White Cheddar Shepherds Pie Recipe - The Best Version Yet! (2024)

Potato Topping

• ▢ 2 pounds russet potatoes peeled and quartered
• ▢ ½ cup milk
• ▢ ¼ cup butter
• ▢ 1 cup white cheddar shredded
• ▢ salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ▢ Chives (optional)

Meat Filling

• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 1 large yellow onion diced
• ▢ 6 cloves garlic finely chopped
• ▢ 2 large carrots peeled and diced
• ▢ 2 celery stalks diced
• ▢ 1½ pounds ground beef
• ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• ▢ 1 cup beef stock
• ▢ 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 1 teaspoon fresh thyme finely chopped
• ▢ 1 cup frozen peas

• Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and cook for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender.

• Once fork tender, drain the potatoes, then return to the pot. Add the milk, butter, cheddar, salt and pepper and mash until creamy.

• Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a large oven-safe baking dish, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, diced carrots, diced celery, and saute for 5-10 minutes. Add the garlic the last minute and saute until fragrant. Add the beef and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up as needed, until the meat is browned.

• Add the stock, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt and pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes, until the sauce is slightly thickened. Add the frozen peas and stir together. Remove from the heat and flatten the meat mixture into a single layer. Dollop the mashed potatoes on top of the meat and use a spoon to spread it flat to the edges, swooping the spoon to create some peaks and crevasses.

• Bake the shepherd's pie until the top is barely golden, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool slightly and serve.

• Try any cheese you'd like in the potatoes - I just recommend one that has a strong or sharp flavor so it stands up to the other ingredients!
• Add some red wine in place of some or all of the beef broth.