These Mini Shepherds Pot Pies are the ultimate comfort food in a hand-held form. Made with flaky pie crust, savory beef and vegetable filling, and topped with creamy mashed potatoes, they’re a fun twist on the classic shepherd’s pie. Perfect for dinner, parties, or meal prep, these mini pies pack all the hearty flavors you love into a portable and delicious format.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
-
Individual Portions: Great for serving at parties, family dinners, or packing in lunchboxes.
-
Classic Comfort Flavors: All the richness of traditional shepherd’s pie with tender beef, veggies, and creamy mashed potatoes.
-
Quick Prep: Uses store-bought pie crust and mashed potatoes to save time.
-
Kid-Friendly: Fun size and mild flavors make these a hit with little ones.
-
Make-Ahead Friendly: Bake and store for easy meals during the week.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
-
1 package refrigerated pie crust (2 x 9-inch pie crusts)
-
½ lb. lean ground beef
-
1 oz onion soup mix
-
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
-
¾ cup beef broth
-
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (corn, peas, carrots)
-
1 package Bob Evans Classic Mashed Potatoes
Directions
-
Preheat Oven
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin. -
Prepare the Pie Crusts
Unroll both pie crusts. Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter (or small bowl), cut out 12 circles. Re-roll scraps if needed to make enough rounds.
Press one circle into each muffin cavity and bake for 8–9 minutes until lightly browned. -
Cook the Filling
In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked and crumbled.
Stir in the onion soup mix and flour. Cook for 1 minute.
Add the beef broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in frozen vegetables and cook for 2–3 minutes, or until thickened and vegetables are heated. -
Assemble the Pot Pies
Spoon about ¼ cup of the meat mixture into each baked pie crust.
Top each one with 2 tablespoons of mashed potatoes, spreading slightly to cover the filling. -
Bake
Return to oven and bake for an additional 20–25 minutes, until crust is golden and filling is hot. -
Optional Browning
For golden mashed potato tops, broil on high for the last 2 minutes. Watch closely to avoid burning. -
Serve
Run a butter knife around the edges to loosen each mini pie. Remove from the tin and serve warm.
Servings and Timing
Servings: 12 mini pot pies
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Total time: 55 minutes
Variations
-
Ground Turkey or Chicken: Substitute beef with a leaner option.
-
Sweet Potato Topping: Use mashed sweet potatoes for a fun twist.
-
Cheesy Topping: Mix shredded cheese into the mashed potatoes before topping.
-
Herb Crust: Add a pinch of dried thyme or rosemary to the pie crust for added flavor.
-
Vegetarian: Swap beef with plant-based meat alternatives or lentils.
Storage/Reheating
To store: Let pies cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To freeze: Wrap each pie in plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze for up to 2 months.
To reheat:
-
From fridge: Bake at 350°F for 10–15 minutes until heated through.
-
From frozen: Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes, or until hot in the center.
Microwave: Not recommended for best texture, but can be done in short intervals.
FAQs
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes, you can fully bake them and store in the fridge or freezer. Reheat as needed.
What if I don’t have a muffin tin?
You can use ramekins or mini pie dishes instead. Adjust bake time slightly as needed.
Can I use homemade mashed potatoes?
Absolutely. Just make sure they’re smooth and thick enough to hold their shape on top.
What vegetables work best in the filling?
A classic mix of corn, peas, and carrots is great, but green beans, mushrooms, or diced zucchini also work.
Can I make this gluten-free?
Use a gluten-free pie crust and thickener like cornstarch or a GF flour blend.
Do I need to thaw the vegetables first?
No, frozen vegetables can be added directly to the skillet and will cook quickly.
Can I use puff pastry instead of pie crust?
Yes, but note that puff pastry will rise more and may need to be pressed down when assembling.
How do I keep the crust from getting soggy?
Pre-baking the crust before adding the filling helps keep the bottoms crispy.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes! You can make two muffin tins’ worth and freeze extras.
Are these good for kids?
Yes, they’re perfectly portioned and easy for little hands—plus they hide a good amount of veggies.
Conclusion
Mini Shepherd’s Pot Pies are a fun, portable twist on a comfort food classic. With flaky crust, rich beef and veggie filling, and creamy mashed potato topping, they’re a hearty meal the whole family will love. Whether you’re meal-prepping, hosting a gathering, or simply craving something cozy, these mini pies deliver big flavor in every bite.
Print
Mini Shepherds Pot Pies
- Author: Jessica
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 mini pies
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Mini Shepherd’s Pot Pies are a fun twist on the classic comfort dish, with a flaky pie crust filled with savory ground beef, vegetables, and topped with mashed potatoes and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for individual servings of cozy flavor!
Ingredients
- 2 (9-inch) refrigerated pie crusts
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/4 yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste (optional)
- Pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups mashed potatoes (homemade or instant)
Instructions
- Prepare the mashed potatoes and set aside.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat, remove beef, and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté diced onion and garlic until translucent. Add mixed vegetables, crumble in the bouillon cube, and simmer until vegetables are soft.
- Return beef to skillet, add Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and season with pepper. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, roll out the pie crusts to about 12 inches in diameter. Cut six 4-inch rounds from each crust (12 total).
- Press dough rounds into the bottoms and sides of a greased muffin pan. Pre-bake at 350°F (175°C) for 7–10 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from oven.
- Divide beef mixture evenly among the 12 crusts. Top each with shredded cheddar cheese, then a layer of mashed potatoes.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes until crusts are golden brown and potatoes are lightly browned.
- Optional: Broil at 450°F (230°C) for 5 minutes to further brown the potatoes.
- Let stand for 10 minutes, then run a knife around each pie to release. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use homemade or instant mashed potatoes, depending on your preference.
- Swap beef with ground turkey, chicken, or lamb for variation.
- For extra richness, brush pie crust edges with an egg wash before baking.
- These mini pies can be made ahead and reheated for easy weeknight meals.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini pot pie
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 30mg