shepherd’s pie loaded baked potatoes

A mash up of loaded baked potatoes and shepherd’s pie. A new comfort food classic.

The first time I made this recipe was a chilly evening early last spring. I think it sort of happened by accident. It was dinner, and I was making shepherd’s pie with potatoes and frozen corn from our CSA. And I ran out of time. Instead of making mashed potatoes, I ended up throwing the potatoes in the microwave to bake them. Then I just topped the potatoes with the beef and corn mixture sort-of like loaded baked potatoes.

So I have been thinking about them since. [Sort of like how I couldn’t stop thinking about the gluten free date bread with ginger.] I have been waiting for comfort food season to come around again. This time they were even better, because I baked the potatoes in the oven, which as you know, gives them that nice crusty skin. I also topped them with sharp cheddar cheese, like a real loaded baked potato.

Question: Now that comfort food season is here, what are you excited to be making?

shepherd pie loaded baked potatoes

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• Author: Katie Webster
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Description

Healthy comfort-food make-over for the perfect kid friendly Fall meal. Loaded baked potatoes filled with ground beef and corn shepherd’s pie gravy.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 medium baking potatoes, scrubbed (about 2 ½ pounds)
• 3 teaspoons canola oil, divided
• 12 ounces ground beef, preferably grass-fed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• ½ teaspoon dry thyme
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
• ¼ cup dry red wine
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
• 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ¾ cup shredded extra sharp cheddar, optional

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place potatoes in oven and bake until the exterior is crispy and the interior is soft and fluffy, about 1 hour.
2. When the potatoes have about 20 minutes left, heat 1 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, and cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon until browned, about 5 minutes. Scrape beef mixture into a sieve and drain off fat. Return skillet to medium-high heat, add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil, garlic, onion, thyme, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often until the onions are browning, 3 to 5 minutes. Add red wine and simmer, scraping up any browned bits until the wine is almost completely evaporated, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture, and stir to coat. Add broth, Worcestershire and the beef and bring to a simmer, stirring often, until the mixture thickens, 1 to 2 minutes. Add corn and tomato paste and simmer until the beef is cooked through, the sauce is thick and the vegetables are tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Transfer the potatoes to plates or shallow bowls. Split the potatoes open lengthwise with a knife. Ladle the beef mixture over the potatoes. Top with cheese if using.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 potato plus 3/4 cup shepherd's pie beef gravy
• Calories: 555
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 627 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Carbohydrates: 62 g
• Fiber: 7 g
• Protein: 27 g