Mac & Cheese Shepherd’s Pie
This takes a while to bake, but there’s not too much active working time. It’s wonderful when it’s cold outside!
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 1 box macaroni & cheese
- 1/4 c. milk
- 1/4 c. margarine
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 1/2 c. carrot, diced small
- 1 large clove garlic, minced or pressed
- 4 oz. mushrooms, sliced (optional)
- 1/2 c. dry red wine
- 3/4 c. canned tomato sauce
- 1/2 dried thyme
- tsp. Salt and pepper
- 1/2 c. shredded Jack cheese
Instructions
- » Preheat oven to 350 degrees.» Prepare macaroni & cheese with milk and margarine according to directions on the box, or use your favorite variation.» While macaroni is cooking, brown ground beef in a large skillet over Medium heat, breaking into small chunks as it cooks.» When beef is browned, remove it to a bowl, draining excess grease.» Return skillet to heat, and add olive oil. Heat until hot but not smoking, over Medium-high heat.» Sauté onion, carrot, and garlic for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.» Add optional mushrooms to skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are browned.» Add red wine to pan, and boil until reduced by half.» Add beef to pan, along with tomato sauce, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste.» Simmer mixture 5 minutes, and then pour into a deep pie dish.» Spoon macaroni & cheese over beef mixture, creating an even layer on top.» Sprinkle shredded cheese over top of pie.» Bake pie for 45 minutes, or until top is bubbling and starting to brown.
- Variations» Quick & Easy – For the beef mixture, just brown 1 lb. ground beef. Prepare 1 package of brown gravy mix according to package directions, and stir into beef. Top with macaroni & cheese, and bake as above.
