Description

Spooky Ghost Shepherd’s Pie is a festive Halloween twist on the classic comfort food. This delicious dish layers savory ground beef mixed with green beans and tomato sauce, topped with creamy mashed Yukon Gold potatoes piped into adorable ghost shapes. Perfect for a fun holiday dinner, it combines simple ingredients with creative presentation to delight both kids and adults.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef (preferably cooked leftover beef from taco night)
2 cans green beans, drained
2 cans tomato sauce
¼ tsp. onion salt
¼ tsp. garlic salt
½ tsp. Real Salt
½ tsp. black pepper
6 large Yukon Gold potatoes
4 tbsp. butter
½ cup heavy whipping cream
1½ tsp. Real Salt
½ tsp. black pepper
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)
Chives or black sesame seeds for ghost eyes

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the shepherd’s pie.
Cook Ground Beef: In a frying pan over medium heat, crumble and cook the ground beef seasoned with onion salt, garlic salt, and ½ tsp black pepper until no longer pink but not crispy. This ensures tender and flavorful beef for the base.
Prepare Green Bean Mixture: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, combine the drained green beans with the tomato sauce and ½ tsp Real Salt. Stir well to evenly distribute flavors.
Add Beef and Cheese: Add the cooked ground beef to the green bean and tomato sauce mixture. Stir thoroughly to mix. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top, if using.
Bake Base Layer: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, or until the filling is hot all the way through and the cheese has melted.
Prepare Potatoes: Meanwhile, peel (if desired) and cut the Yukon Gold potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Boil them in a large pot of water until tender and easily pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes.
Mash Potatoes: Drain the cooked potatoes and return them to the pot. Mash them with butter until melted and smooth. Gradually add the heavy cream, 1½ tsp Real Salt, and ½ tsp black pepper, continuing to whip the potatoes until light and creamy.
Pipe Ghosts: Transfer the mashed potatoes to a piping bag or a plastic baggie with the corner cut off. Pipe the mashed potatoes over the baked filling in ghost shapes, creating fun and spooky designs.
Add Ghost Eyes: Use chives or black sesame seeds to add eyes to each ghost, enhancing the Halloween theme.
Serve: Serve the shepherd’s pie hot and enjoy a festive, comforting meal perfect for Halloween celebrations.

Notes

Using leftover cooked beef works great and saves time in preparation.
Cheddar cheese is optional, but it adds a nice tangy flavor and creamy texture.
Yukon Gold potatoes are preferred for their creamy texture when mashed.
Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper.
For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with cooked lentils or plant-based meat.
Use a piping bag with a round or star tip to create more defined ghost shapes.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1 slice)
Calories: 320
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 18g
Cholesterol: 55mg