Shepherds Pie Recipe

The Best Classic Shepherd’s Pie – AKA Shepards Pie or Cottage Pie. Ground Beef (or lamb) with vegetables in a rich gravy, topped with cheesy mashed potatoes, and baked.

So, this is how you spell it: Shepherd’s Pie. But, from doing a quick google search, it came to my attention that TONS of people think it’s Shepards Pie.

Traditional Irish Shepherd’s Pie would actually call for ground lamb. The difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie is the meat. Cottage Pie uses ground beef, while Shepherd’s Pie uses ground lamb.

I called this recipe Shepherd’s Pie. But, I wrote the recipe so that you could use ground beef or ground lamb.

I typically use ground beef because it is widely available. But, for a special occasion, like St. Patricks day, I would use ground lamb.

Making the best Shepherd’s Pie is not difficult. But, there are a few steps to it. You have to make the meat mixture, the mashed potatoes, assemble the casserole, and bake it.

I find that the easiest way to make this dish is to work ahead. You could make the beef or lamb mixture ahead of time. Or, you could make the mashed potatoes ahead of time.

You could also make the whole recipe ahead of time. Just assemble the casserole, cover the dish, and keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake it. I find it is best to bake it within 3 days of preparing it.

When you are ready to bake it, take it out of the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before you need to bake it to let it start coming to room temperature. Uncover it, and bake.

shepherds pie recipe

Best Classic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

shepherds pie recipe

The Best Classic Shepherd’s Pie – AKA Shepards Pie or Cottage Pie. Ground Beef (or lamb) with vegetables in a rich gravy, topped with cheesy mashed potatoes and baked.

Prep: 20min

Total: 70min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1 /6th of the recipe

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 /6th of the recipe, calories 400 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 30 g, Saturated Fat 15 g, Cholesterol 97 mg, Sodium 751 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 2 g

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 lb. 90% lean ground beef (-or ground lamb)
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 garlic cloves (-minced)
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup frozen mixed peas & carrots*
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 1 1/2 – 2 lb. russet potatoes (-about 2 large potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes)
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (-1 stick)
  • 1/3 cup half & half
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Instruction:

  1. Set the meat mixture aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Add the parmesan cheese to the potatoes. Stir until well combined.
  3. If the baking dish looks very full, place it on a rimmed baking sheet so that the filling doesn’t bubble over into your oven. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes.** Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

FAQ

What is traditional shepherd’s pie made of?

Traditionally, shepherd’s pie is made with lamb mince, vegetables and mashed potato. The meat is added to an aromatic combination of softened carrot, onion and celery, known in French cooking as a mirepoix, which is then loosened up with stock, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and bay leaves to make a tasty gravy.

How to make a sheperd pie?

Method
  1. Boil the potatoes: Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in medium sized pot. …
  2. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  3. Sauté the vegetables: …
  4. Add the ground beef, then the Worcestershire sauce and broth: …
  5. Mash the cooked potatoes: …
  6. Layer the meat mixture and mashed potatoes in a casserole dish: …
  7. Bake:

What is in shepherds pie seasoning mix?

Shepherd’s Pie Spice Mix:
  1. Salt – 1 tsp.
  2. Garlic powder – 1 tsp.
  3. Mustard powder (opt) – 1/2 tsp.
  4. Black pepper – 1/2 tsp.
  5. Thyme, dried – 1/2 tsp.
  6. Parsley, dried (opt) – 1/2 tsp.

Does traditional shepherd’s pie have pastry?

The original shepherd’s pies were baked in pastry crusts and used leftover roast meat combined with a savory gravy to bring it all together. When the dish made its way from Scotland to Ireland, they skipped the pastry and used their abundance of potatoes instead, creating the modern-day mashed potato topping.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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