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.
This looks like an improvement on Shepherd’s pie recipes I’ve made in the past! Thanks!
Question: would it freeze well? I need to make a big casserole ahead and freeze it. I’m hoping it will freeze well. Thank you!
Wow, this is the best Shepherd’s pie recipe I have ever tried. I grew up with my English mom’s recipe, but this is better. I didn’t have Worcestershire sauce on hand, so I used soy sauce. The flour and tomato paste really helped make the meat part rich and a nice texture. Divine.
Can I make the meat portion and refrigerate over night, then add the potato portion when I’m ready the next day?
This is the best recipe for shepherd’s pie. I had fresh herbs available so I substituted that. I also mixed the tomato paste and flour with a little of the broth to make a smooth paste before I mixed it into the meat mixture. t was YUMMY!!
I used a mushroom plant based ground
And it turned out fabulous!!
(Lion’s mane mushroom crumble.. sold at Superstore B.C, Canada).
This is definitely a keeper recipe 💕
My mom made this for us as kids and it was really good, Mine was never as good as hers, I tried your recipe and my daughter’s boyfriend asked if I could move in with them and make it every night. They live in Rhode Island and I live in NY so I can’t deliver as often as he would like. Thanks so much. You are an amazing CHEF!
I make this all the time and just wanted to add for anybody wanting to make this a little leaner- it is delicious with ground chicken or turkey (sub beef broth for chicken as well). I also too it with cheddar cheese before baking of course!
I’d like to double this. Any adjustments or just double ingredients? Also, I’m using leftover short ribs. Suggestions? Will it affect the gravy process? Mahalo
I’ve made this recipe numerous times now and I ALWAYS have to make a double portion because my husband and two teenage boys would devour it. KUDOS for sharing this and all my boys say THANK YOU!
So delicious! The meat came out perfect. I added a layer of stuffing before I added the potatoes because my husband is addicted stuffing. He said it’s the beat shepherd’s pie he’s ever had.
Wow had some leftover 60th Birthday dinner, prime rib, shrooms and mashed potatoes. This was freaking fabulous
Made mine with ground elk that I got last season. Also added some wild sage and used fresh rosemary, basil and oregano. It was fast and simple and made enough for a few days of food. I skipped the potato prep and bought easy make parmigiana instant mashed potatoes, put in plastic bag and cut the tip to layer it nicely on top. 10/10
This recipe was delicious. I doubled the recipe, omitted the flour and tomato paste and added a little more Worcestershire sauce. Also, I used fresh carrots and canned peas — no corn. Had it for Easter dinner along with fresh green beans, a tiny ham and pigs in the blanket.
Outstanding! So delicious and not difficult to make at all. I prepared the mashed potatoes first then the meat mixture. Doubled the recipe and family just loved it!
so good! first time making shepherd’s pie. & I am 60 !! used canned peas & corn. fresh carrots chopped & cooked. I loved the flavour. Would make it again! followed recipe …
Tried for first time had company everyone loved it!
Amazing every time
I made the lamb version today. Shepherd’s pie has always been a favorite of my son, but he super loved this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
This was the best Shepherd’s Pie ever! 😋
I used lamb and ground beef, with avocado oil and vegetable broth. Absolutely delicious, first time ever making this dish. My family loved it even the picky little ones.