Air Fryer Shepherd's Pie
Description
Air fryer shepherd's pie with savory seasoned ground beef, peas and carrots, and a golden, crisp mashed potato topping. No oven needed — about 20 minutes of air fryer time.
Ingredients
- 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 2 lbs)
- 8 tablespoons salted butter, softened and divided
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 cup whole milk, warmed
- 1 pound ground beef, 85/15
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh herbs, chopped (rosemary, thyme, sage)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/4 cup beef broth
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
- 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot of cold, salted water. Bring to a boil and simmer 15–18 minutes, until a chunk breaks easily with a fork. Drain and let steam dry for 1 minute.
- Transfer potatoes to a large bowl. Add 4 tablespoons of the butter, the sea salt, and the warm milk. Mash until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- While the potatoes cook, crumble the ground beef into a casserole dish that fits your air fryer basket with at least 1 inch of clearance. Stir in the diced onion. Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes, stirring at the halfway point.
- Stir the beef again, breaking up any clumps. Add the minced garlic, herbs, black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, Worcestershire sauce, flour, tomato paste, and beef broth. Stir until fully combined.
- Fold in the peas, carrots, and corn. Press the filling down into an even, level layer.
- Mound the mashed potatoes over the filling and spread to the edges, sealing them to the sides of the pan. Drag the back of a spoon through the surface to create peaks and valleys.
- Cut the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter into small pieces and scatter across the top.
- Return the dish to the air fryer and cook at 380°F for 8–10 minutes, until the butter has melted and the potato peaks are golden brown.
- Remove carefully, garnish with fresh parsley, and rest 5 minutes before slicing.
Equipment
- 7-inch or 8-inch oven-safe casserole dish
- Large pot
- Potato Masher
Notes
- Pan size matters most. Leave at least 1 inch of clearance around the dish. Crowding the basket steams the topping instead of browning it.
- Lamb version: swap the beef one-for-one for ground lamb to make a traditional shepherd's pie. Times and temperatures are unchanged.
- Gluten-free: omit the flour (the filling will be slightly looser) or use a 1:1 GF blend, and confirm your beef broth is gluten-free.
- Cold ingredients: if the filling is going in cold, cover with foil for the first 4 minutes of the final stage, then uncover to brown.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 458kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 24gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 856mgPotassium: 1282mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 734IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 77mgIron: 4mg