Before we go full holiday food mode (trust me this is a display of major restraint for me!), we’re going to have a bit of an intermission between Thanksgiving & Christmas/Festive Season by bringing a few delicious quick dinner ideas forward from the back burner. If you’re looking for a hearty yet not-hard-to-make dinner dish, this Smashed Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe is one of our family’s faves! No need to wait for St. Paddy’s Day to create this one, even though it’s taken me since then to get this one up on the blog ;). Combining a spin Grandma Kerr’s mashed potatoes she always made for holiday meals & Nana D’s smashed potato version with the classic Shepherd’s Pie cooking method, this easy and filling dinner idea may get a repeat slot on your meal rotation and become one of your cold weather comfort food favourites too!
It’s shloppy in look, but so delish in taste! Add this Smashed Potato Shepherd’s Pie to your cold weather dinner rotation!
About the Ingredients for Smashed Potato Shepherd’s Pie
Meat Filling: we used lean ground pork for this version, but you could also use ground beef, lamb, turkey or meatless ground.
Mixed Vegetables: we used a small bag of frozen mixed veg with carrots, corn, green beans and peas.
Potatoes: we used a bag of mini gold potatoes because I love how quickly & evenly they cook through. No rules here, so use whatever potatoes you have on-hand or prefer. The smashed potatoes include a delicious blend of butter, milk, cream cheese, chives/green onion & salt + pepper and by not overly mashing them you get a nice, chunkier texture to your po-tay-tas!
Seasoning: we used a packaged Shepherd’s Pie seasoning to keep this one as simple as can be, but you could also use a combo of broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce (say that one 3 times fast! ;)), dried thyme/parsley/rosemary & salt + pepper to flavour this one nicely.
NOTE: as someone with Irish roots, I feel like it’s obligatory to point out that a traditional Shepherd’s Pie is made with ground lamb. However, availability & affordability factor into our family food shares, so just use whatever ground meat you enjoy or have on-hand.
Check out more of our heart-shaped recipes ‘Made with Love’!
Smashed Potato Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Smashed Potato Shepherd's Pie | La Cucina di Kerrs
Equipment
- Casserole Dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground pork *or lamb, beef, turkey or meatless ground*
- 500 g Bag of Frozen Mixed Vegetables
- 1 large Onion *chopped*
- 1 pkg Shepherd's Pie Seasoning Mix *we like the one by Club House*
- Olive Oil *just a bit for browning the meat; approx. 1.5 tbsp*
- 1.5 lb Bag mini potatoes *or whatever potatoes you have on-hand*
- 2 tbsp Butter
- ¼ cup Milk
- 2 tbsp Cream Cheese
- Salt + ground black pepper *to taste*
- Fresh Chives or Spring Onions *chopped*
- *OPTIONAL: Fresh Thyme Sprigs *for garnish*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. In a medium pot filled with water, boil the potatoes until buttery soft (approx. 15 mins.), drain out water & set aside.
- Meanwhile, on medium-high heat, brown your meat in a pan with the oil, add the onions & sautee the onions until clear. Stir in your frozen mixed vegetables.
- Mix the Shepherd's Pie seasoning with water according to package directions & pour over your meat & vegetables in the pan. Once it comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover & let simmer 5 - 7 mins, stirring intermittently.
- Pour the meat & vegetables into your casserole dish. In a large mixing bowl, add your boiled potatoes & lightly smash them up with a fork or potato masher. Add the butter, milk, cream cheese, salt & pepper & fresh chives (or green onions) over top & smash it all together until well mixed, but potatoes are still slightly chunky.
- Top the meat & vegetables with your smashed potatoes and bake on the middle rack of your oven approximately 25 mins, or until the potato top begins to turn golden. Let sit at least 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with thyme sprigs or sprinkle with your leftover chives. Scoop, serve & enjoy! #LaCucinadiKerrs - Tag us @House_of_Kerrs if you try!
Notes
Tag us on social if you try our Smashed Potato Shepherd's Pie @House_of_Kerrs! All images/content are copyright of House of Kerrs. View our DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE – RECIPE & COOKING CONTENT, HOUSEOFKERRS.COM
For more One-Dish Wonders, check out La Cucina di Kerrs Recipe Hub!
We hope your family enjoys this Smashed Potato Shepherd’s Pie recipe as much as we do! We love seeing you cook up your creations in your own Cucinas so do share if you try by tagging @House_of_Kerrs!
For more meal inspo on how to avert dinner panic through our long, chilly Fall/Winter seasons, check out our Easy Cold Weather Classic Meal Ideas round-up.
Keep well, eat well,
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