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Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe With Ground Beef and 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.

a serving of shepherds pie on a plate with more plates ad food in the background

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 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 even more variety.

Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🍽 Equipment Needed
  • 🍴 Recipe Tips
  • 💭 FAQs
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments
a baking dish full of shepherds pie with a serving removed and empty plates and forks waiting

🥘 Ingredients

  • Ground Beef
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Italian Seasonings
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Ketchup
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Flour
  • Beef Broth
  • Canned Whole Kernel Corn
  • Instant Mashed Potatoes

🍽 Equipment Needed

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  • 9x13 baking dish
  • Skillet
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
up close view of browned top on shepherds pie

🍴 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.

a baking dish of shepherds pie with servings removed

💭 FAQs

Can shepherds 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 shepherds pie?

Yes, because the potatoes are already cooked, you can assemble this and freeze 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 shepherds 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.

collage showing how to make and assemble shepherds pie

🔪 Instructions

Check out how to make easy shepherd's pie with instant mashed potatoes with these simple step-by-step instructions:

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and drain the excess grease. Cook the onions until clear.
  • Add in the minced garlic and stir to combine.
  • Add in the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well.
  • Stir in the flour and mix to coat.
  • Slowly add in the beef broth, and stir until the mixture has thickened.
  • Remove from heat.
  • In another pot make the mashed potatoes, following the instructions for the 8 servings option.
  • In your baking dish, spread the ground beef over the bottom of the pan.
  • Scatter the drained corn over the top, and spread it into an even layer.
  • Take the mashed potatoes and spread them out over the top of the corn.
  • Bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
  • Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
a serving of shepherds pie with corn on a white plate

More great recipes to try

  • Instant Pot Green Beans
  • Easy Spinach Bacon Quiche
  • Simple Meatloaf with Oatmeal
  • Instant Pot Bacon
  • Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins
  • Microwave Yellow Squash

📖 Recipe

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 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Cooling 5 mins

Total Time 1 hr 5 mins

Servings: 8

Calories: 262 kcal

Cost Recipe $10.62 / Serving $1.33

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  • Skillet

  • 2 lbs ground beef ($6.74)
  • 1 med. onion, chopped ($0.70)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced ($0.05)
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning ($0.05)
  • ½ teaspoon salt ($0.05)
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper ($0.02)
  • 2 tablespoon ketchup ($0.08)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ($0.02)
  • 1 tablespoon 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)
  • 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.

Recipe Tips

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.

Make Ahead

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.

Freezing

You can assemble this and freeze 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.

Storage

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.

Serving: 1 scoop | Calories: 262 kcal | Carbohydrates: 19.1 g | Protein: 27.6 g | Fat: 8 g | Saturated Fat: 4 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.9 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.4 g | Trans Fat: 0.2 g | Cholesterol: 79 mg | Sodium: 557.2 mg | Potassium: 730.2 mg | Fiber: 2.4 g | Sugar: 4.6 g | Vitamin A: 63 IU | Vitamin C: 3.4 mg | Calcium: 46.9 mg | Iron: 3.3 mg

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Irish

To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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