Beef Shepherds Pie Cheddar (Printable)
Savory beef and vegetables topped with creamy cheddar mashed potatoes, baked to golden perfection.
# What You’ll Need:
→ For the Beef Filling
01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 carrots, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1.5 lbs ground beef
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
13 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
14 - 1 cup beef stock
15 - 1 cup frozen peas
→ For the Cheddar Mash
16 - 2.5 lbs potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
17 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
18 - ½ cup whole milk, warmed
19 - 1½ cups sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté for 6–8 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned.
04 - Mix in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.
05 - Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir well. Add beef stock, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes until thickened. Stir in frozen peas, remove from heat.
06 - Meanwhile, boil potatoes in salted water for 15–20 minutes until fork-tender. Drain well.
07 - Mash potatoes with butter and warm milk until smooth. Fold in grated Cheddar until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
08 - Spoon the beef filling into a large baking dish. Spread Cheddar mash evenly on top, creating peaks with a fork.
09 - Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden and filling is bubbling. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The rich beef filling underneath creates such a satisfying contrast with the creamy, cheesy potato topping that everyone goes back for seconds.
- This recipe tastes even better the next day, making it the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights or unexpected guests.
02 -
- Letting the assembled pie rest for at least 10 minutes after baking is crucial because it helps the filling set and makes serving so much cleaner.
- Freezing the assembled, unbaked pie works wonderfully, just add an extra 15 to 20 minutes to the baking time when cooking from frozen.
03 -
- Rinse the frozen peas under warm water before adding them to the beef so they do not cool down the filling.
- Use a piping bag with a large star tip for the potatoes if you want the dish to look extra impressive for guests.