Shepherd’s Pie

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Shepherd’s Pie, also known as cottage pie, is British pub food at its finest. This easy meat-and-potatoes casserole features ground beef (or lamb), vegetables, and a savory gravy baked underneath a thick, fluffy layer of mashed potatoes. Dig in before it disappears.



 

Shepherd’s Pie is the ultimate all-in-one dinner solution. It’s exactly the kind of hearty, stick-to your-ribs food I (and so many of you) grew up on.

Everything in this recipe is made from scratch, but it’s also a fantastic way to use up leftover mashed potatoes after a holiday feast. Just brown some ground beef, make the gravy, and go. The mashed potato topping crisps up in the oven. Every bite is rich, meaty, and completely satisfying.

Recipe ingredients

Shepherd's Pie ingredient shot.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Ground meat: “Minced” beef or lamb is traditional. In the UK, Cottage Pie is made with beef while Shepherd’s Pie uses lamb. But in the United States, beef is often used in either case because lamb isn’t as widely consumed.
  • Beer: Any beer you like: lager, stout, etc. You only need a little, but if you don’t want to cook with beer, bump up the chicken broth in the recipe.
  • Russet potatoes: Starchy baking potatoes like Russets make the best, fluffiest mashed potatoes.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Adjust the oven rack to the upper-middle position and preheat the oven t o 375 degrees. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until softened. After that, add the ground meat, along with some salt and pepper, and brown it, breaking up any large clumps with a spoon.
    Shepherd's Pie filling in a saucepan.
  2. Add the flour and tomato paste and stir, cooking, for about 1 minute until the paste darkens. Then pour in the broth, soy sauce, beer, and thyme. Turn the heat down to medium and let the mixture simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 15 minutes.
    Shepherd's Pie filling in a saucepan.
  3. Add the peas and carrots and mix gently. Season one last time with a little salt and pepper, then pour into the bottom of an oven-safe baking dish.
    A baking dish full of Shepherd's Pie before the potato topping is added.
  4. In a large pot or Dutch oven, bring the potatoes to a boil in salted water over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until they’re tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
    A sliced, boiled potato being held over a silver colander.
  5. Drain the potatoes, return them to the hot pot, and mash them. A potato ricer, pastry cutter, or handheld masher all tackle the job really well. Once mashed, stir in the melted butter. Then fold in the milk and season with salt and pepper. Gently spread the mashed potatoes over the ground meat and vegetables from edge to edge, then smooth with a rubber spatula. (If you have a pastry bag, you can pipe the potatoes over the top in a pretty design, similar to my recipe for Duchess potatoes, but it will taste delicious even if you don’t.)
    A baking dish full of Shepherd's Pie before baking.
  6. Brush the whole top with the beaten egg, then make cross-hatch marks over the potatoes with a fork, or make a swirl pattern using the back of a spoon.
    A baking dish full of Shepherd's Pie before baking.
  7. Bake at 375 degrees until hot and bubbly, about 15 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes before digging in.
    A baking dish full of Shepherd's Pie.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: One recipe baked in a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish should make 8 servings.
  • Make ahead: Make (but don’t bake) the casserole, let cool, and refrigerate for up to 2 days before you need it.
  • Storage: Store the leftovers in the refrigerator and finish them up within 3 to 5 days.
  • Freezing: Assemble the casserole, but don’t bake it. Wrap tightly in plastic and foil, label, date, and freeze. Bake straight from the freezer at 325 degrees until piping hot inside, about 1 hour.
  • Cheese: YES! I did not specify cheese in this recipe, but I have in the past and if that appeals to you, I highly recommend it. (Life Tip: If you’re wondering if you should add cheese, the answer is always yes.) Grated cheddar on top would be delicious, but so would Boursin mashed potatoes.
  • Breadcrumbs: Homemade breadcrumbs or garlic breadcrumbs sprinkled over the top of the mashed potatoes is delicious, too. That’s called a Cumberland Pie, in case you’re wondering.
  • Sweet potatoes: Heck yes, you can top the casserole with mashed sweet potatoes (or even cauliflower mashed potatoes) for something different. You can even make this recipe with leftover mashed potatoes, if you have them. Just make it.
  • St. Patrick’s Day: round out your menu with Irish Nachos or Hot Reuben Dip to start. Serve a basket of homemade Irish Soda Bread or Marble Rye bread along with this hearty Shepherd’s Pie.
A slab of Shepherd's Pie in a bowl.

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A baking dish full of Shepherd's Pie.

Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd's Pie, also known as cottage pie, is British pub food at its finest. This easy meat-and-potatoes casserole features ground beef (or lamb), vegetables, and a savory gravy baked underneath a thick, fluffy layer of mashed potatoes. Dig in before it disappears.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Irish
Calories 588
5 from 13 votes

Ingredients 

For the filling:

For the topping:

Instructions 

To make the filling:

  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter until foaming. Add onions and cook until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Add the meat, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until browned, about 5 to 10 minutes. Use a spoon to break up any clumps of meat. 
  • Add flour and tomato paste and cook until paste begins to darken, about 1 minute.
  • Stir in chicken broth, beer, soy sauce, and thyme. Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture is thick but saucy, 15 to 20 minutes. 
  • Stir in peas and carrots, season to taste with salt and pepper, and transfer to a broiler-safe 9-inch by 13-inch dish.

To make the topping:

  • Meanwhile, adjust an oven rack to the upper-middle position and preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
  • In a large pot or dutch oven over high heat, bring potatoes, 1 tablespoon salt, and enough water to cover the potatoes 1 inch to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Drain well, return potatoes to pot, and mash until smooth. Stir in butter until incorporated. Stir in milk and season to taste with salt and pepper. (I like ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.)
  • Spread potatoes over the filling in casserole dish and use a rubber spatula to smooth the top, or pipe with a pastry bag and tip. Brush with egg and swirl the top with the back of a spoon, or drag fork tines across to make hatch marks.
  • Bake until the filling is hot and bubbly, about 15 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Video

Notes

  1. Ground meat: “Minced” beef or lamb is traditional. In the UK, Cottage Pie is made with beef while Shepherd’s Pie uses lamb. But in the United States, beef is often used in either case because lamb isn’t as widely consumed.
  2. Beer: Any beer you like: lager, stout, etc. You only need a little, but if you don’t want to cook with beer, bump up the chicken broth in the recipe.
  3. Russet potatoes: Starchy baking potatoes like Russets make the best, fluffiest mashed potatoes.
  4. Yield: One recipe baked in a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish should make 8 servings.
  5. Make ahead: Make (but don’t bake) the casserole, let cool, and refrigerate for up to 2 days before you need it.
  6. Storage: Store the leftovers in the refrigerator and finish them up within 3 to 5 days.
  7. Freezing: Assemble the casserole, but don’t bake it. Wrap tightly in plastic and foil, label, date, and freeze. Bake straight from the freezer at 325 degrees until piping hot inside, about 1 hour.
  8. Cheese: YES! I did not specify cheese in this recipe, but I have in the past and if that appeals to you, I highly recommend it. (Life Tip: If you’re wondering if you should add cheese, the answer is always yes.) Grated cheddar on top would be delicious, but so would Boursin mashed potatoes.
  9. Breadcrumbs: Homemade breadcrumbs or garlic breadcrumbs sprinkled over the top of the mashed potatoes is delicious, too. That’s called a Cumberland Pie, in case you’re wondering.
  10. Sweet potatoes: Heck yes, you can top the casserole with mashed sweet potatoes (or even cauliflower mashed potatoes) for something different. You can even make this recipe with leftover mashed potatoes, if you have them. Just make it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 588kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 26gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 751mgPotassium: 1051mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 754IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 4mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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Comments

  1. If you are Irish, you love this dish but it must be ground lamb. Again, if you are true Irish, you don’t do Corned Beef on St. Patrick’s Day. That is a British recipe.5 stars

    1. Hi Nuna, thank you so much! I love Shepherd’s Pie! I’m glad you liked it and I appreciate you leaving a comment. Thank you so much! Take care – Meggan.

  2. I have a bunch of ground venison to use this week. Would that be an acceptable substitute for your recipe? Thanks!

  3. Hi I made this tonight it was a big hit! So delicious i used ground lamb and use a dark beer (Guinness) . And usually don’t like lamb but because of the beer in it wasn’t gamey. It seriously the best Shepard pie I have ever had!! Thanks for the recipe

  4. Hullo Meggan, my name is Marion, and i am sorry but i have to say “i grit my teeth everytime i see Shepherds Pie made with “ground” meat,, No,, No,,?!?! Traditional Shepherds Pie is made with ground “cooked” Lamb,, a totaly different texture and taste,, yes, it was to feed the Shepherds in Germany,, or where ever !!
    my German Grandmother made it often,,
    but you have to have a meat mincer,,
    Using left over Roast Lamb and boiled Pickled Lamb, (or cooked silverside could be used). mince them and add good old tomato sauce and a dash of worcestershire sauce, a pinch of seasoning, and black pepper,, mix well and place in oven dish,,
    no vegies at all are added ,, covet with mashed potato to which an egg was added with the milk, , using the back of spoon, flick potato up into little spikes,, heat the pie jn oven, as the meat is already cooked ,, then place the pie under grill to brown potato nicely., serve “with” vegies, e.g, beans, carrot and cabbage.. it is delicious,,, but please do not use minced meat from butcher,, that is for Cottage Pie with vegiees in it,,, – your butchet will pickle a leg for you, but you will need to order it,,
    i dont know why we cant just buy it anymore, so much nicer than silverside,5 stars

  5. I made this last week and it was the best Shepherd’s pie I’ve ever had!

    I want to make it again and have everything but the beer. Do you think I could substitute red wine or would that be weird?

    1. Not weird! Delicious! Red wine tastes great with beef, and it would be awesome in Shepherd’s Pie. I haven’t made it that way myself, I should disclose, but it’s one of those substitutions that I can just tell would be awesome. Thanks Nicole! -Meggan

  6. Lots more flavorings than in mine.  I must try this version. I add creamed corn but with your heavy cream already in there, plain kernel corn would work.  I like the idea of carrots.  Maybe I’ll just throw in a partial bag of thawed, frozen mixed.

    When serving, don’t forget a gallon of butter.5 stars

  7. Thanks for helping me decide what to make for dinner tomorrow night.
    This is totally on my food plan (minus the heavy cream) and I have ground lamb in the freezer. (I use 1/2 beef and 1/3 lamb).
    I love it when I have everything to make something!

    1. Made this for dinner and didn’t use heavy cream in the filling or the potatoes and I also used 3 cups of the frozen mixed vegetables that I had in the freezer. It was delicious.
      (I’m all about loading up the vegetables so we don’t have to have another veg on the side…)
      this was great with a side salad.5 stars

  8. Ahhhh, now today you’re truly speaking my language, Meggan!

    I’m really interested to see you’ve added cream to your Shepherd’s pie. Now that would be one delicious shepherd’s pie!

    I’ll let you into a secret. Millions of Brits (including myself) grew up eating shepherd’s pie almost weekly, and most of us call it shepherd’s pie even if it’s made with beef (which it usually is).

    Your version looks and sounds amazing!5 stars