The Best Easy Shepherds Pie Recipe
April 6, 2020 by JessiFiled Under: Family Friendly Food and Recipes
Shepherds pie has been a comfort meal of mine since I was a kid! With layers of ground beef, corn, mashed potatoes, and cheese, this super simple casserole just makes me happy and takes me back to my childhood.
So yes, I know the correct term for this dish is Cottage Pie. Traditionally, when made with ground beef it is Cottage Pie and when made with mutton it is Shepherds Pie. I grew up calling it Shepherds Pie though, and despite inconsistencies, the naming shall remain the same to me.
This is my number one comfort food dish. When I just need a taste of my childhood innocence, I find myself in the kitchen whipping up a delectably delicious Shepherds Pie.
How To Make Shepherds Pie
- 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.
Tips About The Potatoes:
Instant potatoes will technically work. I dont ever use instant potatoes to make actual potatoes. I use them as soup thickeners and crusts in casseroles but that is because my mother always made homemade mashed potatoes so instant potatoes taste off to me. HOWEVER, if you like em, go for it and Ill stand on the sidelines and cheer you all the way. Your kitchen = your rules, and dont let anyone else tell you different! Another option for this, if you dont want to do mashed potatoes, is to get a box of stovetop stuffing mix. Mix that up according to the package directions and just use it as a topping. Id leave out the cheese but you can certainly include that if you like.
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What Is Shepards Pie
If youre new to Shepherds Pie , let me be the first to welcome you to your new favourite comfort food. Essentially, its lamb and veggies smothered in a gravy and who doesnt love an excuse for tons and tons of gravy?
All those times you were limited to just a small drizzle on a few slices of roast lamb because there wasnt enough to go around Bah! This is how you get your gravy fix!!
What Makes This Recipe So Easy
This really is an easy homemade shepherds pie. It uses mostly premade ingredients that you can get at your local grocery store, and you may already even have on hand. Youll save a lot of time by not having to make your potatoes from scratch. Instant or prepared mashed potatoes are perfect for this recipe. Of course, if you have an Instant Pot, you can follow my easy mashed potatoes recipe if you have the time.
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While I do use some premade ingredients, this is still a reasonably healthy shepherds pie recipe. I do my best to buy prepared foods with as few additives as possible. My local supermarket, HEB, carries a brand of prepared mashed potatoes that is just potatoes, milk, butter, salt, and pepper. Many other brands come packed full of additives. So youll definitely want to look at the ingredients list before purchasing.
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Ingredients In Lentil Shepherds Pie
A true shepherds pie recipe is made with lamb.
If you use ground beef it actually becomes a cottage pie and in this case were using lentils to replace the meat.
LENTILS Lentils are a yummy, healthy and inexpensive substitution for meat in almost any ground beef dish! 1 cup of dried lentils can replace 1 pound of ground beef in most recipes.
VEGETABLES If I have them on hand, I use fresh veggies in this recipe. If you dont have fresh veggies available, use frozen mixed vegetables and add them in along with the peas.
SAUCE The sauce for this recipe starts with a bit of flour and the remaining broth from the lentils. Depending on the type of lentils, you may need to add more or less broth. Start with 3 cups and once you add in the veggies and lentils as it begins to simmer, the sauce will thicken. Add more broth as needed .
If you add too much broth, just let it simmer until thickened. Keep in mind the sauce will thicken further as the dish bakes and as it cools.
MASHED POTATOES Creamy homemade mashed potatoes are the perfect topping for this recipe, simply spread them on or pipe them for a pretty topping. I dont add cheese to this recipe but you certainly can.
If youd prefer, use mashed cauliflower in place of mashed potatoes.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
The meat simmered in a luscious gravy with golden onions, carrots, peas, corn, green beans, or a combination of any of these. Followed by bold and rich flavors of Worcestershire sauce, homemade bone broth, tomato paste and aromatics.
This easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe does not call for any flour or thickener. As long as the mashed potatoes are dairy free, this one-pan meal is paleo. And depending on ingredient list of Worcestershire sauce can even be Whole30. Here’s a homemade recipe for Whole30 and paleo Worcestershire sauce.
The meat and vegetable gravy is topped with leftover mashed potatoes and baked to golden perfection.
The result is a delicious, healthy, and comforting meal to the soul and the gut.
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How Long To Boil Eggs For Deviled Eggs:
- Fill a large pot 3/4 full of water.
- Place the pot over high heat until the water comes to a rolling boil. This can take between 7-12 minutes, depending on the size of your pot and how much water you use. To speed things up, I use hot tap water and keep the lid on the pot until the water is boiling.
- Carefully and gently add the desired amount of large eggs to the boiling water. A mesh strainer works well for gently lowering more than one egg at a time into the hot water.
- Boil the eggs for 13-14 minutes. Adjust the heat as necessary so that the water doesnt boil over.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Drain the hot water from the pot while keeping the eggs in the pot. You could use the lid of the pot or a strainer to help keep the eggs in the pot as you drain the hot water.
- Add cold water to the pot until the eggs are covered in cold water. Pour that water out. Repeat with more cold water.
- Add 2 cups of ice to the pot. Gently stir the eggs. If the ice melts, add more until the water stays ice cold.
- Let the eggs rest in the ice cold water for 5 minutes.
- Remove the eggs from the cold water. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week until you are ready to use them.
- Gently crack the egg shells and peel the eggs.
How To Make Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Make this Shepherd’s Pie easily in one pan. My favorite pan to use is the cast iron skillet as it goes from stove to oven.
Step 1. Cook onion.
Saute onions in butter or ghee until softened and translucent.
Step 2. Add frozen vegetables.
Add frozen vegetables and cook on medium-low heat until vegetables are slightly thawed.
Step 3. Add meat.
Move the vegetables to the side of the pan to clear the center. Add ground lamb and gently break apart the meat. Cook the meat and slowly incorporate it into the vegetables.
Step 4. Season the meat and vegetable gravy.
Add broth, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, minced garlic, herbs and salt. Stir to combine and gently simmer on low heat until thickened. You may need to add more broth to keep the meat from drying out.
Step 5 & 6. Spread the meat and vegetable gravy.
Turn off the heat and spread the meat and vegetable gravy evenly across the pan or transfer to oven-safe 9X13 casserole dish.
Step 7. Add mashed potatoes.
Scoop the leftover mashed potatoes over the meat and vegetable mixture. Spread evenly. Score with a fork to create peaks. Bake in preheated oven until warmed through and golden.
Step 8. Enjoy warm!
Enjoy Shepherd’s Pie immediately after baking. If saving leftovers, transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. To reheat, transfer to a small saucepan, add a few tablespoons of water or bone broth and reheat on medium-low heat until warmed through.
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Shepherds Pie Vs Cottage Pie
When Shepherds Pie first originated, it was made with lamb. It has since evolved, especially in America, to include a variety of red meats . Per Wikipedia:
Shepherds pie, cottage pie, or hachis Parmentier is a ground meat pie with a crust or topping of mashed potato of English origin. The recipe has many variations, but the defining ingredients are ground red meat cooked in a gravy or sauce with onions, and topped with a layer of mashed potato before it is baked
Cottage Pie Step By Step Recipe
Get started by preheating your oven to 350°
First things first, you are going to want to brown your ground beef. In a pan with your diced onion, cook the ground beef until it is fully browned. Once fully cooked, mix in 1-2 Tbsp of Worchestershire sauce. Remove from heat and place in a baking pan.
The next step is going to be to make your mashed potatoes. I honestly use instant mashed potatoes. You can definitely use homemade potatoes, but that just takes too much time for me personally. I dont just use the instant mashed potatoes right from the bag though.
When I make instant mashed potatoes, I like to jazz them up a little bit. In order to make these instant powdered potatoes taste amazing, I add butter, some sour cream, and dry ranch seasoning to them! It may sound odd but it is SO delicious.
While you are making your mashed potatoes, you can co ahead and pour your drained canned corn on top of your cooked ground beef.
Layer on your mashed potatoes on top of the corn. Spread it on until it is a nice even layer!
Top generously with shredded cheese! Yes, load it up, I promise I will not judge you.
Now all you have to do it pop your pan into the oven. Cook uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is all melted and everything is hot throughout.
Let your shepherds pie cool down a bit after cooking and enjoy it!
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Yes You Can Make It Ahead
Once you have topped the filling with the potatoes and sprinkled the last bit of cheese over it, let it cool completely, then cover it with plastic wrap. You can keep it assembled, but unbaked, in your refrigerator for up to three days.
To bake the pie, remove the plastic wrap and take it straight from the fridge to the oven. Add an extra 15 minutes to the baking time. Check the pie after 30 minutes.
Cover it loosely with foil if the top browns too quickly.
Traditional Shepherds Pie With Lamb
Traditionally, Shepherds pie is made with lamb chops. However, lamb may be hard to find in your local store If you dont live in Britain, I believe! So I used mainly more common beef and a small amount of lamb mixed mince.
Moreover, lamb has a stronger, meatier flavor and its quite fatty. Tender and juicy lamb is a delightful dish, however not all like its flavor. Of course the flavor of lamb depends on how the animal was raised, fed and how old it was.
But to my mind it is totally worth making the dish with beef. This will be classic cottage pie. Any way, this meat pie is a great dinner idea, if you have leftover mince!
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Recipe For Easy Shepherds Pie
How to make an easy Shepherds Pie with a 30 minute bake time. To save time and cut your prep time in 1/2, you can make instant potatoes if you are in a hurry! My gram loved the Betty Crocker Brand with Butter.
Are you looking for other ways to make Shepherds Pie?
How about a healthy Shepherds pie with mashed cauliflower? You literally cannot taste the difference between mashed potato and mashed cauliflower. Its so good! You can still add corn too!
Ingredients You Need For Easy Shepherds Pie Recipe
To sum up, you will need only few ingredients for the Shepherds pie. Potatoes check. Any vegetables in your pantry and freezer like carrots, celery, peas, corn Check. The only thing you will need, if you dont have leftover mince put it on your shopping list.
Moreover, you will need few spices and a Worcestershire sauce . If you dont have Worcestershire sauce, dont panic, you can add soy sauce, lemon juice and garlic to your taste.
Also you may have a stick of butter and few tablespoons of milk in your fridge. Thats it!
Hope that you will enjoy this British meat pie with your family!
Check also our Irish Colcannon recipe to make tasty potato mash and Rigatoni pasta bake with beef. These main dishes can be followed by a rich Irish dessert Baileys cheesecake.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie How To Make Shepherd’s Pie
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Read The Labels On Your Worcestershire Sauce
Diving into the meat filling, youll see that Worcestershire is a key ingredient. This is a vinegar based sauce made from fermented onions and garlic, along with molasses, tamarind, anchovies, spices and more. Yep, you can say this sauce has an intense depth of flavor, making it perfect to add to meats.
But if youre gluten-free, youll need to be mindful of the brands you buy. Worcestershire often includes a wheat-based soy sauce to get that deep dark brown color. So, I recommend purchasing one of the below brands that are gluten-free .
The Best Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Best Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe An easy chocolate chip cookie recipe made in minutes. These are the best homemade chocolate chip cookies ever!
Theres nothing better than chocolate chip cookies from scratch! A warm, fresh chocolate chip cookie with a big glass of milk is comfort food at its finest.
Ive tried a lot of chocolate chip cookie recipes over the years. I keep finding that many of the recipes have at least one long wait time. They require you to either wait a couple of hours to bring the butter and eggs to room temperature, or wait for the dough to chill in the refrigerator for an hour. Sometimes both.
Im too impatient! I want to be able to relax on my couch and suddenly decide I need some homemade, soft, and chewy chocolate chip cookies. Then, have them baking in the oven in just a few minutes!
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