New England Shepherd's Pie Recipe
Make New England Shepherd's Pie Recipe in just 1h 15m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Beef & Vegetable Filling
Mashed Potato Topping
Finishing & Equipment
Method
Beef & Vegetable Filling
- 1
Brown the beef
Heat a 10–12 inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes. Drain off and discard excess fat, leaving approximately 1 tbsp fat in the pan (or add 1 tbsp butter if pan is dry).
- 2
- 3
Form the gravy
Sprinkle 2 tbsp all-purpose flour over the meat and vegetables and cook, stirring, 1–2 minutes to remove raw flour taste. Gradually pour in 1.25 cups beef broth while stirring to avoid lumps. Add 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, and 1/4 cup whole milk. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook until sauce thickens to a spoon-coating consistency, about 3–5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- 4
Add peas and finish
Stir in 1 cup frozen peas and cook 1–2 minutes to heat through. Remove from heat and set aside while you prepare the mashed potatoes.
Mashed Potato Topping
- 5
- 6
- 7
Mash and season
Mash potatoes using a potato masher or ricer. Add 4 tbsp unsalted butter and 1/2 cup warmed whole milk plus 2 tbsp cream (if using). Season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning. If mash is too stiff, add up to 1/4 cup cold water or more warm milk, 1 tbsp at a time, until you reach a spreadable but still stiff consistency that will hold peaks.
- 8
Optional cheese
Stir in up to 1/4 cup of the grated cheddar into the mash for richness if desired; reserve 1/4 cup to sprinkle on top before baking.
Assemble & Bake
- 9
- 10
Layer filling
Spoon the beef and vegetable filling evenly into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top with a spatula so the layer is even.
- 11
Top with potatoes
Using a spoon or piping bag, spread the mashed potatoes over the filling in an even layer. Create peaks or ridges with the back of a fork to promote browning. If you reserved 1/4 cup cheddar, sprinkle it over the top now.
- 12
Bake
Place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips and bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, until the edges are bubbling and the top is golden. For extra browning, switch the oven to broil on high for 1–2 minutes — watch carefully to prevent burning.
- 13
Rest and garnish
Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Sprinkle with 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives before serving.