Description
Comfort meets creativity in these mini shepherds pot pies, a delightful twist on classic British comfort food. Packed with savory lamb, tender vegetables, and a golden, flaky crust, you’ll savor each bite of this irresistible mini meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) ground beef
- 2 refrigerated 9-inch pie crusts
- 2 cups mashed potatoes (homemade or instant)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste (optional)
- Pepper to taste
Liquid and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Craft creamy mashed potatoes and reserve for later assembly.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, thoroughly brown ground beef, draining excess fat completely.
- Using the same skillet, gently sauté diced onions and minced garlic until they become translucent and fragrant.
- Add frozen mixed vegetables and crumble bouillon cube into the skillet, cooking until vegetables soften and become tender.
- Incorporate cooked beef with Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and black pepper. Allow mixture to simmer for 15 minutes, developing rich flavors.
- Warm the oven to 350°F, preparing for crust and pie preparation.
- Roll pie crusts to 12-inch diameter and precisely cut six 4-inch rounds from each crust.
- Carefully press pastry rounds into muffin pan, creating delicate crust cups. Bake for 7-10 minutes until edges turn light golden brown, then cool completely.
- Layer beef mixture into each crust cup, generously sprinkle cheddar cheese, and crown with mashed potatoes. Create decorative texture using fork tines.
- Bake assembled mini pies at 350°F for 30 minutes, monitoring until crusts become golden and potato peaks develop slight caramelization.
- For enhanced color, optional broiling at 450°F for 5 minutes can create beautiful browned potato peaks.
- Allow pies to rest 10 minutes, then gently separate from muffin pan using a knife. Serve while warm for optimal enjoyment.
Notes
- Freeze individual pot pies for quick weeknight meals by wrapping them tightly in foil after assembling but before final baking.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version that maintains the same comforting texture.
- Add a splash of red wine or beef broth to the meat mixture for deeper, richer flavor complexity that elevates the traditional recipe.
- Create a gluten-free alternative by using almond flour pie crust or phyllo dough instead of traditional wheat-based pastry for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg