Shepards Pie with Sausage | Uncle John’s Pride

Hearty shepherds pie is always a family favorite. With cheese and smoked sausage, our recipe offers a twist on a classic. For those that are unfamiliar with shepherds pie, its a dish that combines vegetables and meat with a crust of mashed potatoes. The meat is normally lamb or beef. Our spin is to use smoked sausage as the protein. This recipe is quick and easy, great for a weeknight meal. You can also prepare all of the ingredients and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 3 days before baking it. The addition of the smoked sausage will make it a favorite of your children. If there’s a recipe for success in life, it starts with picking the right ingredients.

Ingredients:

Mashed potatoes:

• 2 pounds peeled and diced Yukon gold potatoes
• 1 cup hot 2% milk
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• Smoked Sausage:
• 1 pound Bean Brother’s mild country smoked sausage, sliced into pieces
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped red, yellow or orange bell peppers
• ½ cup chopped celery
• 2 14 ounce cans of french style green beans, drained

Cheese Sauce:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 tablespoons white all purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 and ½ cups 2% milk
• 4 ounces whipped cream cheese
• 1 and ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a large casserole dish with vegetable oil or cooking spray and set aside. In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add Kosher to salt right before boiling. Next, add the potatoes and cook with a lid for about 15 minutes. To check if they are done, poke a fork though them to make sure they are tender. Drain the water and add back to the pot. Microwave the milk until it is hot. Add this and the 2 tablespoons butter or margarine to the potatoes. Using a potato masher, mash the ingredients until everything is well combined and smooth.
2. To start the smoked sausage mixture, begin by melting 2 tablespoons of butter in a heavy sauce pan. Over medium heat, saute the smoked sausage for about 8 minutes. When the edges start to turn golden brown they are done cooking. Next, add the onion, bell peppers and celery. Cook these over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until they are soft and the onions are caramelized. Once done, add the smoked sausage and cooked vegetables to the casserole dish. Open the cans of green beans and layer overtop the other ingredients.
3. For the cheese sauce, add the remaining butter to the now empty sauce pan. Melt over medium heat. Gradually whisk in the flour, garlic powder, paprika and dry mustard. Stir and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in the remaining milk and whisk constantly until smooth. Simmer for 2 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken. Lastly, add the cream cheese and cheddar. Whisk over heat until smooth.
4. Pour the cheese sauce over the vegetables and smoked sausage in the casserole dish. Evenly top with the mashed potatoes you made earlier. Sprinkle with a little more grated cheese and bake for 15 minutes. You will know its done when it is hot all the way through and the mashed potatoes are lightly brown.