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shepherd's cheesy pie

(3 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Brenda Downey
Hollywood, FL

My husband and I personally really love this shepherd's pie recipe. This is one of our favorite ones. I hope you enjoy it the same as we do!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

How do you make a shepherd's pie recipe even better? Add cheese! Brenda tops her recipe with a layer of cheddar cheese that, when baked, adds a nice crust on top of the creamy mashed potatoes. Layered with meat and mixed vegetables (corn, peas, and carrots), this is a simple casserole and you probably have the ingredients in your kitchen already. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any time you're looking for a comforting meal. It's a great make-ahead recipe too. Just prepare the shepherd's pie and refrigerate until ready to bake.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(3 ratings)
yield 8 to 10 servings
prep time 45 Min
cook time 30 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For shepherd's cheesy pie

  • 1-1/2 to 2 lb
    ground beef, 90 - 96% lean
  • 1 lg
    onion, chopped
  • 1 pkg
    Lipton's soup and dip mix (1 packet)
  • 2 tsp
    beef base concentrated beef stock (or two beef buillions)
  • 2 c
    water
  • 3 Tbsp
    corn starch
  • 1 1/2 c
    peas or mixed vegetables (either)
  • 5 md
    potatoes (cut up and simmered until soft)
  • 1/2 c
    milk
  • 4 Tbsp
    butter
  • 2 - 3 c
    cheddar cheese
  • 4 Tbsp
    shredded Parmasan cheese (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp
    black pepper
  • salt and pepper, to taste

How To Make shepherd's cheesy pie

  • Drained browned beef on a plate.
    1
    In a large skillet, fry the hamburger until fully cooked. Drain the grease from the hamburger, by spooning out the hamburger onto a plate by using a slotted spoon, and then dumping and discarding grease from skillet. Keep hamburger on plate until further use. Note: Meanwhile, Fill kettle with about 3-4 quarts of water and add the lid. Place kettle on another burner using high heat and bring to a boil while cooking hamburger mixture. This is preparing to make the mash potatoes.
  • Onions sauteeing in a skillet.
    2
    Add onion to skillet and cook until they are translucent If need oil, add some butter (1 tbsp) to skillet if you wish.
  • Mixed vegetables and browned meat added to the skillet.
    3
    When the onion is translucent, add the fried hamburger meat to skillet. Stir both onion and hamburger together in the skillet. Add the peas or mixed vegetables stirring them into the hamburger mixture. Set hamburger mixture aside until gravy is made.
  • Making the gravy in a saucepan.
    4
    Beef Gravy Steps: Take the Lipton onion packet and put it inside a small 1-quart pan. Add two cups of water and stir. Put the pan over high heat and heat to boiling. Then add two teaspoons of the beef stock concentrate (or two bouillon cubes), and stir. Then turn down to simmer for ten minutes. After ten minutes of simmering, bring the mixture back to boiling. Gradually add 3 Tbsp of corn starch, whisking rapidly as you sprinkle it into the boiling mixture until it is all dissolved (not clumped). Keep stirring until mixture is thicker, like a gravy consistency. Add the beef gravy to the hamburger mixture. Cook hamburger mixture on low for another five minutes. Add lid to skillet when cooking.
  • Draining cooked potatoes for the mashed potatoes.
    5
    Mashed Potatoes Steps: Wash the potatoes and then peel. Cut potatoes into 2 3-inch sections and place them in the boiling water of kettle (water must be boiling). Add lid onto kettle and turn down to simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes or until soft. Once potatoes are cooked, drain them using a colander. Discard all the remaining water (carefully).
  • Making the mashed potatoes.
    6
    Add the potatoes to your mixer, or using a masher, mash them (whatever way is best... I use a mixer). After they are completely mashed, add butter. Stir and blend into the potatoes. Gradually add the milk, a little bit at a time, until the potatoes are a fluffy consistency. You may need more milk, in case it is too clumpy. Make sure the potatoes are fluffy and not runny (why a little milk at a time is required). Sprinkle with salt and pepper (to your taste).
  • Shepherd's Cheesy Pie with cheese melted on top.
    7
    Add the hamburger mixture to a 3 - 4 quart baking dish, spreading it evenly in the dish. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp of pepper (and salt if desired) over the hamburger mixture. Add the mashed potato mixture evenly over top the hamburger mixture. Add the 2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese evenly over top the mashed potato mixture. (You can also add the shredded Parmesan cheese but is optional.) Bake in oven for 30 minutes on 400 degrees.
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