This classic shepherd’s pie recipe is the ultimate savory comfort food! Perfectly seasoned ground beef and veggies are topped with creamy, homemade mashed potatoes before being baked in a casserole dish.
WHAT IS SHEPHERDS PIE?
Shepherd’s Pie is a dish that features ground meat such as lamb or ground beef cooked in a gravy with vegetables and spices that is then topped with mashed potatoes and baked.
Why is it called Shepherd’s Pie?
Since traditional Shepherd’s Pie was made with lamb and originated in sheep country in the United Kingdom, it was named for the people that look after the sheep or shepherds.
Is Shepherd’s Pie English or Irish?
Shepherd’s Pie originated in Ireland, but it can be found as a popular dish across the United Kingdom, especially in Northern England and Scotland as well.
SHEPHERD’S PIE RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need:
For the Mashed Potato Topping
- 2 pounds of potatoes, peeled and cut into big chunks
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ to ½ cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Filling
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 cups of frozen peas, carrot, and corn medley
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- 1 bay leaf
SHEPHERD’S PIE 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
STEP ONE: In a large pot, boil the potatoes in water to cover until fork tender, and then drain the water.
STEP TWO: Add the butter, sour cream, milk, salt, and pepper to taste.
STEP THREE: Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or mixer until you reach your favorite mashed potato consistency. Set aside.
STEP FOUR: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef along with the onions and garlic. Drain any excess grease.
STEP FIVE: To the same skillet, add 2 cups of frozen vegetables, then cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
STEP SIX: Sprinkle the flour over the meat and veggies and stir to mix.
STEP SEVEN: Add the tomato paste and stir to mix it in.
STEP EIGHT: Then add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to low.
STEP NINE: Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, adding additional broth if necessary to prevent the meat from drying out.
STEP TEN: Remove from heat. Spread the meat mixture in an even layer in a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Make sure to remove the bay leaf before adding the beef mixture to the dish.
STEP ELEVEN: Top the meat with the mashed potatoes, making an even layer of potatoes.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
To help keep the mashed potatoes from sinking, allow the meat filling to cool in the casserole dish for about 20 minutes before layering the potatoes on.
STEP TWELVE: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set your casserole dish on the baking sheet in case anything bubbles over as the shepherd’s pie is cooking.
STEP THIRTEEN: Place the dish in the oven and bake at 350°F. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. After baking, you can place the dish under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the potatoes more if necessary.
PRO TIP:
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.
HOW TO SERVE THIS RECIPE FOR SHEPHERDS PIE
This hearty dinner is a tasty family favorite. Add a Caesar salad for extra greens or fluffy dinner rolls to mop up all the delicious gravy on your plate.
