Vegetarian Mushroom Shepherd’s Pie with White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

This vegetarian twist on classic shepherd’s pie delivers all the comforting, homey goodness you crave. Meaty mushrooms replace traditional ground beef, simmered with tomato paste, veggie stock and fresh thyme until rich and savory. A colorful mix of carrots and onions adds sweetness and texture, creating a hearty filling that will satisfy even the most dedicated meat lovers.

On top, creamy mashed potatoes are swirled with sour cream and white cheddar, then broiled to form an irresistible golden crust. Each spoonful offers a perfect balance of velvety potatoes and robust vegetable filling. It’s a complete meal in one dish, perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.

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Ingredients

16 ounce PotatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1.5 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup White Cheddar CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

8 ounce Button MushroomsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6 ounce CarrotsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Yellow OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 ounce ThymeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Garlic PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon FlourView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1.5 ounce Tomato PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 unit Veggie Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 tablespoon ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Wash and dry produce. Dice potatoes into 1/2-inch pieces; place in a large pot with enough salted water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, 15-20 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup potato cooking liquid, then drain and return potatoes to pot. Keep covered off heat until ready to mash.
2. While potatoes cook, trim and quarter mushrooms (skip if pre-sliced). Trim, peel and finely dice carrots. Halve, peel and dice half the onion (whole onion for 4 servings). Strip half the thyme leaves from stems (all leaves for 4); mince leaves.
3. Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a medium, preferably ovenproof, pan over medium-high heat (use a large pan for 4 servings). Add mushrooms and a big pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add another drizzle of olive oil to pan, then stir in carrots, diced onion and salt. Cook, stirring, until veggies are softened, 5-7 minutes more.
4. Stir 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) into pan with veggies, then add thyme, garlic powder and flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste until incorporated, 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup water (1 cup for 4) and stock concentrates, scraping up browned bits. Bring to a boil; reduce to a low simmer and cook until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Tip: If pan isn’t ovenproof, transfer mixture to a baking dish now.
5. Mash drained potatoes with sour cream, half the cheddar (you’ll use the rest next step) and 2 TBSP butter (3 TBSP for 4 servings) until smooth and creamy, adding splashes of reserved potato cooking liquid as needed. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Heat broiler to high. Once filling has thickened, spoon mashed potatoes on top; spread in an even layer, leaving a 1-inch border around edge of pan. Sprinkle mashed potatoes with remaining cheddar.
7. Broil shepherd’s pie until cheese is lightly browned, 3-4 minutes. Tip: Watch carefully to avoid burning. Let rest at least 5 minutes, then divide between plates and serve.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I make this shepherd's pie ahead of time?

Yes! Assemble the pie (without broiling) and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When ready to serve, broil until heated through and cheese is golden, adding a few extra minutes if needed.

Can I use other mushrooms?

Absolutely. Cremini, portobello or a mix of wild mushrooms work well. Just chop them to a similar size for even cooking.

How do I make this dairy-free?

Substitute the butter with vegan butter or olive oil, use dairy-free sour cream and cheddar alternatives and ensure your stock concentrates are vegan.