Mama Rita's Simple Shepherd's Pie

In the realm of comfort food, there's nothing quite like a hearty shepherd's pie. This classic dish, with its layers of savory ground beef, tender vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes, invokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth that's hard to resist. And while there are countless variations of this beloved dish, I'm here to share a recipe that holds a special place in my heart: Mama Rita's Simple Shepherd's Pie.

This recipe was passed down to me by my late mother-in-law, Rita, who had a gift for creating dishes that brought people together. With every bite, I'm reminded of family gatherings, laughter-filled evenings, and the simple joys of sharing a delicious meal. Mama Rita's shepherd's pie is not only a culinary delight but also a cherished connection to my family's culinary heritage.

Step-by-step

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Peel and boil potatoes and make mashed potatoes, or use leftover or instant mashed potatoes.
• Cook vegetables according to package directions.
• In a skillet, brown ground beef then sprinkle brown gravy mix over ground beef and no more than 1/2 cup of water to thicken the gravy.
• Layer ground beef in a rectangular 9x13 casserole or baking dish, then cooked vegetables atop the ground beef, and finally, spread the mashed potatoes over the vegetable layer.
• Sprinkle French fried onions atop the mashed potatoes or arrange pats of butter atop the potatoes if not using onions.
• Bake for approximately 30 minutes, just to heat all the ingredients through.