Easy Shepherd’s Pie

Easy Shepherd’s Pie, a rich, savory casserole of ground meat and vegetables baked with mashed potatoes on top, was one of my favorite dinners as a kid (mostly for the potatoes). Today I love it even more for the hearty filling—and the quick prep time!

Why You’ll Love this Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

• Simple and Easy. This easy shepherd’s pie recipe can be made even easier with prep before! Use bag of frozen peas and carrots, instead of chopping the veggies. And if you make the mashed potatoes ahead, you can have it in the oven even faster.
• Make a Classic Your Own. Technically speaking, what I grew up eating was cottage pie, since the difference between shepherd’s pie and cottage pie is the kind of meat used. Shepherd’s pie uses ground lamb, while cottage pie uses ground beef. Most of the time in the U.S., we say “shepherd’s pie” for both.
• Meat and Potatoes. This recipe is my take on traditional shepherd’s pie, and it’s anything but stodgy. This shepherd’s pie with gravy is scrumptious. Plus, as recipes like Ground Beef and Potatoes and Instant Pot Pot Roast demonstrate, meat and potatoes can be pretty darn fantastic!
• Best Ever Filling. The shepherd’s pie seasoning includes garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and thyme. They are simple and yet make all the difference in creating a rich shepherd’s pie filling.

How to Make Easy Shepherd’s Pie

The Ingredients

• Mashed Potato Topping. If you don’t have Russet potatoes on hand, swapping Yukon gold potatoes is the best substitute. Prefer a sweet potato shepherd’s pie? Experiment with swapping sweet potatoes instead. You also can use leftovers from the Best Mashed Potatoes ever or Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Just add an egg yolk.
• Ground Beef. A classic shepherd’s pie recipe is typically made with ground lamb, but beef is more common in the States. You can also use ground turkey if you’d like. (Looking for a way to make this vegetarian? Check out my Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie.)
• Onion + Garlic. Powerful flavor builders.
• Tomato Paste. Instead of an easy shepherd’s pie with tomato sauce, we’re using tomato paste. It adds rich, concentrated tomato flavor to the meat mixture.
• Beef Broth. Savory, and deeply flavorful, the beef broth adds liquid to the base of the dish. You can swap the beef broth for chicken broth if you prefer. For an Irish shepherd’s pie, swap the beef broth for Guinness.
• Worcestershire Sauce. Adds wonderful umami flavor.
• Fresh Thyme + Bay Leaf. Earthy, herby additions that cut through the richness.
• Frozen Vegetables. Three cheers for an easy shepherd’s pie with frozen vegetables! I used a bag of frozen peas and carrots for convenience.

The Directions

1. Prepare Potatoes. Cut, boil, and drain the potatoes.

2. Mash. Be careful not to overwork them.

3. Stir in Butter. Until it’s mostly melted. YUM.

4. Prepare the Milk and Egg. Whisk them together.

5. Stir into Potatoes. Gently until combined.

6. Saute Aromatics. For the filling.

7. Continue to Saute. Add the garlic and tomato paste.

8. Add Meat. Start to brown it.

9. Add Flour. Sprinkle it over the meat.

10. Simmer. Add the broth, Worcestershire, and herbs. Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken the gravy.

11. Add Veggies. No need to thaw them first.

12. Add to Baking Dish. Spread the meat mixture into the bottom of a baking dish coated with nonstick spray.

13. Add Potatoes and Bake. Add the topping, spreading it into an even layer. Bake shepherd’s pie at 400 degrees F for 25 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes, then ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

• Dairy-Free Shepherd’s Pie. Use a vegan butter substitute, dairy free milk, and vegan Parmesan.
• Gluten-Free Shepherd’s Pie. To make this a gluten free recipe for shepherd’s pie, swap the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten free flour like this one.
• Shepherd’s Pie With Sweet Potatoes. You can easily swap this mashed potato topping for Mashed Sweet Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes (no need to add the egg).
• Shepherd’s Pie With Cauliflower. Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes is another option for topping this easy shepherd’s pie.
• Shepherd’s Pie With Cheese. Add shredded cheddar cheese over the mashed potatoes to make your shepherd’s pie cheesy. Mmmmmm.

Storage Tips

• To Store. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. 
• To Reheat. Rewarm shepherd’s pie in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave. 
• To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. 

What to Serve with Easy Shepherd’s Pie

• Salad. For a lighter side dish option, try my Beet Salad Recipe or this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad.
• Vegetable Sides. Roasted Green Beans and Sautéed Brussels Sprouts are easy side dishes for pairing with your shepherd’s pie.
• Bread. Want something a little heartier? Drop Biscuits or Homemade Dinner Rolls, will help you soak up the last bits of gravy at the bottom of your bowl.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

• Baking Dish. Beautiful and perfect for making this recipe.
• Potato Masher. An easy way to mash the potatoes.
• Large Skillet. Great for browning meat and sautéing veggies.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Cut the Potatoes into Even Pieces. This ensures that they’re all tender and finished cooking at the same time.
• Dry the Potatoes a Bit, If Needed. For that signature light-and-fluffy texture, you can cook the drained potatoes in the pot a bit until the excess water evaporates. Once they’re dry, they’re ready to be mashed.
• Drain Off Any Grease. You might not have any grease to drain off from the ground meat, but if you do, it’s a good idea to drain it off or transfer the filling to the casserole dish using a slotted spoon.
• Give It a Quick Broil. If, after the cooking time is done, the top of the mashed potatoes isn’t browned in spots, you can turn on the broiler for a minute or two to get those brown and crispy bits that make shepherd’s pie so irresistible!

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