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I have always loved Shepherd’s Pie because, well, what’s not to love about a mashed potato topping that’s been browned until it’s golden? Plus, there’s some hearty beef (or lamb if you’re being totally traditional) to go along with it, except it’s been cooked into a simple but savory delicious gravy complete with a couple of veggies. There’s not a lot to improve upon! But these Shepherd’s Pie Twice-Baked Potatoes take the dish to a whole new level. You get a personal portion of meat and mashed potatoes that are baked right into the potato skin so it really feels complete (and comforting too).
As you might have guessed, you start by baking some potatoes. (Though, if you’re short on time you can microwave them instead to speed the process up.) Once they’re soft – and cool enough to not burn your hands – you cut them in half and scoop out the insides into a bowl.
While the potatoes are baking, you can work on the filling, which is a delicious combination of ground beef, carrots, peas, onion, and garlic that you use to build a quick tomatoey pan gravy that’s accented with some herbs and Worcestershire.
That filling gets spooned into each empty potato half, and then you use the potato insides to make a buttery mash…
… that goes on top of each potato before they all head into the oven to get nice and golden brown.
Every bite has creamy potatoes and savory beef with a nice, velvety gravy just like a regular ol’ Shepherd’s Pie, but there’s also the crunch of a potato skin to hold it all together. It’s classic comfort food in a tidy little package.
Shepherd's Pie Twice-Baked Potatoes
Yield(s): Serves 4
1 hour 15 minutes
you're making mealtime meaningful.
Ingredients
- 4 large baking potatoes, scrubbed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup peas
- 1/2 cup carrots, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup milk, warmed
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Rub potatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Pierce each one several times with a fork. Bake until soft, about 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, make the filling:
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, season the ground beef with salt and pepper and brown with onion until cooked through.
- Add peas and carrots and cook 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and then gradually stir in beef broth.
- Let simmer until thickened and then stir in Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- Remove from heat, cover, and set aside.
- Once potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut each in half lengthwise and scoop potato into a bowl, leaving a thin layer against the skins so they aren't too floppy.
- Add milk and half of the butter to potato filling, season with salt and pepper and whip or mash until smooth and creamy.
- Spoon ground beef mixture evenly into potato skins, then top with mashed potatoes.
- Place potatoes on a baking tray. Melt the remaining butter and brush mashed potatoes with it. Broil in oven until top is golden brown. Enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Bake at Midnite.
