Instant Pot Shepherds Pie
Summary
How to Make Shepherds Pie with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Shepherds Pie
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Place your potatoes in the inner pot. Cover with water by an inch.
- Add in the 3 garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt.
- Place the cover on the Instant Pot and set your vent to seal. Set to Pressure Cook “more/high” for 8 minutes.
- When the time is up, quick release to let out all the pressure. Keep your Instant Pot set to warm.
- Drain the potatoes and put them back into the Instant Pot. Stir them around for 1-2 minutes. This will allow all the excess water to release from the potatoes. Don’t skip this step. This will make for creamy potatoes.
- Now, add in your butter, milk, sour cream, and more kosher salt, and ground black pepper. To taste. Mash till your desired consistency. I like to top with chopped chives. Set these aside while you make the meat filling.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish with olive oil.
- Heat a 12- inch cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add the 2 T of olive oil to the skillet. Once the oil is hot it will shimmer, place the ground beef in the pan. Break up the beef using a spatula. Season the beef with salt, black pepper, thyme and paprika. Cook the meat until browned, 5-7 minutes. Remove the ground beef to a plate. Drain the fat from the skillet.
- Add 2 T of olive oil and the onions to the skillet, cook till tender, 4-5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, till the paste turns a bit darker color red. Now, add in the minced garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Place the butter in the skillet and melt, adding in the flour and stirring constantly for 2 minutes until the raw flour has been allowed to cook. Slowly, whisk in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer. Cook 2-3 minutes until the gravy has thickened. Shut the heat off.
- Add the ground beef back into the skillet. Stir in the mixed veggies.
- Pour the beef mixture into a 9 x 13 casserole. Top with the mashed potatoes and smooth with a spatula. Sprinkle with grated pecorino Romano (as much as you like).
- Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes until the potatoes are lightly browned and the pie is bubbling. Take the skillet out of the oven, top with chopped chives (optional). Let the pie cool for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
- Note: if you like your potatoes a bit more browned, place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes before taking the casserole out of the oven.
Video
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Let us know how it was!Shepherd’s pie vs. cottage pie — what this recipe actually is
Traditionally, “shepherd’s pie” refers to a mashed‑potato‑topped casserole made with ground lamb, while “cottage pie” is the same concept made with beef. This recipe uses ground beef for the filling, so it follows the beef‑based tradition often called cottage pie, though the name “shepherd’s pie” is commonly used in everyday cooking. In both cases the core idea is the same: a savory meat-and-vegetable filling finished with a layer of mashed potatoes.
Why we use the Instant Pot for the mashed potatoes (and the one technique that matters)
Pressure‑cooking potatoes in the Instant Pot cooks them quickly and evenly, giving very tender pieces with minimal hands‑on time. The recipe’s specific drain‑and‑stir step after draining the cooked potatoes helps release surface steam and evaporate excess water before you add butter and dairy; that moisture removal prevents the added butter, milk, and sour cream from being diluted and helps produce creamier mashed potatoes. The recipe emphasizes this 1–2 minute stir for that reason.
How the meat filling builds flavor and thickens
A few short steps create the filling’s rich gravy. Browning the ground beef develops caramelized savory notes. Cooking tomato paste briefly concentrates its flavor and adds umami depth. Melting butter and stirring in flour creates a roux that cooks out raw flour taste; when the beef stock is whisked in the roux thickens the liquid into a glossy gravy. Worcestershire sauce contributes savory, tangy complexity that lifts the mixture, and a brief simmer lets the flavors meld and the gravy reach the consistency described in the method.
Watch Dr. J Make Instant Pot Shepherds Pie
Watch Dr. J make Instant Pot Shepherds Pie and see how it comes together.
