Best and Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe

This best and easy shepherd's pie recipe is the exact comfort food you need to make this winter. Hearty ground beef with a variety of vegetables under a thick blanket of mashed potatoes, baked to delicious perfection.

Shepherd's pie is a perfect comfort food recipe that can be made virtually any time of year, but is even more delicious during the "ber" months, think November or December.

Cozy recipes like my slow cooker turkey chili, beef chili, or my sweet and sour chicken meatballs influenced me to retest and reshoot this recipe for this site, as all of these bring big smiles to many faces, and I know this one will too.

What are the ingredients for making shepherd's pie?

1. Ground Beef - as I said above, this recipe is technically considered a "cottage pie," but if you preferred to be very traditional, opt for ground lamb instead! When choosing ground beef, I like to buy grass fed ground beef for various reasons.
2. Mirepoix - a classic combination of chopped veggies such as carrot, celery, and onion.
3. Corn - we used corn instead of peas in this version, Adds another crunch factor, and more veggies!
4. Tapioca Flour - I typically use arrowroot or tapioca to thicken stews and stocks.
5. Vegetable stock - just one quarter of a cup of stock is all we need to get the ground meat and veggies nice and thick before layering with the potatoes.
6. Salt and Pepper - the classic duo, to season the meat as it browns.
7. Olive oil - a little olive oil to help with the sauté of the mirepoix.

For the Mashed Potatoes:

1. Russet Potatoes - I swear by using russet potatoes for mashed potatoes. They're starchy, hearty, and just tastes delicious.
2. Butter - I used salted butter for this, but also added just an additional pinch of salt after I whipped the potatoes.
3. Half and half - a little milk goes a long way for making mashed taters.
4. Garlic powder - I like using granulated garlic in my mash, it's easier and gives just enough flavor.

See the recipe card for specific information about quantities.

Swaps and Substitutions

• Meat: use ground beef, lamb, venison, turkey, chicken, or even a plant-based alternative if you're vegan!
• Potatoes: you can easily make this with sweet potatoes on top if you would prefer the sweet potato versus russet potato.
• Vegetables: this recipe calls on the classic mirepoix (celery, carrot, onion), with the addition of corn, but you can add in peas or other vegetables if you want to make it a bit heartier.
• Stock: I used a vegetable stock to thicken the meat, but you can use a chicken or beef stock.

How do you make shepherd's pie?

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375º and bring a large pot of water to a boil (in preparation for the mashed potatoes).

In a large skillet or frying pan, sauté the onions, carrots, and celery until fragrant and the onions become translucent.

Step 2: To the same pan, and in the ground beef and let it brown. Continue to cook the ground beef and add in the corn. 

Step 3: Pour in the water or stock and stir in the flour to thicken the meat mixture. 

Step 4: Let simmer on low to thicken, stirring occasionally.

Step 5: Meanwhile, take the boiled potatoes out of the boiling water and mash using a hand mixer. Add in half and half and butter and continue to mix. Pour in a tablespoon of garlic powder, and mix together using a spatula. Set aside.

Step 6: Pour the meat mixture into a cast iron skillet or oven-safe casserole dish and evenly distribute so there is an even layer of meat.

Step 7: Add a few dollops of mashed potatoes on top, then smooth out with a spatula. 

Step 8: Sprinkle some paprika on top and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top of the mashed potatoes is a golden brown and slightly crisp.  Serve immediately.

HINT: While I didn't do this, because I didn't have red wine on hand, you can add a splash of red wine to the meat along with some Worcestershire sauce for added depth! It gives the meat a sweet, yet savory flavor.

Storage and Freezer Information

To Store: Simply wrap the casserole dish with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. This will be good for up to 3 days. To reheat, do not microwave. Put the oven to 350º and reheat for 15 minutes.

To Freeze: If you want to make a batch for the freezer, consider preparing the entire thing in a freezer-safe tin rather than scooping and storing in containers. You can prepare this dish with the mashed potatoes on top, wrap with plastic wrap, then one layer of aluminum foil (label what it is, baking time, and oven temp!). Store in the freezer for up to two months.

When you want to bake this, thaw in the fridge overnight, then bake the next day.

Hungry for more?

Try these other delicious comforting dinner recipes

Classic Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Morgan Peaceman

Classic, easy, and oh so comforting, this shepherd's pie recipe takes no time to make, and is great for a cozy night in.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course dinner

Cuisine English, irish

Servings 8 servings

Calories 332 kcal

Equipment

• 1 large pot
• 1 hand mixer
• 1 mixing bowl
• 1 oven safe baking dish
• 1 large frying pan
• measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For the Mashed Potatoes

• 2 medium russet potatoes peeled and roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoon butter salted or unsalted
• ¼ cup half and half
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

For the Meat Filling

• 1.5 lbs ground beef or ground lamb
• 1 cup corn
• ½ cup carrots finely chopped (3 large stalks)
• ½ medium onion finely chopped
• ½ cup celery finely chopped (2 large stalks)
• 3 tablespoon tapioca or arrowroot starch/flour or sub with cornstarch or regular flour
• ¼ cup vegetable stock or sub with chicken or beef stock

Instructions

 

For the Mashed Potatoes

• Fill a large pot of water and bring to a boil.
• Peel the russet potatoes and roughly chop.
• Add the potatoes into the boiling water and boil for 30 minutes or until fork tender. Strain and add to a mixing bowl
• To the mixing bowl, add the butter, half and half, and mix with a hand mixer.
• Add in the garlic powder, then fold together with a spatula. Mix until the garlic powder is incorporated then set aside.

For the Meat Filling/Assembly

• In a large skillet or frying pan, sauté the onions, carrots, and celery until fragrant and the onions become translucent.
• To the same pan, and in the ground beef and let it brown. Continue to cook the ground beef and add in the corn.
• Pour in the water or stock and stir in the flour to thicken the meat mixture.
• Let simmer on low to thicken, stirring occasionally.
• Preheat the oven to 375º. Pour the meat mixture into a cast iron skillet or oven-safe casserole dish and evenly distribute so there is an even layer of meat.
• Add a few dollops of mashed potatoes on top, then smooth out with a spatula.
• Sprinkle some paprika on top and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top of the mashed potatoes is a golden brown and slightly crisp.  Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 332kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 17gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 128mgPotassium: 569mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1546IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!