Two comfort food classics come together in one incredible dish-Shepherd's Pie meets baked potatoes! With a crispy air-fried potato shell filled with savory beef, vegetables, and topped with creamy mashed potatoes, this recipe is hearty, cozy, and perfect for weeknight dinners.
Shepherd's Pie is known for its layers of beef, vegetables, and mashed potatoes baked to perfection. A baked potato, on the other hand, is the ultimate canvas for toppings. This recipe combines both into one fun, individual serving.
By using the air fryer, the potatoes cook up with a crisp skin while staying fluffy inside, all in less time than a traditional oven. The result? A golden, mashed potato crown sitting atop a savory filling inside a perfectly baked potato "bowl." It's satisfying, easy, and a creative twist on a comfort food favorite.
🧾 Ingredients Needed
- large baking potatoes
- olive oil
- yellow onion, diced
- ground beef
- salt, kosher, divided
- pepper, divided
- flour
- beef broth
- peas and carrots
- butter
- half and half
🔁 Variations
- Swap ground turkey or chicken for beef for a lighter version.
- Mix shredded cheddar into the mashed potatoes before piping.
- Add corn or green beans to the filling for more texture.
- Use small potatoes for appetizer-sized portions.
📌 Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with quantities and step-by-step instructions!
🥣 How to Make
STEP ONE: After poking holes in potatoes with a fork and fully coating them with 1 tablespoon of oil, place potatoes in a preheated to 400°f air fryer basket and cook for 30 minutes.
STEP TWO: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil. Once the skillet is hot, add the onion and sauté for 6 minutes.
STEP THREE: Add the beef and break it up. Brown the meat until cooked. Drain off any excess grease.
STEP FOUR: Add the ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper, and flour, and coat the meat.
STEP FIVE: Add the broth and stir to thicken the mixture. Then add the vegetables and remove from heat. Set aside.
STEP SIX: Once the potatoes are done, stick a fork in them and if you feel no resistance, they are done. If still too firm, cook for 5 minutes at a time until done and then cool slightly. Cut a small sliver off the top. Using a spoon or baking scoop, remove the insides of the potatoes leaving a ¼" wall inside the potatoes.
STEP SEVEN: Add the scooped potato to a mixing bowl and add the butter, salt, and pepper, and half and half. Mix well until the potato is smooth and creamy. Add potato to a piping bag.
STEP EIGHT: Fill the potatoes with the meat mixture.
STEP NINE: Pipe the potatoes on top of the meat.
STEP TEN: Return the potatoes to the air fryer and cook at 400°f for 5 minutes until the potatoes are slightly golden and crispy.
⭐ Pro Tips ⭐
- Choose large baking potatoes (like Russets) for the best results! They hold up well and have a fluffy interior.
- Don't skip draining the beef; excess grease can make the filling soggy.
- A piping bag makes the potato topping look fancy, but you can also spoon it on rustic-style!
- For even more flavor, sprinkle Parmesan or paprika over the potatoes before crisping.
More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes
If you tried this Air Fryer Shepherds Pie Baked Potato Recipe or any other recipe on my site, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing your about your results and thoughts!
Shepherds Pie Baked Potato with Easy Air Fryer Instructions
Ingredients
- 3 large baking potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt kosher, divided
- 1 teaspoon pepper divided
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 cup peas and carrots
- ¼ cup butter
- 1-2 tablespoons half and half
Instructions
- Rinse the potatoes clean. Using a fork, poke holes in the potatoes all around.
- Rub 1 tablespoon of oil onto the potatoes, fully coating them.
- Place potatoes in a preheated to 400°f air fryer basket. Cook for 30 minutes.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil.
- Once the skillet is hot, add the onion and sauté for 6 minutes.
- Add the beef and break it up. Brown the meat until cooked. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add the ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper, and flour, and coat the meat.
- Add the broth and stir to thicken the mixture.
- Add the vegetables and remove from heat. Set aside.
- Once the potatoes are done, stick a fork in them and if you feel no resistance, they are done. If they need to cook still, coke for 5 minutes at a time until cooked.
- Once potatoes have cooled to the touch, cut off a small sliver of the top. Using a spoon or baking scoop, remove the insides of the potatoes leaving a ¼" wall inside the potatoes.
- Add the scooped potato to a mixing bowl and add the butter, salt, and pepper, and half and half. Mix well until the potato is smooth and creamy.
- Add potato to a piping bag.
- Fill the potatoes with the meat mixture.
- Pipe the potatoes on top of the meat.
- Return the potatoes to the air fryer and cook at 400°f for 5 minutes until the potatoes are slightly golden and crispy.
- Garnish with parsley, green onions, or cracked pepper. Enjoy!
Notes
- Choose large baking potatoes (like Russets) for the best results! They hold up well and have a fluffy interior.
- Don't skip draining the beef; excess grease can make the filling soggy.
- A piping bag makes the potato topping look fancy, but you can also spoon it on rustic-style!
- For even more flavor, sprinkle Parmesan or paprika over the potatoes before crisping.
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