Sloppy Joe Casserole: The Un-Shepherds Pie

If you love BBQ, mashed taters and cheddar cheese...  here's the TRIFECTA! 

I say "UN" shepherds pie because this recipe is a sweeter, beefy version of the hearty lamb staple. I had no idea that there was a heated beef vs. lamb debate about Shep Pie? Who cares! After all, shepherds pie, originally known as "cottage pie," is a poor mans casserole for all of the left over veggies and mutton from the harvest. Today, in the middle- class Kertney cottage, I needed to rid the fridge of some taters, celery, corn and peas... and the dregs of a bottle of BBQ sauce.


Prep time: 30min
Serves 4-6
Bake time: 45min

First, set your over to 375 and get yer taters goin'!



5 medium- large red potatoes- halved, cleaned, skin on
1 or 2 large Sweet potato(s)- peeled and halved
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 cup cheddar cheese (save this for later) 
1 scallion stem- sliced (save this for later, too)
1/2 stick o' butter
2 tsps salt
2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt (I didn't have any sour cream. So I used the Greek stuff. Worked like a charm!) 


Bring a large pot o' water to a boil and drop your bouillon cubes and potatoes. Let it cook until fork tender, about 20 minutes and drain. Mash or whip potatoes together with the butter, salt and sour cream. In that 20 minutes of tater cooking, you can get yer beef goin':



1lb pkg ground beef
1 medium onion- diced
1 large celery stalk- diced
1 small can of tomato paste
1/2 bag of frozen peas
1/2 bag of frozen corn
2 good sized garlic cloves- minced
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons of your fav BBQ Sauce. (My Favorite? Sweet Baby Rays)
1 teaspoon thyme
2-3 good shakes of Worchestire sauce
2 teaspoons Chili powder
2 teaspoons of Salt and cracked Pepper (S&P)
1.5 cup beef stock


Get your deep skillet on a medium high heat and cook your beef, salt, pepper and garlic. Once browned, add the brown sugar, thyme, chili powder, worchestire, onions, celery, corn, peas and let those cook for 5 minutes. Next add the tomato paste, BBQ sauce and beef stock and let that cook, together, until well Incorporated. For a thicker consistency, use less stock. For a more gravy-like consistency, use more stock.

Grab a casserole dish and a lined cookie sheet to place under it. Trust me... this pie runneth over! Add your meat mixture to the dish and top with the taters. Next, top the taters with your cheddar and scallions. Bake, uncovered,  for 45 minutes and serve!