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    Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes

    Published: Dec 26, 2020 Modified: Oct 18, 2023 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Shepherd's Pie with Instant Mashed Potatoes

    Jump to Recipe

    Shepherd's Pie, or Cottage Pie, rather, is a comfort dish made with ground beef, mashed potatoes, and in this case- corn. Combined with a homemade sauce and instant mashed potatoes, this meal is filling and delicious.

    baking dish corner with a serving of Shepherds pie missing to reveal the meaty corn mixture.

    Shepherd's pie is a dish that I didn't know about until after I met my husband. Of course, his definition of it was "ground beef with corn and mashed potatoes on top." So that's what I did for the first few years of our marriage. Nothing else was added. He ate it happily though.

    Turns out this was one of the frugal dinners he grew up eating and it helped him relive a moment of nostalgia each time I made it. But, I knew there had to be more than meat, corn, and potatoes and as time went by I continued to modify the recipe.

    While I normally use real mashed potatoes, I can't deny how big of a time saver instant mashed potatoes can be! Even more fun is using the flavored instant potato packets for more flavor variety.

    That said, the meaty base of this shepherd's pie goes great with my Creamy Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes, so if you want to try making homemade mashed potatoes, go for it!

    Jump to:
    • 🍯 Why This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 💭 FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Dinner Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. It's frugal. For about $10, you can get a large baking dish full of dinner. Serve on its own or with a simple green salad on the side, and it's a filling dinner everyone will enjoy.
    2. It's comforting. From the creamy potatoes to the rich meaty filling and crisp sweet corn in every serving, this dish is comfort food that's perfect for any occasion.
    3. It's easy to make. Brown some meat, mix in some ingredients and then layer things together in a baking dish. This recipe is simple and easy to follow, making it perfect for busy nights and even make-ahead meals.

    🥘 Ingredients

    labeled ingredients needed to make Shepherds pie with instant mashed potatoes.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Ground Beef- You will need some ground beef for the base of this recipe. While shepherd's pie is made with lamb, in America, we refer to shepherd's pie as the ground beef variation (also known as cottage pie).

    Ketchup- Adding in a little bit of ketchup will give us a little tomato flavor to the meaty filling as well as a little sweetness to round out the savory salty flavors.

    Worcestershire Sauce- For a great depth of flavor, you'll need some Worcestershire sauce. A little bit goes a long way, but it truly helps to elevate the dish.

    Canned Whole Kernel Corn- You can use canned corn or frozen corn (thawing is not necessary). Make sure the canned is drained before use.

    Instant Mashed Potatoes- Use plain or flavored instant mashed potatoes. Prepare them according to package directions and use as directed in the recipe card below.

    For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    🔪 Instructions

    Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

    raw ground beef and diced onions in a skillet.

    Step 2: Add your ground beef and diced onions to a skillet over medium-high heat and cook until browned.

    browned ground beef and onions in a skillet.

    Step 3: Drain the excess grease and return to heat.

    browns ground beef and onions in a skillet with minced garlic.

    Step 4: Add in the minced garlic and stir to combine.

    ketchup and seasonings added to ground beef mixture in skillet.

    Step 5: Add in the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well.

    flour added to seasoned ground beef and onion mixture in a skillet.

    Step 6: Stir in the flour and mix to coat.

    ground beef and onion mixture in a skillet.

    beef broth added to ground beef and onion mixture in a skillet.

    Step 7: Slowly add in the beef broth.

    thickened ground beef and onion mixture in a skillet.

    Step 8: Stir until the mixture has thickened. Remove from heat.

    Step 9: In another pot, make the mashed potatoes, following the instructions for the 8 servings option.

    ground beef and onion mixture layered in a 9x13 baking dish.

    Step 10: In your baking dish, spread the ground beef over the bottom of the pan.

    whole kernel corn spread over ground beef mixture in a 9x13 baking dish.

    Step 11: Scatter the drained corn over the top, and spread it into an even layer.

    instant mashed potatoes spread over corn and ground beef layers in a baking dish.

    Step 12: Take the mashed potatoes and spread them out over the top of the corn.

    cooked Shepherds pie with instant mashed potatoes in a glass baking dish.

    Step 13: Bake in the oven for 45 minutes.

    Step 14: Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

    Serve warm and enjoy!

    a serving missing to reveal ground beef and corn mixture below the mashed potatoes.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    For this shepherd's pie with instant potatoes, you can make the instant mashed potatoes in advance, or at the same time (in a different pot) while browning the ground beef.

    To top a 9x13 pan of shepherd's pie, follow the instructions on the instant potatoes for the 8 serving quantity, this should yield about 3 cups of cooked potatoes.

    Getting the browned potatoes look on top of the cottage pie is optional, but only requires about 3 minutes under a high broiler. Watch carefully because a minute too long will result in burnt potatoes.

    💭 FAQs

    Can shepherd's pie be made in advance?

    Yes. You can make this dish about a day in advance and keep it covered in the fridge until you're ready to bake. Then set it on the counter to come to room temp as the oven preheats and bake as directed.

    Can I freeze shepherd's pie?

    Yes, because the potatoes are already cooked, you can assemble them and freeze them for a later meal or freeze leftovers without issues. Just make sure to keep it well covered and to bake within 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before heating.

    How long is shepherd's pie good for?

    If properly stored in the fridge in a covered container, leftovers can last 3 to 5 days. For best results eat it sooner rather than later.

    a plate with a serving of Shepherds on top and more in a 9x13 baking dish in the background.

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    If you tried this Easy Shepherd's Pie with Instant Mashed Potatoes, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    a serving of Shepherds pie missing from the baking dish.
    Print Recipe
    4.88 from 8 votes

    Easy Shepherd's Pie with Instant Mashed Potatoes

    Shepherd's Pie, or Cottage Pie, rather, is a comfort dish made with ground beef, mashed potatoes, and in this case- corn. Combined with a homemade sauce and instant mashed potatoes, this meal is filling and delicious.
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Cooling 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 262kcal
    Cost Recipe $10.62 / Serving $1.33
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 9x13 Baking Dish
    • Skillet
    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds Ground beef ($6.74)
    • 1 medium Onion, chopped ($0.70)
    • 1 clove Garlic, minced ($0.05)
    • ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning ($0.05)
    • ½ teaspoons Salt ($0.05)
    • ¼ teaspoons Black pepper ($0.02)
    • 2 Tablespoons Ketchup ($0.08)
    • 1 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce ($0.02)
    • 1 Tablespoon All purpose flour ($0.01)
    • ½ cup Beef broth ($0.17)
    • 1 can Whole kernel corn, or 2 cups frozen ($0.50)
    • 3 cups Instant mashed potatoes (8servings) ($2.23)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
    • In a large skillet, brown your ground beef and drain. Cook onions until clear.
    • Add in the minced garlic and stir.
    • Add in the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, ketchup, and Worchestershire sauce. Stir well to combine.
    • Stir in the flour until well coated.
    • Slowly add in the beef broth and stir until thickened. Remove from heat.
    • In another pot make instant mashed potatoes according to box for the 8 servings option.
    • In your baking dish, spread your ground beef over the dish to cover nicely.
    • Scatter the drained corn over the top of the ground beef, trying to make a nice even layer.
    • Take the instant mashed potatoes and spread them out over the top of the corn.
    • Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    • Prepare instant mashed potatoes in advance or simultaneously with browning the ground beef for efficiency.
    • Use the 8-serving quantity instructions on the instant potatoes, yielding about 3 cups of cooked potatoes for a 9x13 pan of shepherd's pie.
    • Browning the top of the pie is optional; broil for about 3 minutes but avoid burning.
    • Make it ahead and refrigerate for up to a day, then bring to room temperature before baking.
    • Freeze assembled or leftover shepherd's pie, ensuring it's well covered, and use within 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
    • Store leftovers in a covered container in the fridge, where they should remain good for 3 to 5 days, with the best quality when consumed sooner.
     
     
     

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1scoop | Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 19.1g | Protein: 27.6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 557.2mg | Potassium: 730.2mg | Fiber: 2.4g | Sugar: 4.6g | Vitamin A: 63IU | Vitamin C: 3.4mg | Calcium: 46.9mg | Iron: 3.3mg
    Author NicoleDurham
    Course dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine American, Irish
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jo says

      January 07, 2021 at 7:24 pm

      5 stars
      I tried this Shepherd’s Pie last night and they were super satisfying!

      Reply
    2. Megan says

      January 07, 2021 at 9:07 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect for busy schedules! Can't wait to try this!

      Reply
    3. Jeannette says

      January 07, 2021 at 9:22 pm

      5 stars
      So much easier using instant mashed potatoes than regular ones. I always do love a recipe that tackles the busy work life - convenience matters! Great that this Shepherd's Pie also serves so many mouths!

      Reply
    4. Katherine says

      January 08, 2021 at 12:10 am

      5 stars
      Great idea to use instant mashed potatoes to make this a super simple comfort food meal!

      Reply
    5. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      January 08, 2021 at 12:39 am

      5 stars
      Shepherd's pie was actually a cheap dish originally made with any scraps of meat and bulked out with hardy crops such as onion and carrot, sometimes with mushrooms added and of course the mashed potatoes on top.. It never had corn in it which is definitely an American twist. It's a favourite with my husband too.

      Reply
      • NicoleDurham says

        January 08, 2021 at 10:55 am

        My husband introduced it to me with corn and it stuck haha. We love the crisp and sweet contrast to the savory flavors.

        Reply

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    Nicole is the owner and recipe developer of BeeyondCereal, where she teaches people how to save money in the kitchen with frugal family-friendly recipes.

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