How Long Can You Keep Ground Beef In The Refrigerator
You can store it safely inside airtight bags or containers at 35 to 40 degrees F for 1 to 2 days. If you cant use it within that time, I would recommend freezing it for three to four months.
If youre ready for an easy ground beef recipe with tons of flavor your kids will love, weve got it here! There are even some hidden veggies in there I bet they wont be able to resist either.
- Now lets talk about the best mashed potatoes!
- You can either choose Russet, Red or Yellow tatersI usually use what I have on hand.
- We load ours with seasonings, sour cream and some butter but that part is up to you.
Since you are pairing this popular side dish with vegetables, hamburger and gravy there are a lot of other flavors going on there. SO, you could just go with a bit of butter, salt and pepper instead.
You can make slow cooker mashed potatoes, try them in your Instant Pot, or weve even made air fryer mashed potatoes!
Tips From The Betty Crocker Kitchens
- tip 1 Traditionally, shepherds pie is made with lamb . However, as the dish gained wider popularity outside of its native English homeland , beef became a common substitute, especially in America where its more widely available than ground lamb.
- tip 2 Refrigerated mashed potatoes cut a ton of prep time off of this recipe and are good to keep on hand. Try any flavored, refrigerated mashed potatoes to top this main-dish pie.
- tip 3 Looking for a few more ways to turn a pound of ground beef into dinner? Check out the rest of Bettys kitchen-tested ground beef recipes.
The Best Easy Shepherds Pie Recipe
April 6, 2020 by JessiFiled Under: Family Friendly Food and Recipes
Shepherds pie has been a comfort meal of mine since I was a kid! With layers of ground beef, corn, mashed potatoes, and cheese, this super simple casserole just makes me happy and takes me back to my childhood.
So yes, I know the correct term for this dish is Cottage Pie. Traditionally, when made with ground beef it is Cottage Pie and when made with mutton it is Shepherds Pie. I grew up calling it Shepherds Pie though, and despite inconsistencies, the naming shall remain the same to me.
This is my number one comfort food dish. When I just need a taste of my childhood innocence, I find myself in the kitchen whipping up a delectably delicious Shepherds Pie.
You May Like: Seedless Concord Grape Pie Recipe
Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie
This shepherd’s pie recipe is made with ground beef, a savory rosemary infused gravy and lots of vegetables. It’s topped with creamy white cheddar mashed potatoes! You’ll be happy to find out most of the ingredients are pantry staples.
To get you ready for fall, I’d also try out this chicken gnocchi soup it’s a 30 minute meal and the perfect segue into heavier winter dinners.
Shepherd’s pie is such a classic cold weather dinner. It’s not the quickest shepherd’s pie recipe but it is the most delicious! The white cheddar mashed potatoes do add time to your dinner prep but they are amazing.
I could eat a plate of just the mashed potatoes!
If you stock basic items in your pantry and fridge you probably have everything on hand that you need to make this. And if not, you’ll want to add this one to next week’s dinner lineup.
While baking, the aromas that fill the house are just amazing, it smells like warmth, love and happiness.
My kids love this shepherds pie, it’s always a hit with the whole household and it’s the perfect next day lunch.
If your kids have issues with vegetables, try adding some cheddar cheese to the potatoes, it may entice them just enough to give it a shot.
How To Freeze Healthy Shepherds Pie
Once the shepherds pie is baked, cool completely and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Place it in the freezer until fairly firm, about two hours. Then, cover tightly with plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil. Mark the date on the outside and store in the freezer for up to two months.
When ready to serve, remove the foil and plastic wrap. Use the foil you just removed to loosely cover the pie. Make sure that your casserole dish can go straight from freezer to oven if not, set the casserole in the oven while the oven preheats so that the dish warms slowly.
Bake the casserole for an hour, or until the pie is hot all the way through. Remove the foil for the last 15 minutes to allow the top to brown.
Recommended Reading: How To Make A Pie Chart In Google Docs
The Special Topping: Cauliflower And Potato Mash
One other change from traditional shepherds pie is the topping: Its a blend of cauliflower and potatoes! This means fewer carbs and calories , but more importantly, the added health benefits of cauliflower.
The recipe calls for sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese, which plays off of the cauliflower and adds a pleasing crust when baked.
How To Make Shepherds Pie:
I dont know anyone who has said that was good but had too many potatoes. If you ever meet such a person please refer them to me. Otherwise I think we can ALL agree that theres no such thing as too many potatoes.
Once your have your Shepherds Pie complete, just pop it under the broiler for about 5 minutes so those potatoes get all golden brown on top and dig in !
Don’t Miss: The Original Key Lime Pie Company
Cottage Pie Step By Step Recipe
Get started by preheating your oven to 350°
First things first, you are going to want to brown your ground beef. In a pan with your diced onion, cook the ground beef until it is fully browned. Once fully cooked, mix in 1-2 Tbsp of Worchestershire sauce. Remove from heat and place in a baking pan.
The next step is going to be to make your mashed potatoes. I honestly use instant mashed potatoes. You can definitely use homemade potatoes, but that just takes too much time for me personally. I dont just use the instant mashed potatoes right from the bag though.
When I make instant mashed potatoes, I like to jazz them up a little bit. In order to make these instant powdered potatoes taste amazing, I add butter, some sour cream, and dry ranch seasoning to them! It may sound odd but it is SO delicious.
While you are making your mashed potatoes, you can co ahead and pour your drained canned corn on top of your cooked ground beef.
Layer on your mashed potatoes on top of the corn. Spread it on until it is a nice even layer!
Top generously with shredded cheese! Yes, load it up, I promise I will not judge you.
Now all you have to do it pop your pan into the oven. Cook uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is all melted and everything is hot throughout.
Let your shepherds pie cool down a bit after cooking and enjoy it!
Shepherds Pie With Hamburger
When I saw the title to the recipe I assumed it would be a classic recipe for a green bean casserole normally served over the holidays.
Even though this recipe uses hamburger versus lamb, I renamed the recipe to Shepherds Pie with Hamburger so that is more descriptive of what the recipe actually is.
Since my kids dont eat beef, I created an Easy Chicken Shepherds Pie that they really enjoy.
I had some leftover creamy mashed potatoes I didnt want to throw away and knew that they would be perfect for this casserole recipe.
If you make this recipe for Shepherds Pie with Hamburger, consider one of our Bread Recipes finish off your homecooked meal.
While its not a pretty dish to look at, it is very easy to make with only 4 ingredients and cheap to make too!
Below you will find the ORGINAL recipe and then the UPDATED recipe at the bottom of the post.
NOTE: Depending on the casserole dish you use, there is a likelihood that the casserole will boil over and make a huge mess of your oven so place it on a baking sheet for easier cleanup.
From Wikipedia describing a Shepherds Pie:
Shepherds pie or cottage pie is a meat pie with a crust or topping of mashed potato.
The recipe has many variations, but the defining ingredients are minced red meat , cooked in a gravy or sauce with onions and sometimes other vegetables, such as peas, celery or carrots, and topped with a layer of mashed potato before it is baked.
Recommended Reading: The Key Lime Pie Company
The Best Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Best Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe An easy chocolate chip cookie recipe made in minutes. These are the best homemade chocolate chip cookies ever!
Theres nothing better than chocolate chip cookies from scratch! A warm, fresh chocolate chip cookie with a big glass of milk is comfort food at its finest.
Ive tried a lot of chocolate chip cookie recipes over the years. I keep finding that many of the recipes have at least one long wait time. They require you to either wait a couple of hours to bring the butter and eggs to room temperature, or wait for the dough to chill in the refrigerator for an hour. Sometimes both.
Im too impatient! I want to be able to relax on my couch and suddenly decide I need some homemade, soft, and chewy chocolate chip cookies. Then, have them baking in the oven in just a few minutes!
Could I Use Instant Potatoes For This Ground Beef Shepherds Pie Recipe
For the mashed potato topping, I recommend using homemade mashed potatoes, but if you are short on time, instant mashed potatoes work great .
If you are in a crazy time crunch, you can even throw frozen tater tots on top and then cover them in cheese its delicious.
Making this Ground Beef Shepherds Pie is simple.
Brown the ground beef, add vegetables and seasonings, place in the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan, top with potatoes, add lots of cheese, and bake until its hot and gooey.
This shepherds pie is truly comfort food at its finest.
Also Check: Damgoode Pies River Market
Suggestions And Substitutions For Shepherds Pie
A true shepherds pie is actually done with lamb, not beef . Cottage pie is the term traditionally applied to one made with beef.
Regardless of what you call it, you can make this with basically any type of ground meat you like, knowing that they range widely in fat content. Ground lamb, turkey, bison, venison, and beefor half and half of any of the aboveare all fair game.
Nothing beats fresh vegetables and cheese youve grated on the spot to make this recipe, but if youre short on time, here are a few shortcuts:
- Swap in frozen mixed vegetables for the carrots, celery, and peas. Use two and a half cups and add them to the dish when it instructs you to add the peas.
- Use pre-shredded sharp cheddar. Take a gander at the ingredients, since some brands use additives to keep the cheese from clumping. Less is more, if you ask me.
- Buy screw-top wine. Every little bit counts when it comes to saving time. Plus, fussing with a bottle opener isnt my favorite pastime. You dont need fancy wine for this anyway, just something dry and drinkable.
Main Dish Recipe Index
Browse main dish recipes that are tried and tested. From meatloaf to chili to chicken recipes. These are great options for the busy family any day of the week!
Check out these great entree recipes.
Hi, Im Amanda Finks
Im a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living in Zionsville, IN. Im an avid cook, travel nerd, & lover of good food! Im trained in Food Science & recipe development. Its my mission to bring you the BEST recipes your whole family will love! See More.
Recent Posts
Also Check: Campbell Soup Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
How This Pie Is Different From Traditional Shepherds Pie
The shepherds pie of my upbringing features a hefty portion of meat, with vegetables playing a supporting role, and a thick topping of buttery mashed potatoes. My updated version bumps up the ratio of vegetables to meat and calls for extra-lean ground beef, which is the leanest option in the butcher case.
For the mashed potatoes, the recipe swaps in olive oil for butter, which means more heart-healthy fats in every bite. The sum total of these swaps is a lighter dish with no shortcuts on flavor.
How Long To Boil Eggs For Deviled Eggs:
- Fill a large pot 3/4 full of water.
- Place the pot over high heat until the water comes to a rolling boil. This can take between 7-12 minutes, depending on the size of your pot and how much water you use. To speed things up, I use hot tap water and keep the lid on the pot until the water is boiling.
- Carefully and gently add the desired amount of large eggs to the boiling water. A mesh strainer works well for gently lowering more than one egg at a time into the hot water.
- Boil the eggs for 13-14 minutes. Adjust the heat as necessary so that the water doesnt boil over.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Drain the hot water from the pot while keeping the eggs in the pot. You could use the lid of the pot or a strainer to help keep the eggs in the pot as you drain the hot water.
- Add cold water to the pot until the eggs are covered in cold water. Pour that water out. Repeat with more cold water.
- Add 2 cups of ice to the pot. Gently stir the eggs. If the ice melts, add more until the water stays ice cold.
- Let the eggs rest in the ice cold water for 5 minutes.
- Remove the eggs from the cold water. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week until you are ready to use them.
- Gently crack the egg shells and peel the eggs.
Also Check: Key Lime Pie On A Stick Florida Keys