The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (2024)

The Best Shepherd's Pie. Ever. is incredibly hearty, with beef and vegetables cooked in a savory gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes. The ultimate comfort food!

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Top o’ the evenin’ to ya’!

That’s my happy St. Patrick’s Day greeting.

Ben and I were going to hit up an all-you-can-eat St. Paddy’s Day buffet at Hy-Vee tonight (unlimited Reubens & corned beef?!) but I thought nah, lets keep it homemade withThe BestShepherd’s Pie. EVER!

I was kind of annoyed with myself for choosing to make this classic meat pie, originally known as Cottage Pie back in the late 1700s, instead of going to the buffet. I figured it would take at least an hour to make.

Turns out it was actually a cinch! Just brown ground beef with onions and garlic,cook in flour, chicken broth, tomato paste and other seasonings, then simmer until thick.

Toss in some frozen veggies, and you’re nearly there!

While I was making the filling, I whipped up ~4 cups worth ofmashed potatoes on a burner next door.

Assembly time!

Pour the filling into an oven-proof casserole dishthen top with mashed pa’tators.Pop into the oven for 20 minutes, and…

BINGO!

Bubbling its little heart out as I pulled it out of the piping hot oven, which totally made me giggle. I just love it when comfort food smells, tastes and sounds like comfort food, you know?

I scooped us out a big serving and almost fell into the tunnel of mashed potato love!!!

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4.5/5 (17 REVIEWS)

Description

The Best Shepherd's Pie. Ever. is incredibly hearty, with beef and vegetables cooked in a savory gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes — the ultimate comfort food!

Ingredients

Serves 5-6

  • 4 cups prepared mashed potatoes
  • garlic salt
  • 1lb ground beef
  • 1/3 cup chopped onion
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 Tablespoons gluten-free flour OR all-purpose (dish will not be GF if using AP flour)
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon gluten-free tamari or soy sauce (dish will not be GF if using soy sauce)
  • 1 can (14.5oz) chicken broth
  • 2 cups frozen vegetable medley
  • salt & pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brown ground beef, onions and garlic in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When meat is completely cooked, sprinkle in flour and continue to saute for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Stir in tomato paste, worcestershire sauce, gluten-free tamari or soy sauce and chicken broth. Simmer for 5-6 minutes, or until sauce is thick. Turn of the heat then stir in frozen vegetables and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Pour beef mixture into a large, oven-proof casserole dish then top with mashed potatoes and sprinkle with garlic salt.
  4. Place casserole dish on a large sheet pan (in case the sauce overflows) then bake for 20-30 minutes, or until top is golden brown. Scoop onto plates then serve.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Meat & potatoes at its finest. Savory and so comforting!

Ben took his first bite…

“omg, this is life altering right now. This is the best Shepherd’s Pie you’ve ever made…”

“It’s the only Shepherd’s Pie I’ve ever made.”

“No…” (makes horrible face)

“Oh. Right. That Shepherd’s Pie. So it’s only the best when compared to the second AND worst Shepherd’s Pie I’ve ever made…”

“Um, yeah I guess so.”

ENJOY!

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131 Comments

  1. The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (17) Donna Cohen 10.14.2023

    I have been using this recipe for the past five years if not longer, it’s the best recipe ever

    Reply

    • The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (18) Kristin 10.15.2023

      That is music to my ears, Donna! Thank you so much for your feedback!

      Reply

  2. The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (19) Sarah B 02.25.2021

    This truly is the best shepherd’s pie. Comforting, satisfying, flavourful, filling. You will not be disappointed!!

    Reply

  3. The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (21) Rachael Lavender 02.23.2021

    My family enjoyed this meal. It came together easy on a busy workday evening. Adding it to the meal rotation. Thank you for sharing g!

    5

    Reply

    • The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (22) Kristin 02.23.2021

      So glad you loved it, Rachael! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!

      Reply

  4. The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (23) Carolyn 07.27.2020

    Shepherds pie and Cottage pie are two completely different dishes ! Shepherd pie ss you’d expect is made with lamb, Cottage pie with beef.

    Reply

  5. The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (24) Fiona 11.20.2019

    Sorry to correct you, but Shepherds Pie is made with lamb and Cottage Pie is made with beef – they are not the same thing.

    Reply

  6. The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (25) 25 Make Ahead Camping Meals to Feed a Whole Family – CampingBeast.com 10.23.2019

    […] Shepherds Pie […]

    Reply

  7. The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (26) Bruce 10.02.2019

    So easy. So quick. So tastyMy go to twice a month

    5

    Reply

  8. The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (27) Nicole 07.08.2019

    Great recipe. Fast, easy, and my family loved it.

    Reply

  9. The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (28) Tony 06.15.2019

    I am a huge fan of Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie. Fantastic and easy to make! Thanks for sharing your recipe. Just an FYI, Shepherd’s Pies were not formally known as Cottage Pies. I see Shepherd’s Pie being used incorrectly more often than not, even in restaurants. Shepard’s Pie is made with mutton or lamb (hence Shepherd) whereas Cottage Pie is made with beef. Other than this, they are the same. I prefer Shepard’s pie over cottage, but not everyone likes lamb and fewer like mutton. For an extra special version, make it in a flaky pie crust. I have never made one without, ever since I first tried it.
    Thank you and all the best wishes.

    Reply

  10. The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (29) Heather 03.20.2019

    I made mine with ground venison and a cauliflower/potato mash on top – we are enjoying this! Thanks for the best shepherds pie recipe :)

    5

    Reply

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hi, i'm kristin!

I’m a Midwestern wife and Mama, and after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2013 I began sharing delicious and approachable gluten-free recipes made with everyday, in-season ingredients. Welcome!

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The Best Shepherd's Pie - Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional shepherd's pie made of? ›

Classic Shepherd's Pie is a comforting casserole that consists of ground lamb, carrots, and peas simmered with Guinness, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs and topped with a cheesy mashed potato layer that's baked until golden and crisp.

Does shepherd's pie have gravy in it? ›

This Easy Shepherd's Pie recipe is made with ground beef, brown gravy, and frozen vegetables in less than 30 minutes on the stove top. Broil in the oven for just 5 minutes and dinner is served!

Why is flour used in shepherds pie? ›

This shepherd's pie recipe uses 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the gravy but if you feel like the meat mixture is too watery, add in another tablespoon and stir to combine. You may also try simmering the mince mixture for longer so that the stock reduces down and thickens.

How do you keep mash from sinking in shepherds pie? ›

To stop the mash sinking into the filling, allow the meat to cool before topping with the mashed potato. Freeze in individual ovenproof dishes for an easy meal for one.

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›

Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

Why do Irish people eat shepherd's pie? ›

It's called cottage pie in the U.K. because they use beef and in Ireland since the shepherds tend sheep, it's shepherd's pie. No doubt, the English put out an excellent cottage pie, but in Ireland it used to be a delicacy since the Irish couldn't afford beef they repurposed any unused veggies and meat.

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

What can I use instead of Worcestershire in shepherd's pie? ›

The Best Worcestershire Sauce Substitutes
  • Balsamic Vinegar. Given that vinegar is the largest ingredient in Worcestershire, balsamic would be my first go-to when I'm looking for a substitute. ...
  • Soy Sauce + Sugar. ...
  • BBQ Sauce. ...
  • Tomato Ketchup. ...
  • Fish sauce. ...
  • Coconut Aminos. ...
  • Anchovies. ...
  • Hot Sauce.

What are the ingredients in Centerville shepherd's pie? ›

Filling: Ground Beef, Cream Style Corn (Corn, Water, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Salt), Whole Kernel Corn, Onion, Garlic, Soybean Oil, Salt, Sugar, Black Pepper, Nutmeg] Mashed Potatoes (Skim Milk, Butter, Whole Milk, Salt Disodium Pyrophosphate [Added to Maintain Color], Potassium Sorbate [Added to Maintain Freshness ...

What do you eat with shepherd's pie? ›

Thick, creamy mushy peas are often a side dish for fish and chips, and they go perfectly well with shepherd's pie too. Frozen peas are typically included in the pie's meat mixture but this side dish gives them a bit of an encore. All you need are peas, butter, heavy cream, salt and pepper.

What is shepherd's pie made of in England? ›

Shepherd's pie comes to us from England, and is traditionally made with lamb or mutton. Here in the states we are more of a beef eating culture than a lamb eating one, and when one is served "shepherd's pie" here, it is most often made with ground beef.

How do you thicken shepherd's pie without cornstarch? ›

Arrowroot Powder – If you're following the Paleo Diet then Arrowroot Powder is a great alternative to using cornstarch to thicken gravies and sauces.

Why does my potato sink in shepherds pie? ›

Residual moisture from the potatoes will drip into the beef below as it cooks, and too much of it will cause the potatoes to eventually sink. Aside from ridding your potatoes of excess moisture before you mash them, it also helps to cool the beef down, BBC Good Food shares.

Should I put shepherds pie in the fridge? ›

Freshly baked shepherd's pie will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge refrigerate covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. It's generally recommended that cooked produce, if cooled quickly enough, will last 3 days safely when stored at or below 5°C. Anything over that and you risk food poisoning.

What to do if mashed potatoes are too moist? ›

You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well. Stir in the thickening agent gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, until the potatoes have reached your desired consistency.

Where is shepherds pie from traditionally? ›

Many people believe that the peasant housewives invented the pie as an easy way to repackage leftovers from their Sunday roast. The Shepherd Pie is thought to originate from Ireland and the northern parts of England.

What meat is in traditional pie and mash? ›

Pie and mash is a traditional working-class food, originating in the Docks of London. Often accompanied with jellied eels, the dish has been popularised as "a co*ckney classic". It typically consists of a minced beef pie, mashed potato and a parsley sauce known as liquor.

Why is shepherds pie traditional? ›

Shepherd's Pie first came about late in the 1700s and early 1800s. Accordingly, housewives back then were on the frugal side. Much like we do today, they were looking for ways to incorporate those leftovers that husbands and kids would turn up their noses at. The struggle was real back then just like today.

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