Cheeseburger Shepherd’s Pie

Here’s a comfort food recipe that is ideal for summer. The entire recipe may be cooked on the stove top, but I usually finish it in a glass casserole dish in the microwave. It has the bright flavor of this season’s savory fare, but the potato topping mellows the recipe just enough to give it staying power over the appetite.

Sometimes I make this recipe in the cold of winter to remind me that everything will thaw and rebound again.

Cheeseburger Shepherd’s Pie

Serves 4-6

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small sweet onion, diced
• dash seasoned salt
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/4 yellow mustard
• 1 6 oz can tomato paste
• 1 T ketchup
• Dash hot sauce (or to taste)
• 1/4 t garlic powder
• 1/2 t dried thyme
• 1/2 t black pepper
• 1 15.25 oz can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 2 cups warm mashed potatoes, can be leftovers or the store-ready kind
• 1/4 cup diced green onions
• 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles, for topping

Brown and crumble ground beef with chopped onion and seasoned salt over medium heat in a 10″ or 12″ skillet. Drain fat. Pour in beef broth and bring to a simmer. Mix in mustard, tomato paste, ketchup, hot sauce, garlic powder, thyme, and black pepper. When all is well combined and bubbling, stir in the corn. Next add 1/2 cup cheese and stir until melted.

To finish on stove top:

Turn down heat to medium low. Spread mashed potatoes over the top of the ground beef mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and the green onions. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, or until all is heated through and cheese is melted.

To finish in microwave:

Empty ground beef mixture into 2 quart microwave-safe casserole dish. Spread mashed potatoes over mixture and sprinkle with the remaining half cup cheese and the green onions. Heat in microwave for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.

Both versions are good served with pickles. I’ve made this dish with a bit of crumbled, cooked bacon on top, too. Just about any cheeseburger topping is a festive addition to this recipe at the dinner table.
 

Adding the tomato paste and ketchup

And the ketchup and thyme

Adding the cheese to the filling

The filling is ready for its mashed potato blanket

Ready for its close up

The finished dish

This recipe is adapted from Better Homes and Gardens‘ Cheeseburger Shepherd’s Pie. I tried that recipe three years ago, and I’ve simplified it a bit more every time I make it. In this house, it has evolved into the version I offer here.