Description
This Classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe features a savory ground beef filling enriched with bacon, red wine, and fresh thyme, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked to golden perfection. A comforting, hearty dish perfect for family dinners that combines tenderized meat, flavorful vegetables, and rich mashed potato crust.
Ingredients
Meat Mixture
- 1½ pounds 90% lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt (for meat)
- 1 tablespoon water
Vegetables and Bacon
- 4 oz bacon, diced (about 3 slices thick-cut bacon)
- 2 medium yellow onions, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup frozen peas
Sauce and Seasoning
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt (divided; 1 tsp in meat, 1 tsp in potatoes)
Mashed Potatoes
- 2½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch chunks
- ¼ cup half & half
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped chives (for garnish)
Instructions
- Tenderize the Meat Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon water. Mash the ingredients thoroughly with your hand to mix well. Let the mixture rest for 20 minutes to tenderize.
- Prepare the Mashed Potatoes: Place peeled and chopped potatoes in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to simmer and cook uncovered until potatoes are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and return potatoes to pan over medium heat; stir and mash until dry and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream, butter, half & half, and 1 teaspoon salt until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Cook the Bacon and Vegetables: Heat a 12-inch oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add diced bacon and cook until crisp, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove bacon with slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving fat in skillet. Add onions and carrots to the bacon fat and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Deglaze and Build the Filling: Pour in the red wine and increase heat to high. Boil and scrape browned bits from pan until wine is reduced by half. Stir in flour to dissolve. Add ground beef mixture, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook on high, breaking up meat with a spoon, until beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Simmer the Filling: Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring continuously to thicken, about 2 minutes. Stir in fresh thyme, black pepper, frozen peas, and reserved cooked bacon. Warm through and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Assemble the Shepherd’s Pie: Dollop mashed potatoes evenly over the beef mixture in the skillet. Spread potatoes to the edges using a spatula, then use a fork to create ridges on the surface for texture and browning.
- Bake the Pie: Place skillet on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated 375°F oven until filling is hot and bubbly and topping is lightly browned, about 30 minutes. For a golden crust, broil for an additional 5 minutes until the top is golden brown.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle chopped chives over the top, and serve warm. If you lack an oven-safe skillet, transfer the filling to a 2.5-quart casserole dish before spreading potatoes and baking.
Notes
- Resting the meat mixture with baking soda tenderizes the beef and helps create a juicier filling.
- Using red wine adds depth and richness to the sauce; substitute with beef broth if preferred.
- Russet potatoes are ideal for fluffy mashed potatoes with classic texture.
- An oven-safe skillet simplifies baking; alternatively, use a casserole dish.
- Broiling at the end gives a beautiful golden crust on the mashed potatoes.
- Make sure potatoes are dry before mashing to avoid watery topping.
- Feel free to customize veggies by adding mushrooms or corn if desired.
