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.
It was delicious, and I will definitely be making it again.
My only suggestion is that since no one likes to eat alone shouldn’t it be called, “SHEPHERDS’ PIE” (plural) and not, “Shepherd’s pie”. I mean if you are going to cook, why cook for just one shepherd?
This recipe is really really good! Did not have peas n carrots so I used whole kernel corn which is sweet also and tasty. It’s definitely a keeper!
So good! This is one of my weekly meals. I cut the whole recipe in half since it’s just me and it’s an inexpensive meal that will last me a couple days!
I could eat this everyday. The depth flavor was phenomenal. I’m sad I didn’t double the recipe.
Great recipe, everyone at my party went for seconds. Thank you, I really enjoyed it. 10 out of 10
😋😉
This recipe is so comforting and delicious. I’ll usually make two and freeze one. Thank you!
I made this recipe for my Portuguese family, and it was a big success, perfect for the wintertime, loads of flavours! Even my 4-year-old, who can be a bit fussy, loved it!
This was really good. I used meatless ground “beef” and modified accordingly to make this vegetarian, but it was incredible. I also added some dark beer while sautéing the “meat” and veg. It won’t last long around here!
I have had cottage pie in Ireland – and this is still the best Sheppard’s pie I have ever had. I have made it several times now and I make it as is. I wouldn’t change a thing! Next time I might try some cheddar cheese on top. This is absolutely delicious and has become one of my favorite dishes to make.
Fantastic. Great flavor and very filling. Cozy meal for winter. Thank you.
Easy to make. my husband loved it!!
Love this recipe. It’s so easy and adaptable. I’ve made it with ground beef, turkey, chicken, and lamb. All have been equally delish. I usually make mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes, but no matter what I use, it’s always good.
Surprised my boyfriend with this tonight. It’s one of his favorite dishes. We both loved it. The seasoning was perfect and smelled so good. He doesn’t like onions, so I used mushrooms and extra garlic. Also spinkled paprika on top. I will definitely be making this again. Perfect dish for a cold winter night.
Been using this recipe for so long, it’s THE best! Been asked to serve it at a party, but not sure what’s the best way to do that. Was thinking of doubling the recipe and baking in a deep 9×13 casserole dish? Just curious if anyone has had luck with serving this to a crowd!
According to my husband, this is the absolute best shepherd’s pie he’s ever had! It helped put to use an enormous amount of mashed potatoes that were left from Thanksgiving. I will be making this again and again!
This was the best Sheppard’s Pie recipe yet. Thanks for sharing it!
Too much butter for the potatoes.
I suggest saving a pan by making the meat in a cast iron skillet and then adding the rest, then it goes into the oven.
Here in Cleveland we always make this with corn instead of carrots and peas, but those can go on the side if you want.
This is hands down the BEST Sheppard’s Pie I have ever tasted in my life! Thank you!
Best cottage pie recipe. Thank you for sharing it ☺️
I doubled the recipe. & added sautéd mushrooms. Excellent!