The Recipe Rebel / Dinner
written by Ashley Fehr
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Servings 6 servings
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Last updated on June 3, 2020
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This BBQ Chili Shepherd’s Pie is a fun twist on an old favorite! Classic chili with peas and carrots is topped with creamy mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese — it’s easy to make ahead! Includes how to recipe video
One of my favourite ways to create new recipes is to think of classic recipes that we all know and love, and come up with different ways to reinvent them.
I thought about how I incorporated a BBQ chili flavour in this lasagna, and the BBQ, beef and mashed potato thing that was going on in this Twice-Baked Potato Pie(<– an oldie!), and I wanted to incorporate the same flavours in a Shepherd’s Pie (since you know we’re big fans of Shepherd’s Pie!)
You can pack so many veggies into this dish — you could even add more than what is listed (mushrooms, kale, spinach, etc.), and the BBQ chili flavour masks them completely.
I do this for my own good.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a big fan of vegetables — you will often see me hiding them in my own food.
But if you combine them with barbecue sauce and top with mashed potatoes and cheese, there’s a pretty good chance I’m going to eat them anyway.My toddler, on the other hand, would pick out the vegetables because she wanted to eat only the veg.
Another thing I love about this dish is that it’s so easy to make ahead: you can prepare everything up to the point of baking, cover it and stick it in the fridge for a day or two until you’re ready for dinner. This is perfect for busy weeknights or entertaining on the weekend when you just want to actually relax with your guests!
Substitutions:
- The recipe is naturally gluten free — but be sure to check all of the labels on all of your ingredients to be sure.
- The recipe can easily be made vegetarian, if you skip the beef and substitute with mushrooms or additional veggies of your choice.
- The recipe can easily be made dairy free if you skip the cheese or use a dairy free cheese option and mash only with vegetable broth or dairy free milk.
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Pin this recipe to your favorite boardBBQ Chili Shepherd’s Pie
written by Ashley Fehr
5 from 2 votes
A new twist on an old favourite — sweet and savory bbq beef and vegetable filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes and cheese.
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ReviewPrep Time 25 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Cuisine American
Course Main Course
Servings 6 servings
Calories 505cal
Ingredients
For the mashed potatoes
- 6 large potatoes diced small
- 1/2-3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp chicken bouillon
For the beef mixture
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 cup very finely diced carrots or shredded
- 1 stalk celery very finely diced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- a pinch of pepper
- 1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 546 ml can kidney beans rinsed
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 2-3 tbsp brown sugar optional and to taste
- ½ -1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Start potatoes boiling in a large pot of salted water.
Meanwhile, combine beef, onion, carrots, celery, salt, garlic, pepper, chili powder in a large pan and brown over medium-high heat. Once browned, cover and cook over medium heat (stirring occasionally), for 10-15 minutes until veg are cooked.
Drain potatoes and mash with milk, garlic and bouillon (I use the food processor for this so they’re nice and smooth). Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (*if baking right away)
To the beef, add peas, corn kidney beans, barbecue sauce and brown sugar (optional). Cook another 5 minutes until vegetables are warmed through.
To a 3qt casserole dish or a 9×13″ pan, add the beef mixture. Top with mashed potatoes. Bake 20 minutes or until heated through. Top with cheese and broil 2-3 minutes, watching closely, until cheese is melted and lightly browned.
Notes
*If storing in the fridge and baking later, you may have to bake the casserole 40 minutes to 1 hour until it is hot all the way through. Be sure to cover with an oven-safe lid or tin foil sprayed with non-stick spray.
*Nutrition information is estimated and will vary depending on exact serving size, types and brands of products used.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 505cal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 12g | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 25g
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Meet Ashley
My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Meredith Brooks says
Hello! I just got this meal all ready for dinner tonight. It looks so good & gluten free! Thanks for posting this recipe. Love from Texas♡
Reply
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Meredith! Glad you liked it!
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Christina Hoffman says
How do you think ground turkey would work? Anybody have any ideas!! Anyway I’m going to make it this way because it DOES look super yummy! Thank you!!
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cakespy says
This is perfect because while I love a classic Shepherd’s pie sometimes it can be a little bland. Way to zing up the flavor!! You rule!
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Love this twist to traditional shepherd’s pie! This would be a hit with my family!
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Oh my gosh, this is going on the dinner menu ASAP! Shepherd’s pie is one of my boyfriend’s favorite dinners and I’m excited to make this BBQ version for him! Such a creative twist, Ashley!
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Ashley Fehr says
Oh I hope he loves it! Thanks Sarah!
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I love recreating dishes too, it’s just so fun that way! You are reminding me that it’s been forever since I’ve had shepherd’s pie, and I’m loving the bbq version! What a fun twist, Ashley!
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Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Gayle! I’ll admit, we’re barbecue obsessed! Lol
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Annie says
Hello Monday night dinner! I cannot wait to try this!
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Ashley Fehr says
You need to!
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Emily says
I made this recipe last night for dinner and I absolutely love it! I highly recommend it 🙂
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Ashley says
Thanks Emily!
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Kirsten says
I’m sorry to be picky, but just fyi, shepherd’s pie is actually made with ground lamb. Ground beef is used in cottage pie 🙂
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Kirsten says
I am definitely going to try this though, it sounds soooo tasty!!!
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Rachel says
Hi Ashley, this looks amazing!! Just one quick question though. What bbq sauce is it you use?
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Ashley says
I like the Kraft brown sugar and Bulls Eye Sweet and Sticky!
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Ashley Mullen says
Thank you for sharing this! I can’t wait to make it, probably tomorrow. 🙂
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Ashley says
No problem! Let me know how you like it 🙂
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Sherri@The Well Floured Kitchen says
Love this variation on shepherds pie! It looks delicious- and such a cute serving dish too 🙂
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Ashley says
Thanks Sherri! I love adding BBQ sauce to pretty much everything!
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Rona B says
Now this Shepard’s Pie looks so good. My husband and son would love this.
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Ashley says
Thanks Rona!
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Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
Oh Ashley I wish this was going to be on my dinner table when I get home from work today! I love the bbq spin on shepherds pie, and I always need more veg in my life so I’m super happy to see them incorporated. 😀 Pinning!
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Ashley says
Thanks Jess! I’m always a little short on vegetables :S
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Matt Robinson says
This looks soooo good!!
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Ashley says
Thanks! Can’t go wrong with meat and potatos 🙂
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