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.
Not a traditional shepherds pie from my experience but it was delicious and the whole family destroyed it leaving none left for my lunch. Definitely in my toolbox now.
This was ok an the family enjoyed it just took more time to make then anticipated.
This dish was delicious! I followed the recipe with one modification (doubled the garlic) and it was simply scrumptious! Can’t wait to make it again and take it to a potluck.
Excellent! We served 27 people and 8 came back for seconds and 1 came back for thirds.
This is the most amazing recipe everyone in my home loved this meal finally it’s hard to find something that all my 7 kids enjoy!!!!!!
Thank you so much!!!!
Very good!!
I have made many shepherd pie recipes over the years and everyone has always come back for more especially when I think I’m making a dish for two nights in a row and it winds up to be one night that tells me everyone loves it. I did this recipe and improvise a little bit added some shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the mashed potatoes. I didn’t have tomato paste so into the two cups of beef broth I added flour to thicken up the liquid for the meat mixture… Everyone loved it it’s absolutely delicious this is one recipe you can make over and over again oh and also I used four cups of mixed vegetables Frozen I can’t tell you enough how great this recipe is!
When do you add the garlic?
Amazing recipe. First time to prepare the Shepherds pie and loved every minute. Received many compliments from friends… mmmm… Tasty recipe!!
The best shepard’s pie recipe.
This is a great recipe! Hadn’t had this in years and this recipe didn’t disappoint. I used instant potatoes and frozen peas and corn since I don’t care for carrots. Invited some neighbors as guinea pigs and they were extremely happy to be used. LOL
Delicious recipe! Easy to follow and the whole family enjoyed it. FYI- the listed nutrition facts are off. I calculated on my own, and calories are much closer to 600 per serving.
Fantastic flavor explosion! Sharing this one my Instagram page @_k.c.s_kitchen and putting on my regular dinner rotation. Thank you!
Amazing
This Classic Sheppard’s Pie recipe is the absolute best , a family fave , thank you for this amazing recipe!!
Really, really good! I used 1/2 ground turkey, and 1/2 ground beef. Had a bag of mixed veggies, so threw that in. The spice combo was savory, but not too overpowering for kids. Didn’t have time for the topper, so just made up the potatoes and ladled the meat mixture over them. Will definitely do the classic presentation another time!
Alright. I’ve made this dish a million times. I’ve never commented on any online recipes in my life but I have a moral obligation to do so now. This is a classic. Nobody could say no to seconds besides a vegan.
I really like to add more tomato paste as well as frozen veggies. Also, yesterday I was without Worcestershire sauce so I threw some dry white wine in with the broth and it was incredible. Highly suggest.
Family loves it, thank you 🙂
It was excellent My husband loved it True test 🙂
One of the best shepherds pies Ive made! I doubled it and the flavor was so rich and delicious.
Hello there! I have made this receipe many times as well and we love it. I am having a bigger family dinner tonight and would love to make this but have never doubled it. Did you double all ingredients? Thank you!