Shepherd's Pie Casserole Recipe
Disclosure: This Shepherd's Pie Casserole recipe has been sponsored by Country Crock.
Shepherd's Pie Casserole is one of my families favorite recipes. I have been making it as long as I have been married and it was a recipe my husband's mother made for him when he was a kid.
I was making this recipe for about 20 years before I knew it was called Shepherd's Pie.
For years, this recipe was called Matamooscaboosca in my house. I'm not even sure if that is how it is spelled because I am pretty sure my mother-in-law made up that name when she was cooking this quick and easy casserole recipe for my husband and his siblings.
Let me break it down phonetically for you Mata-moos-ca-ba-boosca. Did you get that?
Because I felt ridiculous saying that name for many, many years. Matter of fact once I found out it was actually a Shepherds Pie recipe I never again referred to it as Matamooscaboosca.
But anytime I told my husband I was making Shepherds Pie for dinner he would say, "You mean you're making Matamooscaboosca." Yeah, well you know what they say. You can't teach an old dog new tricks.....
And yes I have been using Country Crock just as long as I have been making this recipe.
This easy casserole recipe comes together in the amount of time it takes to brown a pound of ground beef. While your browning the ground beef make the instant mashed potatoes and shred the cheese.
Once the ground beef is cooked and drained you simply layer the ingredients into a baking dish and your done.
Pop it into the microwave to melt the cheese or heat a larger casserole dish in the oven.
This Shepherd's Pie Casserole also makes a great freezer meal!
Head over to the 25 Ground Beef Freezer Meals for more ground beef freezer meals for busy families.
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Using instant mashed potatoes is the trick to getting this casserole on the table in just under 30 minutes.
How to make Shepherd's Pie Casserole Step By Step
- Brown one pound of ground beef to make this 8x8 casserole. While browning the meat make the mashed potatoes following the instructions on the back for 6 servings.
- Once the potatoes are done spread them in the bottom of the baking dish.
- When the ground beef is cooked drain it well then spread it over the layer of potatoes.
- Open up a can of corn and spread that over the top of the meat.
- Spread 8 ounces of grated medium cheddar cheese over the top of the corn.
- Cook in the microwave for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- This size pan will serve 4-6.
Shepherd’s Pie Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 6 Servings servings prepared instant mashed potatoes
- 1 Can can corn kernels (drained)
- 8 oz. medium cheddar cheese (grated)
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef. add some spices. I like to use garlic salt and everglades seasoning. While cooking the ground beef cook the instant mashed potatoes following the directions on the box.
- When the potatoes are done speread them evenly in the bottom of an 8x8 baking dish.
- Drain the ground beef well.
- Spread the seasoned ground beef over the mashed potatoes.
- evenly spread the can of corn over the beef.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top of the corn.
- Bake on 375 until the cheese is melted or in the microwave for 15 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Seasoning the ground beef: Use garlic salt, seasoned salt or Everglades seasoning when browning the beef.
- Freezable: Freeze in freezer safe containers for a fast week night meal.
- Great meal made with leftover mashed potatoes.
Nutrition
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Christine
I've always called it Hamburger Pie. I use a can of cut green beans. My boys absolutely love it. They are grown now, but my husband still asks for it.
Linda
Sounds yummy!! My daughter is such a fussy eater but she will love the combination of these ingredients. Thank you.
Katherine
Do you freeze before or after you bake? And how do you heat after freezing? Thanks in advance.
Arlene Mobley
Katherine, I would freeze this Shepherds Pie recipe before it is baked. Then I would take it out of the freezer and place it into the refrigerator the night before I plan on baking it.
Katherine Jensen
Thank you! I found other recipes doing it both ways... also, meant to say I have made this before and we enjoyed it!!!
Arlene Mobley
Katherine
You're welcome.
Grace Gaige
How long are you suppose to cook it in the oven?
Arlene Mobley
Grace until the cheese melts.
Sarah
I am of Scottish and Irish decent and the dish Sheppard's Pie came from one of those,if I had to guess I'm thinking probably the Irish because of the potatoes, anyway I'm writing this post because I'm so glad to see this recipe on line it really is a yummy dish 1st 2ND 3rd time around. And this quick fix version isn't that far off from the traditional which I achieve in a quick fix way by using a few cans of"vegall" which is simply a blend of peas corn and greenbeans. After browning the beef I mix in my veggies and in the traditional route I put that mixture on the bottom of my baking dish then pour beef gravy on the meat and veggies and then spread the potatoes on top and I cheat in a very American manner in that my top cheese layer are slices of Velveeta because it melts so good and is just so good. So any veggie lovers making this out there should try adding more than just corn and the gravy, it makes it an even heartier yummy meal.
Arlene Mobley
Sarah
It is so easy to make and tastes so good. My family loves it!
Kristen Osborne
I have been making this type of recipe for a long time as well. I usually put the meat on the bottom then the veggie (depending what I have on hand but usually corn or peas) then the potatoes on top and some cheese. I usually make the potatoes from scratch because I hate the taste of box brand but tonight we don't have any potatoes so box buds it is 🙂
Arlene Mobley
Kristen
I do like homemade mashed potatoes much better than the box kind.
Rita
I, too, place in casserole in reverse order.
Try adding a can of cream of mushroom soup, no water, to the meat mixture.
I use turkey with about a cup of trinity,( onions, celery, peppers) cooked down.
Drain corn and a can of drained sweet peas to meat after meat has cooked down.
Top with potatoes, then cheese. One of our favorites!
Sam
I would mix in a cup of brown gravy after draining the ground beef.
Olga Caddock
That's more like how we make Shepherd's Pie in UK.
Ground Beef (or Lamb for authenticity)/Onion/Carrots/Herbs/Gravy - topped with Mashed Potato (grated cheese optional) - Baked in the oven until potato has browned a little - serve with a green veg.
I do another version using Ground Lean Pork with added Sage - or chopped sausages - and call it 'Pig-Sty Pie' :D.
Healthy version would be to use Ground Turkey - again with added Sage - and a 'dollop' of Cranberry Sauce in the gravy.
Arlene Mobley
Olga
I like your idea of ground pork with sage. I bet that is delicious!
Trish
This is how I make mine. (My Mother-in-law called it "Hamburger Pie")
1 lb cook hamburger meat
1 can cream corn
6 potatoes
Shredded cheddar cheese
Mix meat and corn together.
Put in bottom of casserole dish.
Make mashed potatoes out of the potatoes.
Put mashed potatoes on top of meat and corn mixture.
Top with cheese.
Melt cheese on top, using oven or microwave .
Eat and enjoy!
Arlene Mobley
Trish your Hamburger Pie sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing !
Darlene
I use the same ingredients only reverse it...... ground beef on the bottom, corn next cheese next cheese then mashed potatoes that way the taters may even get a little crispy if you put it under the broiler for just a few. You can top with more cheese! YUM 🙂
Arlene Mobley
Darlene
I bet it turns out great with the potatoes on the top browned a little. This would throw my husband for a loop. He probably wouldn't eat it because it wasn't the way he was used to lol.
Capt. Denis
I make similar, but use frozen mixed vegges. Learned about Sheppard's pie from an Indian cook on a ship in the Persian Gulf. Always thought it was some European dish that I brought back from my travels.
Ken Grainger
I always make this dish but added 1 (8-3/4 oz.) can of peas.
Heidi Rousseau
II know my DH will love shepards pie.think I will make it for him this week but will use mashed whole potatoes instead of instant mashed although we really do like the instant garlic potatoes.Think I will try some different vege's this time as DH is not a vege lover but I am.
Arlene Mobley
Heidi
I bet it will taste even better with homemade mashed potatoes. My husband prefers boxed potatoes. Isn't he crazy? I never ate instant mashed potatoes until I met him. My mom always made homemade.
Mary
What a shock! A long time friend of mine served this dish, only the cooked ground beef first in dish, creamed can corn then potatoes topped with cheddar cheese. Ive been making it for 30 years. A great quick dish after a tough day at work.
Flour On My Face
Mary
This is one of the fastest meals I make.
Chris
Exactly how I make it, as well as my mother did and her mother before her. Such a comfort food.
Melvina Hommel
Simular to what I make but I use 1 can cream corn.
Casey
Looks tasty. I'm always looking for something quick and easy.
Melissa Lawler
That looks delicious!
bonnie
Well ,finally I see my favorite recipe in print! I am the mother that invented this for her husband(my son!!!) and his siblings in Alaska 1972! Did she mention how good it is re-heated the next day!?! Love your "stories and recipes" Arlene!
Flour On My Face
LOL Bonnie You figured out how to post a comment! No I forgot to mention how good it is the next day!