Quick and Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe with Instant Potatoes

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Last Updated on August 7, 2024 by Alaina

Seasoned ground beef and mixed vegetables are sauteed in a rich gravy, layered in a dish with creamy instant mashed potatoes, then topped with a layer of cheddar cheese before being baked to perfection in this easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe. It’s the ultimate comfort food!

One of my family’s favorite comfort food recipes is Shepherd’s Pie (aka Cottage Pie). Over the years I’ve played around with the recipe until I came up with what my family tells me is the best shepherd’s pie recipe they’ve had.

In this quick and easy dinner recipe, ground beef and vegetables are sauteed in a rich gravy, topped with fluffy instant mashed potatoes and a layer of cheddar cheese, then baked to perfection.

This Shepherd’s Pie with instant mashed potatoes makes dinner extra quick, yet still as yummy as can be!

I hope your family likes it as much as mine!

Reasons Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Quick Preparation: Using instant mashed potatoes cuts down on prep time.
• Delicious and Comforting: All the flavors of a traditional Shepherd’s Pie without the hassle.
• Family Favorite: A hit with both kids and adults alike.

Shepherd’s Pie vs Cottage Pie

Shepherd’s Pie is a dish that originated in Ireland and the U.K. Over time, it became very popular around the world.

True Shepherd’s Pie recipes call for ground lamb instead of beef. And some versions use onion instead of mixed veggies.

When made with ground beef, some began calling it Cottage Pie instead of Shepherds. I’ve always called this particular version of the recipe shepherd’s pie.

Whatever you choose to call it, this tasty recipe is one of the most delicious, easy, and filling comfort food recipes around!

How to Make Shepherd’s Pie with Instant Mashed Potatoes

Made with tender beef, lots of veggies, creamy instant mashed potatoes, and topped with a layer of cheddar cheese, this recipe is truly one of the best I’ve ever made!

You’ll find the complete list of ingredients and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links for products or services I think you’ll like. This means if you make a purchase from one of these links, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. P.S. I only recommend products that I use and love.

Kitchen Tools You May Need

• glass baking dish (I used a 2 quart)
• large skillet
• small saucepan
• mixing spoon
• knife
• cutting board
• whisk (for making the mashed potatoes light and fluffy)
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons

Ingredients You Will Need to Make Shepherd’s Pie with Instant Mashed Potatoes

This recipe is a prime example of how just a few common ingredients can be transformed into a delicious meal! In fact, I bet you have most of the ingredients in your kitchen right now.

All you need to make it is:

• ground beef
• instant mashed potatoes
• shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• onion
• garlic
• mixed vegetables
• all-purpose flour
• Worcestershire sauce
• ketchup
• beef broth
• salt and pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions for Shepherd’s Pie Recipe with Instant Potatoes

Another reason why I love this recipe is because it calls for instant mashed potatoes and frozen mixed vegetables. That means it comes together in very little time. In thirty minutes or less you can have a meal fit for a king!

When you do have some extra time though, I highly recommend you try making it with homemade mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. It’s even better!

Getting back to this easy dinner recipe…

Step One: Sauté Onions

• While the oven preheats, add oil to a pan and sauté the onions over medium-high heat.
• Remove onions to a plate and set aside.

Step Two: Brown the Beef

• Add the beef to the pan and brown it until no pink remains.
• Drain the excess fat from the pan, then return to the heat.

Step Three: Thicken

• Slowly stir in the flour, and allow to cook for one minute.

Step Four: Sauce

• Add the beef broth, followed by the ketchup, stirring well.

Step Five: Add Vegetables and Seasonings

• Return the onions to the pan along with the mixed veggies.
• Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt and pepper.

Step Six: Simmer

• Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

Step Seven: Prep Potatoes

While the beef and veggie mixture simmers, go ahead and prepare the instant mashed potatoes according to the package instructions.

Step Eight: Transfer

• Next, evenly spread the meat and veggie mixture into the baking dish.

Step Nine: Layer

• Spread the mashed potatoes on top.

Step Ten: Add Cheese

• Cover with a layer of shredded cheese.

Step Eleven: Bake

• Toss it in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

And that’s it! Easy-peasy Shepherd’s Pie with instant mashed potatoes is ready to enjoy! Doesn’t it look SO delicious?!

Pro Tip: once the Shepherd’s Pie is on the plate, stir it up until the potatoes, meat, and veggies are all mixed together…mmmmm…so good!

How Do I Thicken Shepherd’s Pie?

Shepherd’s Pie is notorious for falling apart easily once you cut into it. However, there’s a simple way to thicken it.

Simply mix one heaping tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water. Stir this mixture into the ground beef and vegetable mixture. It will slowly thicken the sauce as you stir.

You may need to add a little more cornstarch depending on the amount of liquid in your pan.

More Easy Dinner Recipes

If you like this simple Shepherd’s Pie recipe with Instant Potatoes, then I think you will love these other quick and easy dinner recipes!

• Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe
• Cheesy Beef and Noodle Casserole
• Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with Homemade Alfredo Sauce

Dessert Recipes

Every time I hear the word ‘pie’ it makes me think of dessert. So of course, I just had to share some dessert recipes featuring pie that pair perfectly with this Shepherd’s Pie!

• Mini Blueberry Pies Recipe
• Cherry Pie Shooters
• Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

LIKE IT? LOVE IT? SHARE IT!

Did you make this quick and easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe with instant mashed potatoes? If so, I’d love to know how it turned out!

Nothing makes me happier than seeing your take on my recipes. So please be sure to tag me on Instagram @bullocksbuzz or using #bullocksbuzz and share a photo of your tasty creations!

Also, be sure to Pin it to Save it, and then share it with your friends and family by clicking the share buttons above the post title!

And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating on the printable recipe card below!

Easy Shepherd’s Pie Printable Recipe