s Pie: Evenly dollop the mashed potatoes over the beef mixture in the skillet. Use a rubber or offset spatula to spread the potatoes evenly to the edges of the pan. Use a fork to create ridges on the potato surface for texture and browning.
- Bake the Pie: Place the skillet on a baking sheet to catch drips and bake in the preheated 375°F oven until the filling is hot and bubbly and the potato topping is lightly browned, about 30 minutes. For a golden crust, broil for an additional 5 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle chopped chives over the top, and serve warm. If you do not have an oven-safe skillet, transfer the meat mixture to a 2.5-quart casserole dish and spread the potatoes over before baking.
Notes
- Letting the ground beef mixture rest with baking soda helps tenderize the meat and improves texture.
- Using russet potatoes ensures a fluffy and creamy mashed potato topping.
- Baking in an oven-proof skillet simplifies assembly and baking; alternatively, use a casserole dish.
- Broiling at the end adds a beautifully crisp and golden potato topping.
- Adjust seasoning of mashed potatoes and filling to taste before baking.
