Shepherd's Pie

This Shepherd’s pie is the ultimate of comfort food! This recipe combines seasoned ground beef and veggies topped with creamy mashed potatoes before being baked.

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A comfort-food classic, you get mashed potatoes, meat, and vegetables all in one delicious bite. Shepherd's Pie is not only a savory dish but one that is simple to put together, which is probably why it’s been around for such a long time.

This hearty casserole recipe combines seasoned ground beef and veggies, topped with creamy mashed potatoes, and baked in the oven until golden brown.

Traditionally Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb rather than ground beef. The difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie is the meat, while Shepherd’s Pie uses ground lamb Cottage Pie uses ground beef. Here in the United States, we usually call the dish made with ground beef a Shepherd’s Pie. 

No matter what you call it, this classic casserole goes perfectly with a green salad and No-Knead Bread and Roll Recipes. Don’t forget to make a warm dessert to go with it as well, like one of these Easy Skillet Dessert Recipes.

Shepherd's Pie Ingredients

• Potatoes
• Butter 
• Sour cream 
• Milk 
• Ground beef
• Onion
• Garlic
• Frozen vegetables- peas, carrots, and corn medley
• Flour
• Beef broth
• Tomato paste
• Worcestershire sauce
• Thyme
• Bay leaf
• Salt
• Pepper 

This comforting recipe is simple and easy to make and a family favorite. Shepherd’s Pie is a casserole made of creamy mashed potatoes on top of a rich stew.  

SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS

POTATOES: I usually use Russet potatoes to make my mashed potatoes for this recipe. You could also use red potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes. If you are in a hurry, you can also use instant mashed potatoes or pick up pre-made mashed potatoes from the store. If you enjoy sweet potatoes, you could even try making this with mashed sweet potatoes.

MEAT: You can also use ground lamb as your ground meat in this hearty dish. Another option is for when you have leftover pot roast. This is a great recipe to use it up!

VEGGIES: You can add mushrooms to the list of veggies if you’d like. You can also switch up the frozen veggie mix that you use or use fresh veggies if you prefer.

CHEESE: If you are a cheese lover, try adding shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the top of the mashed potatoes. You could even just try adding this to half of the dish.

TOPPINGS: Crispy bacon bits sprinkled on top of the mashed potatoes is one of my favorite additions to this easy shepherd’s pie recipe. You can make your own bacon and cut it up or use a store-bought package.

RED WINE: Some recipes call for red wine. It is entirely optional, but if you would like, you could use red wine in place of beef broth.

How To Make Shepherd's Pie

FIRST STEP: Preheat the oven to 350°F.

SECOND STEP: Boil the potatoes in water to cover until fork tender and then drain the water.

THIRD STEP: Add the butter, sour cream, milk, and salt and pepper to taste, and mash the potatoes with a hand masher or mixer until you reach your favorite mashed potato consistency. Set aside.

FOURTH STEP: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef along with the onions and garlic. Drain any excess grease.

FIFTH STEP: To the same skillet add 2 cups of the frozen vegetables, and cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

SIXTH STEP: Sprinkle the flour over the meat and veggies and stir to mix.

SEVENTH STEP: Add the tomato paste and stir to mix it in.

EIGHTH STEP: Then add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, adding additional broth if necessary to prevent the meat from drying out.

NINTH STEP: Remove from heat. Remove bay leaf. Spread the meat mixture in an even layer in a 9x13 dish that has been sprayed with nonstick spray.

TENTH STEP: Top the meat with the mashed potatoes making an even layer of potatoes. You can get all fancy and pipe the potatoes onto the meat or you can use a spoon and spread the potatoes evenly and then use a fork to make designs and ridges in the potatoes. These little ridges will brown nicely

ELEVENTH STEP: Place the dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes until brown and bubbly. You can place it under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the potatoes more if necessary.

Cooking Tips

You can sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the top of the mashed potatoes before baking to make it cheesy.

Shepherd’s Pie is a great way to repurpose leftovers, for example, use leftover pot roast instead of ground beef.   

Place a baking sheet lined with parchment paper under your casserole dish to catch anything that might bubble over.

What is the difference between cottage pie and shepherds?

Traditionally, cottage pie is made with ground beef, while shepherd’s pie uses ground lamb. You will often find the term used interchangeably now.

What is a shepherd’s pie called when it is made from beef?

When it is made from beef, shepherd’s pie is commonly referred to as cottage pie.

What is real shepherd’s pie made of?

Traditional shepherd’s pie is made of ground lamb and vegetables.

What is Irish shepherd’s pie made of?

Irish shepherd’s pie contains the same lamb and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes as regular shepherd’s pie.

Can I make shepherd’s pie ahead of time and freeze it before serving?

This is a great make-ahead dish. Prepare it, let cool, and then freeze it for up to two months. Reheat at 350°F for one hour.

Can I use instant mashed potatoes in this recipe?

If you are looking to save time on this recipe, instant mashed potatoes will work just as well.

Storing This Recipe

You can make the recipe ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake it. Bring it to room temperature for 20 minutes and then place it in the oven. Store leftover Shepherd’s Pie covered in the refrigerator for 3 days.  

To freeze, allow the casserole to cool completely. Wrap it in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and store it in the freezer.

To reheat, place Shepherd’s Pie in the oven at 350°F for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until warmed through.

Shepherd's Pie

This Shepherd’s pie is the ultimate of comfort food! This recipe combines seasoned ground beef and veggies topped with creamy mashed potatoes before being baked.

5 from 61 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Dinner Casserole

Cuisine American

Servings 10

Calories 220 kcal

Ingredients

  

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Ingredients for mashed potato topping:

• 2 pounds potatoes , peeled and cut into big chunks
• 4 tablespoons butter , half a stick
• ¼ cup sour cream
• ¼ to ½  cup milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients for filling:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion , diced
• 2 cloves garlic , minced
• 2 cups of frozen peas carrots and corn medley
• 2 tablespoons flour
• ½ cup beef broth
• 1 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• 1 bay leaf

DIRECTIONS

 

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Boil the potatoes in water to cover until fork tender and then drain the water.
• Add the butter, sour cream, milk and salt and pepper to taste and mash the potatoes with a hand masher or mixer until you reach your favorite mashed potato consistency. Set aside.
• In a large skillet, brown the ground beef along with the onions and garlic. Drain any excess grease.
• To the same skillet, add 2 cups of the frozen vegetables, cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Sprinkle the flour over the meat and veggies and stir to mix.
• Add the tomato paste and stir to mix it in.
• Then add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, adding additional broth if necessary to prevent the meat from drying out.
• Remove from heat. Remove bay leaf. Spread the meat mixture in an even layer in a 9x13 dish that has been sprayed with nonstick spray.
• Top the meat with the mashed potatoes making an even layer of potatoes. You can get all fancy and pipe the potatoes onto the meat or you can use a spoon and spread the potatoes evenly and then use a fork to make designs and ridges in the potatoes. These little ridges will brown nicely!
• Place the dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes until brown and bubbly. You can place it under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the potatoes more if necessary.

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Nutrition

Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 182mg | Potassium: 670mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2881IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg

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