Grave Digger Pie is really Shephard’s Pie dressed up for Halloween. It’s beginning to get colder in the Northern Hemisphere, so this is a good, easy, and thrifty dish to make to start the Holiday season.
Halloween is all about treats and a touch of fright, and Grave Digger Pie offers both! Inspired by the classic Shepherd’s Pie, this spooky version is a fun and tasty way to bring the eerie spirit of Halloween to your table. But before we get into the chills, let’s dig into a little history.
Shepherd’s Pie originated in the United Kingdom, where it became popular in the late 18th century as a way to use up leftover roasted meat. Traditionally made with lamb (hence the name “shepherd”), the dish features a savory meat filling topped with mashed potatoes. Over time, many variations of this beloved comfort food have emerged, including using ground beef instead of lamb. When beef is used, the dish is sometimes called Cottage Pie. While purists may stick to lamb, using beef is just as delicious and widely accepted, especially since it’s more common and affordable for many households.
Now, back to our Halloween version! Grave Digger Pie follows the same basic recipe but with a spooky twist. Start by cooking ground beef with onions, garlic, and vegetables, creating a rich gravy to coat the filling. Spread the filling in a baking dish, and then top it with mashed potatoes. For that eerie Halloween touch, shape the potatoes into grave-like tombstones covering them with black sesame seeds. Use broccoli for trees, and *Mrs’ Rubins’ Black Magic to make a pathway.
By doubling the recipe, you can put it into an oblong casserole dish and make more tombstones. Use paprika for “blood”. The possibilities are endless! Have fun!
Once baked to golden perfection, this creepy creation is ready to wow your guests. Serve it up with a side of creepy decorations to really set the mood. So why not add Grave Digger’s Pie to your Halloween menu? It’s a spine-chilling, flavorful twist on an old classic that everyone will love!
Grave Digger Pie Recipe
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Grave Digger Pie
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon *olive oil
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic, roasted
- 1 pound ground beef
- 15 ounce Tomato, canned chopped
- ⅓ cup Flour
- ½ teaspoon *Beef base
- ½ cup Water
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 tablespoon Red wine
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 15 ounce Carrots, canned sliced
- ½ cup mushrooms, sliced
~~ Potatoes ~~
- 4 large Potatoes, Russets preferred boiled
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- ½ cup half and half
- ¼ cup parmesan
- 1 tablespoon Bacon, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chives, chopped
- 1 package Frozen petite peas
~~ Grave Yard ~~
- ½ teaspoon Mrs’ Ruben’s Black Magic
- black sesame seeds
- 4 stems Broccoli
Instructions
- Mise en Place
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 Onion, 3 cloves GarlicHeat the skillet then add the olive oil. When the oil is shimmering, add the onions and sauté. As the onions turn translucent, add the garlic cloves.
- 1 pound ground beefWhen the cloves are very soft, add the meat and sauté it until cooked.
- 15 ounce Tomato, 1/2 teaspoon Black pepperAdd the tomatoes and stir. Add the black pepper.
- 1/2 teaspoon Beef base, 1/2 cup Water, 1 tablespoon Red wine, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauceIn the meantime, heat water to boiling. Make the broth by combining the wine, Worcestershire, beef base, and water. Stir well.
- 1/3 cup FlourAdd the flour to the pan and the broth. Stir until the sauce thickens. If the sauce does not get thick enough, you can add a bit more flour.
- 15 ounce CarrotsAdd the carrots and stir them in.
- 1/2 cup mushroomsAdd the mushrooms and stir them in as well.
Potatoes
- 4 large Potatoes, 3 tablespoons Butter, 1/2 cup half and half, 1 tablespoon Bacon, 1 tablespoon chives, 1/4 cup parmesanPut the drained, boiled potatoes into the stand mixer bowl with the butter. Mix. Add the half and half. Add the cheese, bacon, and chives and whip the potatoes.
Grave Yard
- 1 package Frozen petite peasUse an offset spatula to spread half of the mashed potatoes over the filling. Put peas around the edges.
- 1/2 teaspoon Mrs’ Ruben’s Black MagicMake a pathway by sprinkling some of the Black Magic on the potatoes.
- black sesame seeds, 4 stems BroccoliMake some tombstones out of mashed potatoes that you cover with black sesame seeds. Make an indentation in the mashed potatoes and put a tombstone in the indentation. Use small broccoli spears as trees.
- Bake the casserole in a 350 oven for 30 minutes or until the potatoes have started to brown. Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
