Best Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
There’s no denying Shepherd’s Pie is one of the most comforting, hearty, and satisfying one-pan meals you can cook for your family. A rich ground beef and veggie base with a savory tomato sauce topped with fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes baked to perfection make it a perfectly balanced, family-favorite meal.
Make Ahead Instructions
This is a great meal to make ahead. Make the meaty base and the mashed potatoes according to the recipe’s instructions, layer them in a 9×13-inch baking dish, and cover with plastic wrap.
Refrigerate a day ahead until ready to bake. You can also keep the beef mixture and mashed potatoes, place them in separate airtight containers, and refrigerate until ready to assemble, bake, and serve.
Variations
- If you like spicy food, add chopped jalapenos or a splash of hot sauce to the meat mixture.
- Want to add more veggies? Diced potatoes and chopped green beans would be great additions.
- Make it cheesy by topping the mashed potatoes with your favorite shredded cheese before baking the pie.
- Adding a pinch of cinnamon and sugar to the meat base will add depth of flavor.
Store Shepherd’s Pie
Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, and you can easily reheat them in the microwave until warmed through.
Freeze Shepherd’s Pie
You can freeze this pie before or after baking it. Assemble the dish, cover with two layers of plastic wrap and one of foil, and freeze for up to 3 months.
If freezing the baked pie, let it come to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container and freezing it for up to 3 months.
Best Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lb potatoes, peeled and cubed (I used russet potatoes)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ cup half and half
- ½ tsp salt or to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the meat filling:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup carrots, small diced
- ½ cup celery, small diced
- 1 ½ lb lean ground beef
- ½ tsp salt or to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Make the mashed potatoes: place the cubed potatoes in a large pot of water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender, about 15 mins. Drain and return the potatoes to the pot.
- Mix in the half and half, butter, salt, and pepper and mash using a potato masher until creamy and smooth. Set aside.
- Make the meat filling: heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat and saute the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery for about 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until there’s no more pink left in the meat, about 8 more minutes.
- Mix in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried herbs, salt, pepper, and chicken broth. Simmer this mixture until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the frozen peas.
- While the meat filling is simmering, preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Assemble the Pie: Flatten the meat mixture using a spatula and spoon the mashed potatoes on top. Smooth them over with the spatula as well, and bake for 25 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil for 2-5 minutes or until golden brown on top. Watch them carefully as food can easily burn if left unsupervised under the broiler! Serve with freshly chopped parsley on top.
Nutrition
FAQ About Making Shepherd’s Pie
- 1. What if my Shepherd’s Pie Filling is too Runny? The sauce needs to be on the thicker side, so if you feel yours is too runny, just add a cornstarch slurry (1-2 tsp cornstarch dissolved in 1 tbsp cold water), to the pot and simmer until the sauce has thickened. You may add more if needed.
- 2. Can I Use Instant Mashed Potatoes for Topping? Absolutely! If you don’t have time to make mashed potatoes from scratch, you can use instant mashed potatoes in a pinch! Add half and half instead of milk, and a touch of powdered garlic to give them a homemade touch!
- 3. Is it Possible to Make a Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie? Yes, it is! Just swap the ground beef for “meaty” vegetables like chopped mushrooms and lentils. You’ll still get the same comforting and savory goodness without the meat. Also, use vegetable stock instead of chicken broth. And don’t forget to add the spices!
