In these cold, wintry months I am craving comfort food. Simple and delicious comfort food to be exact. I found this recipe for Shepherd’s Pie originally from Chef GZ on Food Network, but mom-ified it (not modified, mom-ified 😉 ) with a few shortcuts to make it easier! Technically this is cottage pie because it uses ground beef instead of ground lamb, but I prefer to call it Shepherd’s Pie, anyway. This recipe makes enough for a crowd so plan on having leftovers!
One-Pot Shepherd’s Pie
A large and delicious shepherd's pie, made with easy mom-hacks so that it's both yummy and simple to make!
Ingredients
- 2 bags frozen mashed potatoes Need around 18oz of frozen mased potato medallions, or 1.5 bags from Trader Joes
- 2 tbs canola oil
- 1/2 yellow onion diced
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar will do
- 1 1/2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- additonal chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- For the mashed potatoes: follow your package instructions for thawing your mashed potatoes in the microwave. Typically put a certain number of mashed potato medallions in a microwave safe bowl, cover with syran wrap and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Carefully remove the wrap and mash with a fork as much as you can. Re-cover and put back in the microwave for another 3 minutes. Voila! Repeat this process until you have about 18 oz. or 1.5 bags of Trader Joes frozen mashed potatoes now warm and mased. Set aside.
- While you're microwaving your mashed potatoes, prep your other ingredients: chop onion and parsley.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large oven safe pan (I prefer my cast-iron), heat the oil over medium high heat. Once hot, add the chopped onions and dried rosemary and cook (stirring regularly) for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the ground beef to the onion mixture and season with salt and pepper. Cook the ground beef, breaking it up as you go, until the meat is cooked through (about 5 minutes).
- Add the tomato paste, flour and vinegar and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken stock and the frozen peas and carrots and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper again and add in the chopped parsley.
- Turn off the heat and add the mashed potatoes on top of the ground beef and vegetable mixture. Drizzle with the melted butter and sprinkle the Parmesean on top.
- Bake in the oven until the top is lightly browned (about 30 minutes). Garnish with additional parsley!
What’s your favorite comfort food to make? Any go-to recipes during the winter that you use to warm up your family?
