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Decadent Cheesecake Factory Shepherd's Pie copycat topped with creamy Parmesan mashed potatoes.

Cheesecake Factory Shepherd's Pie

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Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Rest Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings

Description

A copycat Cheesecake Factory Shepherd's Pie with zucchini, mushroom gravy, and a whipped Parmesan mashed potato crust baked until golden.

Ingredients 

Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

  • 3 lbs Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • ½ cup heavy cream, warmed
  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Filling

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup carrot, finely diced
  • 1 cup celery, finely diced
  • 8 oz cremini mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • lbs ground beef, 85/15
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 medium zucchini, diced small (about 1½ cups)
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Place the cubed Russet potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold heavily salted water, and bring to a boil. Cook 15 to 20 minutes until fork-tender. Drain well and return to the dry pot for 1 minute to steam off moisture.
  • Add the warm heavy cream, softened butter, and Parmesan. Whip or mash until smooth and fluffy. Season with the salt and pepper. Set aside.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and cook 6 to 7 minutes until soft.
  • Add the mushrooms and cook 4 to 5 minutes until their liquid has released and evaporated. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
  • Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned through. Drain off the excess grease.
  • Stir in the tomato paste and cook 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir 1 minute until no dry flour remains.
  • Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, scraping the bottom of the pan. Add the thyme and rosemary. Simmer 5 to 7 minutes until the gravy coats a spoon.
  • Stir in the zucchini and cook 3 minutes, then add the frozen peas. Taste and season with the salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
  • Heat the oven to 400°F. If needed, transfer the filling to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish and spread evenly.
  • Spoon the Parmesan mashed potatoes over the filling, spreading all the way to the edges to seal. Comb a fork across the surface to create ridges.
  • Bake 25 minutes, until the topping is golden and the filling bubbles at the edges. For a darker crust, broil 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely.
  • Rest 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Saucepan
  • Baking Pan

Notes

  • The flour in step 6 is what thickens the gravy. Substitute 1 tablespoon cornstarch whisked into ¼ cup cold broth and added at the end of step 7 for a gluten-free version.
  • Swap ground lamb for beef to make a traditional shepherd's pie.
  • Assemble up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate, adding 10 minutes to the bake time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 465kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 29gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 1049mgPotassium: 1505mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 3293IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 162mgIron: 5mg