Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (2024)

Home Recipes Main Dishes Beef Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

by Jennifer Debth

4 Comments

5 from 3 votes

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ThisShepherd’s Pie Recipe is a comfort food classic. Loaded with a rich gravy, beef, veggies, and creamy mashed potatoes – this is sure to be a family favorite!

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  • General
  • What is shepherd's pie?
  • Ingredients
  • How to make
  • Get the recipe
  • Step-by-step video
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Making ahead of time
  • Variations
  • Pairing suggestions
  • How to store
  • Nutrition information

This recipe isthe ultimatecomfort food meal. I mean, come on, veggies and meat cooked in a super yummy gravy and topped off with creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes?

Yeah, count me in.

What is shepherd’s pie?

Shepherd’s pie is a minced meat pie traditionally made with a flavorful gravy, mashed potatoes, veggies, and ground lamb (hence, the word “shepherd” in the title.)

Technically, a shepherd’s pie made with ground beef is called “cottage pie” and a pie made withlamb is called shepherd’s pie. However, I decided to use ground beef instead of lamb since it’s cheaper and more accessible…so I guess today we’re really making cottage pie.

Anyway, whatever you want to call it and however you want to make it…this meal is DELICIOUS!

Ingredients

  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes– myall timeFAVORITEmashed potato recipe. They only take 15 minutes and they’re SO luxurious.
  • Butter– used to cook the veggies.
  • Onion, Carrot, Peas, and Corn– a classic combo of veggies. Adds nutrients, color, and texture!
  • Garlic– adds a subtle nuttiness.
  • Ground Beef– make sure to use a lean ground beef so it’s not too greasy.
  • Salt, Pepper, Dried Rosemary, and Dried Thyme – the perfect combination of herbs and spices.
  • All-Purpose Flour– thickens the sauce to create a rich gravy.
  • Tomato Paste, Worcestershire Sauce, and Chicken Broth – the base of the sauce.The tomato paste adds depth, the worcestershire adds tang, and the chicken broth adds a savoriness.

Pro tip

Make the instant pot mashed potatoes a day in advance to save time! Be sure to let them come to room temperature for easy spreading.

How to make

There are two part to shepherd’s pie: the mashed potato topping and the meat and veggie filling. Try multi-tasking! While the mashed potatoes are cooking, whip up the filling!

  1. Make a batch of instant pot mashed potatoes.
  2. Melt butter in a sauté pan, add in onion, carrots, garlic, beef, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme and cook until the veggies are tender and beef is cooked through.Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (2)
  3. Drain any excess grease then sprinkle the meat/veggie mixture with flour and stir.Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (3)
  4. Add in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and broth and simmer to thicken then stir in peas and corn.Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (4)
  5. Pour mixture into a prepared baking dish.Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (5)
  6. Top evenly with mashed potatoes and bake for 25 minutes then serve and enjoy!Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (6)

Pro tip

This is a hearty meal! Serve with a crisp salad on the side for a well-balanced meal.

Can shepherd’s pie be made ahead of time?

Shepherd’s pie is great made in advance. Simply assemble it as directed then cover it and store it up to 24 hours in the refrigerator before baking.

Keep in mind this may extend the cook time by a little bit so be sure it’s cooked all the way through before serving!

Pro tip

You can also make then store the filling and potatoes in separate containers in the fridge. Assemble and bake as directed when you’re ready!

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (7)

Variations

This recipe is pretty darn perfect as-is, if I do say so myself. 😉 However, if you want to switch it up, here are some variations you could try!

  • Use a different meat.Feel free to do ground lamb for the classic shepherd’s pie, turkey, or even sausage!
  • Make it gluten-free.Use cornstarch instead of flour – you’ll want to use 1/2 the amount of cornstarch. As always, make sure allyour ingredients are certified gluten-free before using!
  • Make it vegetarian. Ditch the meat and make a veggie forward filling — add mushrooms and cooked lentils!
  • Use different potatoes.Try it with mashed sweet potatoes. In a pinch, you can also use store-bought mashed potatoes but it won’t have quite the same flavor.

What to serve with shepherd’s pie

This shepherd’s pie is pretty darn filling as is but I also love to serve it up with a couple of yummy sides!

  • homemade dinner rolls
  • pear, blue cheese, candied pecan salad
  • roasted veggies

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (8)

How to store

Leftover shepherd’s pie can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2 months.

To reheat,thaw overnight in the refrigerator, if frozen, then microwave or heat on stovetop.

Eat up!

– Jennifer

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (9)

Shepherd’s Pie

5 from 3 votes

ThisShepherd's Pie Recipe is a comfort food classic. Loaded with a rich gravy, beef, veggies, and creamy mashed potatoes - this is sure to be a family favorite!

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 6 people

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 1 batch Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes cooked according to recipe directions; room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 2 carrots finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 pounds extra lean ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt + more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas

Recipe Video

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

  • Melt butter in a large sauté pan.

  • Add in onion, carrots, garlic, beef, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme.

  • Cook, breaking up the beef as you go, until the meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender.

  • Drain off an excess grease.

  • Sprinkle the meat and veggie mixture with flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.

  • Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and broth.

  • Simmer, if necessary, to thicken.

  • Stir in peas and corn, then taste and re-season, if desired.

  • Pour mixture into the prepared dish and top evenly with mashed potatoes.

  • Bake for 25 minutes or until warmed through.

  • Serve and enjoy!

  • Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!

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STORING

Room Temp:N/A

Refrigerator:3-4 Days

Freezer:2 Months

Reheat:If frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight then heat in microwave or on stovetop

*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions

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Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Shepherd’s Pie

Amount Per Serving (1 person)

Calories 347 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 111mg37%

Sodium 826mg36%

Potassium 854mg24%

Carbohydrates 17g6%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 36g72%

Vitamin A 3747IU75%

Vitamin C 15mg18%

Calcium 64mg6%

Iron 5mg28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

Keywords: easy, ground beef, Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Enjoy this recipe?

Tag @showmetheyummy on Instagram and hashtag it #showmetheyummy

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, English

Author: Jennifer Debth

Reader Interactions

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  1. Mel

    Cottonwood, California

    Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (19) This was so good! Love using instant mashed potatoes; so much easier. You can add or subtract as many vegetables as you want to make it kid friendly. I did add some shredded cheese on top. Good flavor. I’m now making it again for a sick friend.

    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Love it!! Thanks Mel!

  2. Anonymous

    Jersey City, New Jersey

    Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (20)

    Reply

  3. Anonymous

    Minchinbury, New South Wales

    Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (21)

    Reply

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional shepherd's pie made of? ›

Classic Shepherd's Pie is a comforting casserole that consists of ground lamb, carrots, and peas simmered with Guinness, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs and topped with a cheesy mashed potato layer that's baked until golden and crisp.

How to make shepherd's pie without beef broth? ›

You can swap the beef broth for chicken broth if you prefer. For an Irish shepherd's pie, swap the beef broth for Guinness. Worcestershire Sauce. Adds wonderful umami flavor.

Why does my potato sink in shepherds pie? ›

Residual moisture from the potatoes will drip into the beef below as it cooks, and too much of it will cause the potatoes to eventually sink. Aside from ridding your potatoes of excess moisture before you mash them, it also helps to cool the beef down, BBC Good Food shares.

What is a shepherds pie called when it is made from beef? ›

The main difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd's pie is cottage pie uses ground beef, and Shepherd's pie uses ground lamb. Both pies are cooked with vegetables and gravy and baked under a layer of mashed potatoes. To make Shepherd's pie using this recipe, simply substitute ground lamb.

Does shepherd's pie have gravy in it? ›

This Easy Shepherd's Pie recipe is made with ground beef, brown gravy, and frozen vegetables in less than 30 minutes on the stove top. Broil in the oven for just 5 minutes and dinner is served! Make it with my homemade mashed potato recipe, or use up leftover mashed potatoes!

Is shepherds pie german or irish? ›

Many people believe that the peasant housewives invented the pie as an easy way to repackage leftovers from their Sunday roast. The Shepherd Pie is thought to originate from Ireland and the northern parts of England.

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

What can I use if I don't have beef or chicken broth? ›

If you need a chicken broth substitute, you can use the same amount of white wine or a combination of water with 1 tablespoon of olive oil or melted butter. For beef broth, combine water with 1 tablespoon soy sauce.

What can I substitute for beef broth if I don't have it? ›

Like beef broth, chicken broth is a kitchen staple and makes a good substitute if you are all out of the meaty broth. This savory, salty liquid has a milder flavor than beef broth but is a good one-to-one replacement. Chicken broth also has a similar nutrition profile to beef broth, low in calories and high in sodium.

Why is shepherds pie unhealthy? ›

This ultimate comfort food can be quite unhealthy, with lots of butter in the mash and pushing up your saturated fat intake.

Is it safe to eat shepherd's pie that was left out overnight? ›

According to the USDA, food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. That's because between 40° F and 140° F (what the USDA calls the "Danger Zone"), bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick.

How to stop shepherd's pie from going soggy? ›

A good shepherd's – or indeed cottage – pie, needs a solid, but fluffy top: too much milk or butter, and you'll end up with a sloppy puree instead. Make sure you steam the potatoes dry before mashing, and season generously; I like Bareham and Hopkinson's nutmeg as well as the usual salt and pepper.

What ethnicity is Shepherd's pie? ›

The dish originates from the British Isles, but some might argue that it is an Irish dish by origin. The name "Shepherd's Pie" was first recorded in an 1877 cookbook. In this same cookbook, it was noted that the dish was of Scottish origin. During the period between the 18th and 19th centuries, money was very tight.

What is the difference between a shepherd's pie and a cottage pie? ›

These meaty, mince-filled and mash potato-topped pies are very similar, the difference comes down to the filling. Cottage pie is usually made with beef, whereas shepherd's pie is made with lamb. You can also add vegetables and aromats to the filling, such as onions, garlic, carrot, zucchini and rosemary.

What is the French word for shepherd's pie? ›

Shepherd's pie, cottage pie, or in its French version hachis Parmentier, is a savoury dish of cooked minced meat topped with mashed potato and baked, formerly also called Sanders or Saunders.

What is shepherd's pie made of in England? ›

More recently "shepherd's pie" has generally been used for a potato-topped dish of minced lamb. According to the Oxford Companion to Food, "In keeping with the name, the meat should be mutton or lamb; and it is usually cooked meat left over from a roast".

What meat is in traditional pie and mash? ›

Pie and mash is a traditional working-class food, originating in the Docks of London. Often accompanied with jellied eels, the dish has been popularised as "a co*ckney classic". It typically consists of a minced beef pie, mashed potato and a parsley sauce known as liquor.

Why is shepherds pie traditional? ›

Shepherd's Pie first came about late in the 1700s and early 1800s. Accordingly, housewives back then were on the frugal side. Much like we do today, they were looking for ways to incorporate those leftovers that husbands and kids would turn up their noses at. The struggle was real back then just like today.

Where is shepherds pie made from? ›

shepherd's pie, dish of British Isles origin that makes use of vegetables and chopped meat cooked in a casserole topped with or surrounded by mashed potatoes.

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