Make Ahead Shepherds Pie Recipes

MAKE-AHEAD SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add onion and carrots; cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is browned and onion and carrots are softened. Add flour, thyme, salt and pepper; cook 1 minute, stirring frequently.
• Gradually stir in broth; heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Cook until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in frozen peas and corn; transfer mixture to baking dish.
• Make mashed potatoes as directed on pouch. Spread potatoes evenly over mixture in baking dish. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through (165°F in center) and top is lightly browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• To freeze: Cook beef filling as directed in recipe, but do not add frozen peas and corn. Cover and refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to 1-quart freezer container; freeze up to 2 months. To bake: Heat oven to 400°F. Spray microwavable 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Place frozen beef filling container in large bowl filled with hot water about 5 minutes or until filling can be slid out of container into 8-inch square dish. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave on High 5 minutes; stir well. Cover and microwave 3 minutes longer; stir well. Continue heating another 3 to 4 minutes (checking and stirring every minute) until heated through. Stir in frozen peas and corn. Continue as directed in recipe.

HAMBURGER SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• In a small skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the beans, soup, Italian seasoning and pepper. Transfer to a 7-in. pie plate coated with cooking spray. , Spread mashed potatoes over the top; sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until heated through.

SHEPHERD'S PIE - MAKE-AHEAD, FREEZE AHEAD, OAMC

Steps:

• In large pot, brown beef with onions (I boil my beef, drain to reduce fat content, then add onions I've already sauteed).
• Mix remaining BASE ingredients in large bowl.
• Add beef and onions.
• At this point I placed 1/3 of meat mixture in a cassarole dish, added 1 cup of each frozen veggie and layered on 1/3 of mashed potatoes.
• Bake at 350F for an hour, or until heated through.
• While dinner is baking up, I pack up the cooled remaining meat mixture dividing meat mixture left into 2 labeled gallon ziplock bags.
• Divide remaining veggies into labled 2 qt freezer bags.
• Divide remaining mashed potatoes into 2 labeled gallon freezer bags.
• For convenience, I actually staple the bag of meat mixture, veggies and mashed potatoes together into 2 dinner groups to make it all easier to find in my freezer. Obviously, staple above the zip on the bag when stapling together. :-).