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.
I fix Shepherds pie about once a month. I tried this recipe and it was the best that I have made. I loved the flavors. I will definitely be making this again!
I just made this for dinner tonight. It was a huge hit! Thank you for this recipe. I took photos but I do g see where to post them.
Absolutely delicious! I also made one substituting sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes, and that was also delicious. You will not be disappointed with this recipe!!
This is absolutely delicious! Every person in my family loved it. Thank you
First time making the pie, turn out sooooo delicious thank you, my family loved it!
My family enjoyed this recipe!!! Easy instructions. I didnt have Worcestershire sauce or tomato paste. I just added extra salt. Wonderful! There were no left overs! Will make again. Thank you.
My first time making shepherds pie, we loved this recipe!
This was perhaps the best shepherd’s pie I’ve ever took a bite of. It was amazing!
After trying so many different recipes, this is it! I’ve made this several times now and have made it my go to. Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
The recipe is so good . My pies turned out delicious .
This is DELICIOUS. I didn’t change a thing!
My husband is a picky eater, so this recipe did not appeal to him at all. He wanted to make hamburgers instead. This has become one of his favorite recipes for ground beef.
My husband is crazy over this recipe!
It’s easy and quick to prepare, and most of the ingredients are already in your refrigerator!
Excellent recipie. I used 1 lb of beef and lb of lamb. It’s my favorite!
Excellent recipe. My go to. It’s delicious and easy to make. Because I’m a baker i dont like fussing too much over a stove.
This is perfect. Thank you!
One of my favorite dishes
Bake at what temperature?!
Step 6 under “Meat Filling”.Set the meat mixture aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Yum! This Sheppard’s pie is the best I have ever had. It is now a staple dinner in my home:)
Nothing stresses me out more than “what’s for dinner tonight”..cooking is not my strongpoint..but..tried this recipe tonight and it’s a winner, winner mince dinner..quick, easy and delicious!!!
Thank you!!
Has anyone made a double recipe and frozen half to bake later?
I made a double batch of the meat and froze half, then made new potatoes and it turned out great!
A big hit here, my wife absolutely loved it!
Used fresh chopped carrots and omitted the corn.
It was delicious 😋 I used mushrooms instead of peas. Mmm.
Really good and easy to follow recipe. Is now saved for future occasions! Delicious! I used fresh carrots but I pre cooked them a bit before adding to the mixture. They were just the right bite when served!
This is a huge hit with our family and friends! It’s my most requested dinner recipe. You won’t disappoint your family or friends with this!