Easy Shepherd's Pie

4.91 from 10 votes

Paired with a simple homemade sauce and instant mashed potatoes, this easy shepherd’s pie is hearty, filling, and delicious.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Cooling5

Total Time1 5

Course: dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Irish

Servings: servings

Calories: 262kcal

Cost: Recipe $14.56 / Serving $1.82

2 pounds ground beef ($9.94)
1 medium onion, chopped ($0.90)
1 clove garlic, minced ($0.08)
½ teaspoons Italian seasoning ($0.04)
½ teaspoons salt ($0.01)
¼ teaspoons ground black pepper ($0.02)
2 tablespoons ketchup ($0.05)
1 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce ($0.02)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour ($0.01)
½ cup beef broth ($0.13)
1 can whole kernel corn, drained or 2 cups frozen corn ($0.54)
3 cups prepared instant mashed potatoes, from an 8-serving box ($2.82)

Preheat and prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Brown the beef. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess grease. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened and translucent.
Season the filling. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined.
Thicken the mixture. Sprinkle the flour over the beef mixture and stir to coat. Slowly add the beef broth, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat.
Prepare the potatoes. Prepare the instant mashed potatoes according to the package directions for the 8-serving option.
Assemble the casserole. Spread the beef mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Scatter the corn evenly over the top, then gently spread the mashed potatoes over the corn layer.
Bake. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes until heated through.
Cool and serve. Let rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Potato prep. Instant mashed potatoes can be made ahead or prepared while browning the beef to save time.
Serving size. The 8-serving instant potato preparation yields about 3 cups, which fits a 9x13 pan well.
Browning option. For a golden top, broil for about 3 minutes at the end, watching closely to prevent burning.
Make ahead. Assemble up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before baking.
Storage. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Freeze assembled or leftover shepherd’s pie for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.