Shepherd’s Pie | Life, Love and Sugar

May 16, 2023

This straightforward Shepherd’s Pie is a consolation meals traditional to not be missed. It’s made up of completely seasoned floor beef, peas and carrots, and topped with creamy mashed potatoes, sprinkled with cheddar cheese, and baked to golden and bubbly perfection.

Shepherd's pie in a baking dish with a serving spoon taking a piece out of it.

Straightforward Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

There’s nothing fairly like an excellent shepherd’s pie. It’s consolation meals to the max. It actually will heat you up proper to your soul. I really like this model as a result of it’s so fast and straightforward. It solely takes about 35 minutes and has every little thing you want for a well-rounded meal – protein, carbs, and veggies. It’s a go-to for me (my entire household loves it!) and I hope it is going to change into one for you too.

So what makes this shepherd’s pie so particular? It begins with completely caramelized floor beef that has been cooked with onions and the proper mixture of herbs. The meat is blended along with garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and beef broth so as to add some additional taste and moisture. The entire thing is then poured right into a baking pan, topped with creamy mashed potatoes, and sprinkled with cheddar cheese. All that’s left is to pop it within the oven to get all good and golden brown. Scrumptious!

A slice of shepherd's pie on a plate.

What Is Shepherd’s Pie?

Shepherd’s pie is a standard Irish consolation meals. It’s made up of minced meat (often lamb or beef) blended with veggies, topped with mashed potatoes, and baked. Though it originated in Eire, it’s also extremely popular within the UK and in different components of Europe. Within the US you possibly can usually discover it in Irish and British-style pubs.

Shepherd’s pie will get its identify from the truth that it’s most historically made with lamb from a shepherd’s flock.

Why You’ll Love This Cottage Pie

Fast, straightforward, filling, and an all-in-one meal. What’s to not love? Listed here are a few of my favourite issues about this cottage pie.

  • Fast and straightforward. Just a bit slicing, dicing, sauteeing, assembling, and baking. In simply over half-hour you should have your self a beautiful piece of Irish custom. It’s excellent for busy weeknights.
  • Hearty and heartwarming. You gained’t be left hungry right here. This hearty major dish is chock-full of filling carbs and protein. It’s deeply savory and positive to depart you happy.
  • All-in-one meal. Get your protein, veggies, and carbs multi functional slice of this scrumptious shepherd’s pie. Be at liberty to whip up a aspect or two to go together with it however there isn’t a want.
Ingredients for shepherd's pie separated into bowls and labeled.

Recipe Components

Here’s a record of components wanted to make the most effective heartwarming cottage pie but. You’ll want to scroll to the recipe card beneath for actual measurements.

  • Mashed potatoes – Make half a batch of my mashed potatoes or purchase a bundle of ready-made mashed potatoes. Simply be aware that you just would possibly have to make greater than 1 bundle to realize the right quantity. You want 3 1/2 cups complete.
  • Olive oil – To maintain the meat from sticking to the pan.
  • Floor beef – I favor 80/20 beef however be at liberty to make use of a leaner product if you want. You can additionally use floor turkey or hen as an alternative.
  • Yellow onion
  • Herbs and taste – Dried parsley, rosemary, thyme are used together with salt and pepper for the proper taste.
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Garlic cloves
  • All-purpose flour – Gluten illiberal? Use your favourite 1:1 gluten-free flour as an alternative.
  • Tomato paste – Only a contact actually provides good taste.
  • Beef broth – I actually suggest beef broth for the most effective taste, however hen broth would additionally work.
  • Frozen peas and carrots
  • Shredded cheddar cheese – That is non-obligatory however I believe it provides quite a bit. Be at liberty to make use of one other form of cheese if you want. Parmesan would even be yummy.

Tips on how to Make Shepherd’s Pie

Right here’s a fast overview of the way to make this scrumptious selfmade cottage pie. You’ll want to scroll to the recipe card beneath for extra detailed directions.

Potatoes

  • Make the mashed potatoes. Make half a batch of my creamy mashed potatoes. Alternatively, used leftover mashed potatoes or make a bundle or two of pre-made mashed potatoes. Simply just remember to have 3 1/2 cups price.

Meat filling

  • Prep. Preheat oven to 400 levels F.
  • Prepare dinner the meat. Warmth the oil in a big pan over medium warmth. Add the bottom beef and break it aside. Add the onions, parsley, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir properly and cook dinner for 6-8 minutes. Drain the grease.
Cooking ground beef and onions with herbs in a pan.
Ground beef cooked with onions and herbs in a pan.
  • End the filling. Add the Worcestershire sauce and garlic and cook dinner till aromatic. Add the flour and tomato paste and stir to mix. Add the meat broth and frozen peas and carrots. Convey every little thing to a boil and cook dinner for 3-5 minutes.
Adding Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, flour, and garlic to cooked beef, onions, and herbs.
Shepherd's pie filling in a pan.
  • Assemble. Pour the meat combination right into a 9×9 or 11×7 baking dish and unfold the mashed potatoes over the filling. “Rake” strains into the mashed potatoes with a fork and
Scooping mashed potatoes over a meat mixture in a baking dish.
Mashed potatoes spread over meat and vegetable mixture with lines raked through it.
Sprinkling cheddar cheese over shepherd's pie before baking.
  • Add cheese (non-obligatory). Sprinkle with cheddar cheese excessive of the mashed potatoes.
  • Bake for quarter-hour. Broil on excessive for five minutes.
  • Serve heat.

Can This Be Ready In Advance?

Sure! Be at liberty to make the mashed potatoes and the meat filling as much as 3 days prematurely. Permit the 2 parts to chill fully earlier than sealing them in separate hermetic containers and storing them within the fridge. If you find yourself able to put dinner on the desk, merely unfold the potatoes over the filling, rake them with a fork, sprinkle them with cheese, bake, broil, and serve.

Straightforward Variations

This recipe is a good start line for shepherd’s pie however don’t be afraid to mess around with it and make it your personal. Listed here are some enjoyable ideas for you.

  • Use a special protein. Floor beef is my favourite for this dish however you’re greater than welcome to make use of floor hen or turkey as an alternative. You can most likely even use roasted, shredded hen or beef.
  • Attempt a special cheese. The cheddar cheese sprinkled on prime of this shepherd’s pie is non-obligatory nevertheless it does make it additional tasty. Not a cheddar fan? Attempt shredded pepper jack or parmesan. You can even experiment with goat cheese.
  • Tacky mashed potatoes. Add some cheese to the mashed potatoes themselves. Simply stir shredded cheddar, parmesan, or pecorino into the potatoes as you mash them. It ought to soften proper in.
  • Incorporate totally different or further veggies. I used frozen peas and carrots right here however you might simply use different veggies. Sliced zucchini, corn, diced bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, and/or chopped broccoli could be a few of my prime picks.
  • Attempt mashed candy potatoes as an alternative. Attempt mashed yams or candy potatoes rather than the potatoes right here.
  • Make it low-carb. Seeking to lower out some carbs? Attempt a cauliflower mash as an alternative of mashed potatoes.
A slice of shepherd's pie on a plate with a bite taken out of it.

Ideas for Success

Questioning the way to make this the most effective shepherd’s pie you’ve ever tasted? Comply with the following tips and methods and also you’ll be properly in your method.

  • Select a big pan. When browning the meat, be certain that your pan is sufficiently big. If there may be not sufficient floor space for the meat to unfold out and make loads of contact with the pan, it is not going to brown correctly. The caramelization that occurs throughout the browning course of provides quite a bit to the flavour of the filling.
  • Drain the grease. After cooking the meat, onion, and herbs, make sure to drain the grease out of the pan. In any other case, you’ll find your self with a greasy shepherd’s pie.
  • Stir properly. Particularly when including the flour and tomato paste. Nobody needs lumps of both of their shepherd’s pie.
  • Hold an eye fixed. When broiling the cottage pie, keep watch over it as broilers work quick. It ought to take about 5 minutes for the potatoes to show golden and the cheese to bubble nevertheless it depends upon the broiled. Don’t let it burn.
Shepherd's pie in a baking dish with a slice taken out of it.

Tips on how to Retailer and Reheat Leftovers

Permit the dish to chill fully earlier than masking the baking dish with a double layer of plastic wrap. Retailer it within the fridge for as much as 4 days or within the freezer for as much as 3 months. If you find yourself able to reheat, permit the entree to come back to room temperature. When you select to freeze it, permit it to thaw within the fridge in a single day first. Preheat the oven to 350 levels F, cowl the baking dish with aluminum foil, and cook dinner for half-hour or till heated by.

Extra Consolation Meals Recipes:

In a consolation meals temper? Attempt one (or all!) of those scrumptious recipes which are positive to hit the spot.

See How It’s Made

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Recipe up to date 5/16/23. For earlier model, obtain this PDF.

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Shepherd's pie in a baking dish with a serving spoon taking a piece out of it.