Description

Hey friends! Beau here. If you love shepherd’s pie but don’t feel like layering, baking, and waiting forever, this soup is your lifesaver. Savory ground meat, sweet peas and carrots, hearty potatoes, and rich gravy—everything in one big, comforting bowl. Ready in about 40 minutes, it’s perfect for chilly weeknights, game nights, or any time your taste buds need a hug.

Ingredients

Scale

Soup Base

1 lb ground beef, lamb, or turkey
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, diced
2 tbsp tomato paste
4 cups beef (or chicken/vegetable) broth
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
2 cups diced potatoes (Yukon Gold recommended)
1 cup frozen peas (add at the end)
1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk

Optional Toppings

Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Fresh chives or parsley
Extra mashed potatoes for a “pie-in-a-bowl” effect

Seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Brown the Meat

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
Add ground meat, breaking it apart. Cook until no longer pink.
Optional: drain excess fat, leaving ~1 tbsp for veggies.

2. Sauté Aromatics

Add onion and carrots to the meat. Cook 5–7 min until softened.
Stir in garlic for 1 min until fragrant.

3. Build Flavor

Add tomato paste; cook 60 sec to deepen flavor.
Stir in Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary.

4. Simmer

Add broth and diced potatoes. Scrape up browned bits from the pot.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
Cook 15–20 min until potatoes are fork-tender.

5. Finish Creamy

Reduce heat to low. Stir in frozen peas and cream.
Heat through 5 min without boiling.
Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Notes

Slow Cooker: Brown meat & sauté veggies first; cook everything else (except peas & cream) on LOW 6–8 hrs or HIGH 3–4 hrs. Stir in cream & peas at the end.
Instant Pot: Sauté meat & veggies, add broth & potatoes, cook on HIGH pressure 8 min. Quick release, then stir in cream & peas.
Too greasy? Skim excess fat or blot with a paper towel.
Too thin or thick? Reduce for a thicker soup or add more broth for a thinner consistency.