Upside Down Shepherd’s Pie

I like to take recipes that are complicated and make them simple. Shepherd’s Pie is carefully layered. Then topped with a crust made out of mashed potatoes. Making the filling part usually isn’t too difficult. But trying to get the mashed potatoes to layer, without getting mixed in on accident, and cooking just right, is not so simple. To make it easier, just make it Upside Down Shepherd’s Pie!

Justin and I both said that a version of Shepherd’s Pie sounded delicious while we were working on a meal plan recently. It would also be a great way to use up some of the vegetables we had in the refrigerator. But, again, I didn’t want to deal with the hassle that can come with preparing a traditional shepherd’s pie. So, we flipped it upside down!

It was much easier to make the mashed potatoes be the base for the meal rather than the crust on top. The leftovers were much better this way. Instead of saving the entire thing, we could save the potatoes and the filling individually. This meant the starch of the potatoes didn’t get into the filling and the filling didn’t separate the potatoes. 

Overall, this was a very easy recipe to whip up for dinner one night and didn’t take too long. You can always substitute other vegetables in, depending on your preferences and what you have on hand. 

Step by Step

In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, warm the oil and add the beef. Stir and cook until the beef has browned, usually about 7-10 minutes. 

Meanwhile, cook the instant mashed potatoes according to the directions. You could also use homemade mashed potatoes. But to keep it simple, instant work just as well. Prepare the vegetables as needed.

Drain the meat and return it to the pan. Then add the onion, celery, carrot, rosemary, and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl, whisk the beef broth and flour together. Pour the mixture into the pan and bring it to a boil. 

Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 5 minutes, until thickened. Stir in the salt and pepper. Divide the potatoes among 4 serving bowls and top with the beef mixture. 

Recipe

Upside Down Shepherd’s Pie

Make a quick version of Shepherd’s Pie that’s packed with vegetables and meat with a beef gravy all served on a bed of mashed potatoes.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: British

Keyword: beef, potatoes, vegetable

Servings: 4 servings

4.88 from 8 votes

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 onion (chopped)
• 2 stalks celery (chopped)
• 1 carrot (shredded)
• 1 tsp rosemary
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 cups mashed potatoes

Recommended Equipment

• Skillet
• Saucepan – Medium
• Chef Knife
• Garlic Press
• Mixing Bowls
• Whisk – Wire

Instructions

• In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, warm the oil
• Brown the ground beef, drain, then return to the pan
• Meanwhile, prepare the mashed potatoes according to the directions
• Add in the chopped vegetables (onion, celery, carrot), rosemary, and minced garlic then cook until tender, about 5 minutes
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk the beef broth with the flour
• Add the broth mixture to the pan and bring to a boil
• Then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until thickened, about 4 minutes
• Stir in the salt and pepper
• Divide the mashed potatoes among 4 serving bowls then top with the beef mixture

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Nutrition Facts

Upside Down Shepherd's Pie

Amount Per Serving

Calories 521 Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Fat 26g40%

Saturated Fat 9g45%

Cholesterol 80mg27%

Sodium 887mg37%

Potassium 997mg28%

Carbohydrates 44g15%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 25g50%

Vitamin A 2635IU53%

Vitamin C 39.9mg48%

Calcium 65mg7%

Iron 3.3mg18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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