Go Back
Shepherds Pie recipe
Print Pin

Cheddar Topped Shepherds Pie

Shepherds Pie is an easy recipe perfect for weeknight meals! This version is made more Irish with the addition of Guinness and Dubliner cheese.
Cuisine Irish
Keyword Irish food, Irish recipes, shepherds pie, St. Patrick's Day
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 566kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds baking potatoes peeled and chopped
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil vegetable oil works. Bacon grease adds loads of flavor, if you have any
  • 6 medium carrots halved lengthwise, quartered if large, and thinly sliced
  • 6 celery stalks thinly sliced
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 2 pounds ground beef you could also use ground turkey or minced lamb
  • 1 c Guinness or 1 cup water
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Dubliner or other sharp white cheddar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
  • Place potatoes in a large saucepan, and cover by 1 inch with salted water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are easily pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high. Add carrots, celery, onion, and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add flour and tomato paste; cook, stirring, 1 minute.
  • Add beef; cook, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Add 1 cup Guinness (or water); bring to a boil, and simmer 1 minute. Set beef filling aside.
  • Drain potatoes; return to pan. Cook over medium, stirring, until liquid has evaporated and a thin film covers bottom of pan, about 1 minute. Remove pan from heat; add milk and 1 cup cheese. Mash until smooth; season cheddar-potato topping with salt and pepper.
  • Pour beef filling into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Drop dollops of mashed potato mixture over filling; spread to edges with a fork, making decorative peaks. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
  • Bake until topping is browned and filling is bubbling rapidly, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

This recipes is very easy to halve.
You can add practically any veggie to this: green beans, leeks, corn, small florets of broccoli...
This can be pre-made and cooked from refrigeration. Place in oven as it heats to 450 degrees F and cook for 35 minutes.