Loaded Shepherds Pie

 

Who doesn't love good old shepherds pie!!! A whole meal in one big spoon full!!! Well this recipe has a little twist on the original shepherds pie!! It was simple to throw together and I actually made it up ahead of time! I made everything, put it in the baking dish, left it cool, stuck it in the fridge and then got it out later for dinner and just stuck it in the oven!!! Let's get started!!

 

 

Start by frying up your ground beef, onions and mushrooms.....

 

Cube up your potatoes and boil them till tender.....

 

Meanwhile, chop up your bacon & green onions

 

After your beef mixture is cooked, drain well and return to your pan

 

Then you want to add some salt, garlic powder and a packet of brown gravy mix

 

I added about a 1/2 cup of water to it, to bring it all together and make it a little more gravy like ;) Stir it well and cook until heated...couple minutes

 

Layer your beef mixture in the bottom of your greased baking dish and set aside

 

 

After your potatoes are tender, drain well and then mash them up. Add in your sour cream and shredded cheese {I used Colby Jack}

 

Then add your bacon and green onions {leave a little to sprinkle on the top later}

 

Spread the potatoes over top your beef mixture and throw it in the oven for 30-40 minutes 

 

MmmMmmmmmmMMMmmm........

 

Top it with cheese and remaining bacon and green onion. Stick it back in for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

 

 

YUM!!!! Let it stand a little and then scoop it out and enjoy!!!

 

 

 
Instructions:

Beef Mixture:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1/4 cup onion, chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 pkg (0.87 oz) brown gravy mix

Loaded Potato Topping:

• 2 lbs potatoes, pared and diced
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 4 green onions, chopped 
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese*
• 4 strips crisp-cooked bacon, diced
• water for potatoes
• salt

 

*You can use more cheese and any variety you like

 

Brown ground beef, onions and mushrooms over medium heat in a large skillet. Drain fat and season with salt, garlic powder and brown gravy mix.  (I use brown gravy mix as a seasoning in this, and the juices will make some gravy.  If you want more gravy, add about 1/2 cup of water-I have not tested this!). Stir well and set aside.

 

Place diced potatoes in an appropriate size saucepan--2 quart size should be fine. Cover with water and add about 1-2 tsp salt. 

 

Boil potatoes until tender.  Drain very well.

 

Mash potatoes with sour cream, until potatoes are not lumpy. Add green onion and bacon--you can reserve a small amount for a garnish, if desired.  Stir in cheese--you can reserve about 2 tbs of this for garnish if desired.

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  

 

Place reserved ground beef mixture in a 9-inch deep dish pie pan.  Distribute evenly across the bottom.

 

Top with mashed potatoes, covering meat entirely.

 

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until potatoes begin to get brown around the edges and peaks.

 

Remove from oven and garnish with reserved onion, bacon & cheese if you desired to do so. I stuck it back in the oven for a little just to melt the cheese!

Enjoy!