Quick Gnocchi Shepherds Pie (Printable)

Pillowy gnocchi crown a savory beef and vegetable filling, baked until golden with melted cheddar and Parmesan.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meat & Protein

01 - 1 lb ground beef or lamb

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, finely diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, diced
04 - 1 cup frozen peas
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce & Seasonings

06 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 1 cup beef or vegetable broth
09 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Topping

13 - 1 lb store-bought potato gnocchi
14 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
15 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots; cook for 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add the ground beef or lamb. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.
05 - Pour in the broth and simmer for 5 minutes, until slightly thickened. Stir in the frozen peas and remove from heat.
06 - Meanwhile, cook the gnocchi according to package instructions. Drain and toss with melted butter.
07 - Evenly spoon the cooked gnocchi over the meat mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar and Parmesan cheese.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
09 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The gnocchi topping gets wonderfully crispy in spots while staying tender underneath, creating the most satisfying texture contrast
  • Everything bakes in one skillet so you get maximum flavor with minimum cleanup, perfect for weeknight comfort food
02 -
  • An oven-safe skillet is essential unless you want to transfer everything to a baking dish, which creates unnecessary dishes
  • Do not overcook the gnocchi during boiling since they will finish cooking in the oven, and nobody likes mushy gnocchi
03 -
  • Use freshly shredded cheese instead of pre-shredded bags for better melting and flavor
  • Let the meat mixture cool slightly before topping with gnocchi so they do not sink in

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