Classic Shepherd’s Pie

My classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe packs so much satisfying flavor, with a beefy, saucy filling baked under a golden, fluffy layer of mashed potatoes. It’s such a satisfying and crowd-pleasing dinner, and it’s easier to make than you might think – you can even use leftover mashed potatoes!

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Shepherd’s Pie Video

This Shepherd’s Pie recipe is a stunning and welcoming dish for the holiday table, especially on St. Patrick’s Day! If you loved my Chicken Pot Pie, you’ll find this just as homey and comforting.

The Best Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

The first time I tried Shepherd’s Pie was in the Cheesecake Factory, and I fell in love with the dish. I’m a ‘meat and potatoes’ kind of gal, and this is basically the best combination of saucy meat and creamy parmesan potatoes.

Shepherd’s Pie (also known as cottage pie) originated in England. It is a savory pie with ground meat (usually ground lamb or beef) in a vegetable gravy, topped with a layer of mashed potatoes. The potatoes seal in the saucy gravy filling and develop a golden crust as the pie bakes in the oven.

Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients

Pantry staples make for the best Shepherd’s Pie, since it was made as a practical and budget-friendly dinner for the family. It’s also so versatile, so don’t miss my substitution suggestions.

• Mashed Potatoes – use 4 cups of leftover Creamy Mashed Potatoes or even Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or from scratch with russet potatoes, heavy cream, butter, Parmesan cheese, and egg.
• Ground Beef – we used lean beef, or you can substitute with ground lamb or mutton.
• Vegetables – we used a yellow onion, garlic, and a bag of frozen mixed veggies (carrots, peas, and corn). Feel free to substitute whatever leftover or frozen veggies you like.
• All-purpose flour – thickens the sauce, or you can use cornstarch for a low-carb, gluten-free Shepherd’s pie
• Red Wine – Use any dry red wine, such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, or Sauvignon (avoid cooking wine) for a rich flavor. Substitute with Chicken/Beef Stock
• Beef Broth – or sub with Chicken broth if that is what you have on hand
• Tomato paste – rounds out the flavor of the sauce
• Worcestershire sauce – adds the umami (savory notes), check labels for GF

How to Make Mashed Potatoes for Shepherd’s Pie

If you have leftover mashed potatoes, use them – mixing in parmesan and egg. I love using Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, or Garlic Mashed Potatoes. If you want to cook potatoes from scratch, follow these quick steps to make the best Parmesan mashed potatoes for Shepherd’s Pie.

1. Boil the potato chunks until tender (be sure not to overcook!), and then drain and mash with a potato masher immediately.
2. Add warm cream and salt, and mash. Finally, add the parmesan cheese and egg. Set aside.

How to Make Shepherd’s Pie

Once the mashed potatoes are made, it’s easy to cook up the ground meat mixture before baking the whole dish in the oven.

1. Sauté Beef over medium heat, and then season with salt and pepper.
2. Add Aromatics – add onions and sauté 3 minutes until softened, then add garlic and stir another minute. Add flour and stir for a minute. Note: If you’re using cornstarch, you’ll add it to the beef broth before stirring it into the sauce.
3. Pour in red wine and scrape the bottom to deglaze the pan. Add broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce, stirring to combine.
4. Add frozen vegetables, bring to a light boil, and then season with more salt and pepper to taste. Cover and simmer 10 minutes until the sauce is slightly thickened.

• Assemble Shepherd’s Pie – Transfer the Meat Sauce into a pie dish or casserole. Top with scoops of potatoes, and then spread potatoes evenly over the filling. An ice cream scoop makes this easy. Drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake at 400˚F for about 30 minutes or until potatoes start to turn golden.

What to Serve with Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie can be the main course for a weekend dinner or a side dish for holiday meals. We love to pair it with fresh veggies, salad, and bread to soak up the gravy.

• Soft Dinner Rolls
• Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls (family favorite!)
• Caesar Salad
• BLT Salad with the Best Dressing
• Roasted Cauliflower
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Shepherd’s Pie is the ultimate comfort food and a great way to feed a crowd of hungry family and friends. Take a dish to a friend or store leftovers in the freezer for a ready-to-eat dinner. You’ll love this classic recipe for being a filling, crowd-pleasing favorite!

More Easy Casserole Recipes

Casseroles like Shepherd’s Pie are a great way to serve dinner all in one pan. Here are some more family-favorite casserols to add to your weekly rotation:

• Chicken Casserole (Chicken Gloria)
• Baked Ziti
• Chicken Orzo Bake
• Lasagna Recipe
• Baked Feta Pasta
• Chicken Tetrazzini
• Baked Make and Cheese
• Meatballs Parmesan Casserole