Description
A comforting and fun twist on traditional shepherd’s pie, using crispy potato skins filled with savory ground beef and topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Potato Shells
- 4 pieces Large baking potatoes (russets) (Choose large potatoes for sturdy skins.)
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil or melted butter (For rubbing the skins.)
- to taste Salt and pepper (For seasoning.)
For the Filling
- 1 pound Ground beef (Can substitute with ground lamb or turkey.)
- 1 medium Onion (Diced.)
- 1 medium Carrot (Diced.)
- 2 cloves Garlic (Minced.)
- 1 tablespoon Tomato paste (For depth of flavor.)
- 1 cup Beef broth (For gravy.)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Flour or cornstarch (To thicken the gravy.)
For the Topping
- 1/2 cup Milk (Use warm for creamier mashed potatoes.)
- 2 tablespoons Butter (For mashing.)
- to taste Salt (For flavor.)
- 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese (Optional, for topping.)
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 400 F. Scrub the potatoes, dry them, poke holes with a fork, and rub with oil and salt. Bake directly on the oven rack or on a sheet pan for 55 to 70 minutes until tender.
- Let potatoes cool slightly, then slice in half lengthwise and scoop out the insides, leaving a quarter inch of potato to keep the skin intact.
Cooking the Filling
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef with the diced onion and carrot. Add minced garlic and tomato paste, stirring for another minute.
- Sprinkle in flour or prepare a cornstarch slurry, add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Simmer until gravy thickens.
Preparing the Mashed Potatoes
- In a bowl with the scooped potato, add butter, milk, and salt. Mash until creamy.
- If desired, mix in shredded cheese or sour cream for extra richness.
Assembly and Broiling
- Place potato shells on a sheet pan and fill them with the beef mixture followed by the mashed potatoes on top.
- Broil in the oven for 2 to 5 minutes until tops are golden brown.
Notes
These can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. Bake at 375 F until heated through, then broil for crispy tops. Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or microwave. Freeze assembled skins for later use.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Comfort Food, Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 25
