Your family will love this Mexican spin on a favorite British classic!
While there’s something to be said about preserving the integrity of a favorite dish by staying true to its original ingredients, sometimes there’s even more to be said about transforming an old favorite into something brand new by swapping in the flavors of a beloved cuisine. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Mexican shepherd’s pie, an amazing amalgamation of Mexican-inspired ingredients that pays homage to the British classic.
A dish consisting of ground meat and vegetables in a savory sauce topped with mashed potatoes and baked to a golden brown, shepherd’s pie was invented in the British Isles in the mid-1800s as a way for shepherds and families in rural communities to use up leftover roasted meat. A quintessentially British comfort food, shepherd’s pie traditionally uses lamb, but the English were also serving a version using ground beef that was called cottage pie. Still an iconic comfort dish today in Scotland, Ireland, and England and named according to the meat it uses, most U.S. versions of this layered savory meat dish with its potato topping are usually made with ground beef, though still generally called shepherd’s pie.
And now wait until you see how the ingredients from some of our favorite Mexican dishes, like ground beef cooked in taco seasoning, onions and bell peppers, corn, cheddar cheese, and a cornbread-like topping, take to the layering and baking process of a traditional shepherd’s pie. It’s still a comfort food, to be sure, but one bursting with a combination of delicious flavors and wonderful textures that is simple to make and guaranteed to please kids and grown-ups alike!
Mexican fusion cuisine
Mexican food is so beloved that it’s not surprising to discover the myriad ways chefs and home cooks are inspired to fuse it with other favorite dishes and flavors. We can start with the most obvious: Tex-Mex, where traditional Mexican dishes are made with ingredients from the American South, like smoked brisket breakfast tacos. Another very popular approach combines Mexican and Asian, as in sushi burritos, Korean BBQ tacos, or kimchi quesadillas. We also have Mexican-Italian mash-ups, like Mexican pizza or cowboy spaghetti. And now we can add Mexican shepherd’s pie to our list of Mexican fusion favorites.
How do I store leftovers?
Store the cooled Mexican shepherd’s pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months (either thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating or reheat from frozen at 350°F, covered, for 1 hour).
Serving suggestions
Before we present some really great ideas for what to serve with Mexican shepherd’s pie, we’d like to suggest using this homemade Taco Seasoning or making a batch of Instant Pot Taco Meat. Then, once your Mexican shepherd’s pie is out of the oven and ready for serving, try topping it with Mexican Crema or Avocado Crema and some homemade Chunky Salsa. Alongside this delicious dish, you can do something as simple as Instant Pot Pinto Beans or something more elaborate like Black Bean Cakes with Corn Salsa And Avocado Sauce. And if you want to finish this meal by honoring its British roots, serve Eton Mess (a traditional English dessert) or make these whimsical cream cheese and coconut candies called Irish Potatoes.
Mexican Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 bell pepper any color, diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14 1/2 ounces)
- 1 package taco seasoning mix (1 1/4 ounces)
- 3/4 cup hot water
- 1 can whole kernel corn (11 ounces) drained
- 1 package corn muffin mix (8 1/2 ounces)
- Green onions chopped (for garnish)
- 1 can sliced black olives (2 1/4 ounces)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream or salsa for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with the chopped onion and bell pepper until the meat is browned and the vegetables are soft. Drain off any excess fat.
- Season the beef with salt and pepper. Stir in the diced tomatoes and let it cook for 5 minutes. Then add the taco seasoning mix and hot water, bring the mixture to a boil, and reduce the heat to let it simmer for another 5 minutes until thickened.
- Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread the drained corn evenly on top. Follow the package directions to prepare the corn muffin mix and spread it over the corn. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the topping is puffed and golden.
- Top with sliced green onions, black olives, and shredded cheddar cheese before serving. To add an extra special touch, serve with sour cream, salsa, and your favorite sides.
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