Funeral Potatoes Shepherds Pie (Print)

Hearty casserole with creamy cheesy potatoes, savory meat layers, and a crunchy, golden topping.

# Components:

→ Potato Topping

01 - 2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
02 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 3/4 cup sour cream
04 - 1/3 cup whole milk
05 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Meat and Vegetable Base

09 - 1 lb ground beef or lamb
10 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
11 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
12 - 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
13 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
14 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
15 - 1/2 cup beef or chicken broth
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
17 - 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
18 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Crunchy Topping

19 - 2 cups cornflakes, lightly crushed
20 - 2 tablespoons melted butter
21 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Boil cubed potatoes in salted water until fork-tender, approximately 15 minutes. Drain thoroughly and mash with butter, sour cream, milk, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth consistency is achieved. Set aside.
03 - In a large skillet, cook ground beef or lamb over medium heat until browned, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain excess fat from the pan.
04 - Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté until softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
05 - Stir in frozen mixed vegetables, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, broth, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
06 - Spread the meat and vegetable mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
07 - Top with the mashed potato mixture, spreading evenly to completely cover the meat filling.
08 - Combine crushed cornflakes with melted butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the potatoes and top with remaining shredded cheddar cheese.
09 - Bake for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the filling bubbles slightly at the edges.
10 - Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the casserole to set.

# Chef Secrets:

01 -
  • It's basically comfort food layered on top of itself, so every spoonful feels like a warm hug.
  • You can prep the components ahead and assemble it right before baking, making weeknight dinners less stressful.
  • The combination of creamy potatoes and crispy cornflake topping creates a texture contrast that keeps things interesting.
02 -
  • If you don't drain the meat well after browning, the whole dish becomes watery and disappointing, so don't skip this step.
  • Crushing the cornflakes by hand instead of using a food processor keeps them chunky and crispy rather than turning into powder.
  • The resting time at the end actually matters because the layers need a moment to set before cutting into it.
03 -
  • Crush your cornflakes right before you assemble the dish so they stay crispy and don't absorb moisture from the potatoes.
  • If the cornflake topping starts browning too quickly, loosely cover it with foil for the first 20 minutes of baking, then remove it to finish crisping.
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