Description
This Spooky Ghost Shepherds Pie is a fun Halloween dinner idea made with creamy mashed potato ghosts atop a savory beef and veggie filling. Perfect for spooky season, it’s a kid-friendly comfort meal that’s as festive as it is delicious. Make-ahead, freezer-friendly, and guaranteed to be a haunting hit!
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup frozen peas and carrots
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup beef broth
2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup sliced black olives or seaweed sheets (for decoration)
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned.
3. Add chopped onion and garlic, and cook until softened and fragrant.
4. Stir in tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce; cook for 2 more minutes.
5. Add peas, carrots, and beef broth. Simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken.
6. In a separate pot, boil Yukon Gold potatoes until fork-tender, about 15–20 minutes.
7. Drain and mash the potatoes with butter, cream, salt, and pepper until smooth.
8. Spoon the meat filling into a 9×13 baking dish and level the top.
9. Transfer mashed potatoes into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe tall ghost shapes over the meat filling.
10. Use olive slices or seaweed to make spooky faces on each ghost.
11. Bake for 20–25 minutes until the top is lightly golden and the filling is bubbling.
12. Serve hot and enjoy the spooky fun!
Notes
Let the mashed potatoes cool slightly before piping for better shape retention.
For smoother ghosts, use a potato ricer instead of a masher.
Add the ghost faces after baking if you want crisper details.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American Comfort
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 70mg