Beef Shepherds Pie Peas (Printable Version)
Comforting baked dish with ground beef, peas, and creamy mashed potato topping.
# Ingredient List:
→ Filling
01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 1.1 pounds ground beef
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
08 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
09 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
13 - ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons beef broth
14 - 1 cup frozen peas
→ Mashed Potato Topping
15 - 2.6 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed
16 - ¼ cup milk
17 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
18 - 1 egg yolk (optional)
19 - Salt and pepper to taste
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - Set the oven to 400°F (200°C) to preheat.
02 - Place peeled and cubed potatoes into salted boiling water; cook until tender, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
03 - Mash potatoes with butter and milk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Incorporate the egg yolk if using. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and diced carrots; sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
05 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until fully browned and no longer pink, about 7 to 8 minutes.
06 - Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to meld flavors.
07 - Sprinkle flour evenly over the mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute to remove raw flour flavor.
08 - Pour in beef broth gradually, stirring to deglaze the pan and incorporate browned bits. Simmer for 5 minutes until mixture thickens.
09 - Add frozen peas and cook for 2 more minutes until heated through.
10 - Transfer beef filling into a baking dish. Spoon mashed potatoes over the top and spread evenly. Optionally, use a fork to create a decorative pattern.
11 - Place assembled dish in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the topping is golden and filling is bubbling.
12 - Allow the dish to rest for 10 minutes to set before serving.
# Tips from hearthlykitchen:
01 -
- It's genuinely a one-dish dinner that feels substantial enough to feed a table of hungry people.
- The savory beef layer stays moist under that golden potato blanket, no matter how long it sits.
- You can make it ahead and pop it in the oven when life gets hectic.
02 -
- Don't skip draining the potatoes thoroughly—waterlogged potatoes make a heavy, gluey topping instead of a creamy one.
- If your filling seems too thin before baking, the peas will release more moisture and thicken it further, so trust the process.
03 -
- Make sure your beef broth is well-seasoned on its own—a bland broth means a bland filling no matter what else you add.
- Let the potatoes cool slightly before mixing in the egg yolk so you don't scramble it.