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.
Shepherd’s Pie
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.
Irish Shepherd’s 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.
How To Make Shepherd’s Pie
(Note – The full printable recipe is at the bottom of this post)
- Sauté some chopped onions in olive oil.
- Add ground beef or ground lamb.
- Add dried parsley, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper.
- Stir and cook the meat mixture until the meat is browned.
- Add minced garlic and Worcestershire sauce.
- Cook the garlic for a minute.
- Add flour and tomato paste.
- Add beef broth, frozen mixed peas and carrots, and frozen corn kernels.
- Simmer the meat gravy until it is thick.
- Boil some peeled and chopped potatoes until they are soft.
- Drain the potatoes
- Add butter, half & half, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Mash the potatoes until smooth.
- Pour the meat mixture into a casserole dish.
- Top it with the cheesy mashed potatoes.
- Bake until the meat is bubbling and the potatoes are golden.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie
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.
What to serve with The Best Shepherd’s Pie
- Deviled Eggs
- Roasted Broccoli from Skinnytaste
- The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Watch the Video for the Best Classic Shepherd’s Pie Below.
Find more of my recipes on TikTok
Best Classic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Meat Filling:
- 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
Potato Topping:
- 1 ½ - 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
Instructions
Make the Meat Filling.
- Add the oil to a large skillet and place it over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the onions. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the ground beef (or ground lamb) to the skillet and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the parsley, rosemary, thyme, salt, and and pepper. Stir well. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until the meat is browned, stirring occasionally.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the flour and tomato paste. Stir until well incorporated and no clumps of tomato paste remain.
- Add the broth, frozen peas and carrots, and frozen corn. Bring the liquid to a boil then reduce to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Set the meat mixture aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Make the potato topping.
- Place the potatoes in a large pot. Cover the potatoes with water. Bring the water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are fork tender, 10-15 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes in a colander. Return the potatoes to the hot pot. Let the potatoes rest in the hot pot for 1 minute to evaporate any remaining liquid.
- Add butter, half & half, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mash the potatoes and stir until all the ingredients are mixed together.
- Add the parmesan cheese to the potatoes. Stir until well combined.
Assemble the casserole.
- Pour the meat mixture into a 9x9 (or 7x11) inch baking dish. Spread it out into an even layer. Spoon the mashed potatoes on top of the meat. Carefully spread into an even layer.
- 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Check out all of my great ground beef recipes.
Excellent. I’ve made this dish many times and everytime it has been a hit.
Savory and wholesome.
Great dish. Used lamb.
Delicious and aromatic with the herbs in the beef mixture and the parm in the potatoes.
I made this in the instant pot with stew meat in place of ground beef and it was awesome. I will be saving this recipe and make it again for when company comes over.
Overall a very solid recipe. Alterations: halved butter, swapped parmesan for fresh grated parmigiano reggiano, used mixed vegetables (corn, peas, carrots green beans), substituted ketchup for tomato paste (yes, it’s weird but try it).
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I’ve never had or cooked Shepherds pie before. But I pulled it out of the oven not 20 minutes ago and have had my first bowl. It’s so good. I planned to make more but now I’m definitely making more. Great recipe easy to follow. Will be using again.
Fantastic! I even forgot some of the ingredients in the potatoes because I got distracted… Still really good. Thank you for sharing!
This was delicious!! I had to use canned peas and corn so I didn’t add any salt during cooking and it would be better with frozen but still delicious! I had leftover mashed potatoes I used just added the parmesan and garlic powder to it. Great way to use leftover potatoes! I cook for my mom and she ate everything on her plate. I will make again!!
Great!!
Simple and easy to follow. I didn’t have beef broth so I used a can of beef consommé and the same amount of water.
It was delicious!
Best recipe ever. I add mushrooms to the meat mixture and sauteed leeks to the mashed topping. I have
fresh rosemary growing in my garden that adds something special to pie. A 5 star recipe to work with.
This is the best Shepard’s pie I have ever had. We really enjoyed it. I doubled it as I have two big guys to feed and they love left overs for work lunches. I topped it with shredded cheddar and wow!
Absolutely delicious! I add my own little tweaks here and there but the base is this recipe and it’s amazing!
Delicious and easy to make!
More buttered corn on top 😍
I’ve made this recipe over a dozen times, and have had to start doubling the recipe just so we could have a couple leftover servings for lunch the next day. Try adding an extra tablespoon of Worcestershire for the zing! Thank you for posting this recipe!!
Simply delicious! I make it even easier by using pre-made mashed potatoes and “zushing” them up with butter, cream and parm. I’m going to have to start doubling the amount…there’s never any leftovers! Thanks for such a great recipe 🙂
Very Easy to follow recipe. My family loved it!
I made this with lamb, it was tasty but I would definitely drain off the grease from the lamb next time..it was my first time making this and I thought it was a bit odd the recipe did not call for this but I followed it to the the letter except used fresh herbs. My husband loved it. We like lamb, I know it’s not for everyone.
Just made it today. Followed the recipe pretty closely and it was delicious. I used lamb.
I divided the recipe into two foil containers and gave one to a friend.
Hope she enjoys it as much as we did.
This was truly delicious, satisfying and is now a family favourite. I doubled it since everyone loves leftovers too and used a mix of ground lamb and beef. Thanks for sharing!
The first time I made this recipe it tasted so good. I hope with the substitutions work out.great recipe. 5 stars for sure thank you
The best shepards pie! Was a hit with everyone in the family and that includes 4 kids! Definitely will be making again and again! Added to my recipe box.
Amazing, my favorite Shepherd’s pie recipe yet. And I even halved the butter and drained the meat grease. 🙂 those potatoes are fantastic! Can’t believe how low calorie this is. Thank you!
I made this tonight, and it was spectacular!! My British boyfriend ate 3 big servings of it. Definitely keeping this in my dinner rotations. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe!
This was just delicious 😋
So good! My husband and I ate it until we burst!
I’d never had Shepherd’s Pie before so I was on the fence and couldn’t decide on a recipe, but your comment was all the recommendation I needed. Thanks so much for posting! 😉