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Cozy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe with Leftover Mashed Potatoes

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A quick and comforting shepherd’s pie made with leftover mashed potatoes, ground meat, and simple pantry staples, ready in just 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups (700g) leftover mashed potatoes
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef or lamb
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 1 cup (150g) frozen peas
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup (240ml) beef broth
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves or ½ tsp dried thyme
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and diced carrots, cooking for about 5 minutes until softened.
  3. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until aromatic.
  4. Brown the ground meat in the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, cooking for 6-8 minutes until no pink remains.
  5. Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme; cook for 1-2 minutes to deepen flavors.
  6. Add beef broth and frozen peas. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 5 minutes until mixture thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. If mashed potatoes are too loose, stir in a tablespoon of flour or instant potato flakes to thicken. For extra creaminess, fold in 1 tablespoon of butter.
  8. Transfer the meat and vegetable filling into a baking dish, spreading evenly.
  9. Top with leftover mashed potatoes, smoothing out with a spatula or fork, creating rustic peaks or swirls.
  10. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the topping is golden and crisp at the edges.
  11. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

If mashed potatoes are watery, thicken with flour or instant potato flakes before topping. Tent with foil if the top browns too quickly. Stir filling occasionally while simmering to prevent burning. For vegetarian version, substitute meat with lentils or mushrooms and use vegetable broth. To keep topping moist, add butter or cream to mashed potatoes.

Nutrition

Keywords: shepherd's pie, leftover mashed potatoes, quick dinner, comfort food, easy recipe, ground beef, family meal

Find it online: https://twinkletaste.com/cozy-shepherds-pie-recipe-with-leftover-mashed-potatoes-in-30-minutes-easy-and-perfect/