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.
All 4 of my kids and husband literally said the words “this is the best shepherd’s pie!”. It really was super good. I followed the recipe exactly BUT I think using fresh herbs (imo) makes everything better so I might try that next time.
Thanks for a keeper:)
This recipe was nothing short of mouth watering . I doubled the recipe and made it for 2 families. Such a crowd pleaser. I followed this recipe to a “T” changed nothing and was super with the results.
I’ve made this today and I have to say, AWESOME! My husband is going to go nuts, he loves Shepherds Pie! This is the best one I’ve ever made. Thank you for the recipe.
I cooked this shepherds pie for my dinner. It was good. I will cut portion and throw in the freezer. That’s what I’m doing as I am always busy. No time to cook. Thank you for the recipe.
We love this recipe! I make it twice a month and it is always a huge hit.
I only use beef, lamb isn’t popular in my home, and fresh carrots, just because we keep them on hand…. but we are lovers of this recipe.
It is warm, hearty and great for leftovers.
This recipe has been a staple in my house for three years now, always winning the favor of all friends and guests!! Every bite is SO DELICIOUS. Five stars hands down
WOW.
This was so delicious! I made the meat mixture with celery, corn, and peas because that’s what I had. Then I made my own mashed potatoes “recipe”- just cream, ground white pepper added until creamy. The beef broth and tomato paste ratio within the mixture was perfection! I like to try a new recipe every time and this was really good! Nice texture and delicious flavor!! Thank you!!
So so delicious! Perfect balance of flavors and my husband loves it!!
I added brown gravy to top it with to make it complete. We used to serve it with gravy at a restaurant I worked at as a teen.
Made it and had a friend from Ireland try it and said it was amazing. Great recipe thx
I am not a fan of shepherds pie but this one was excellent!!! a perfect combo of flavours and a nice gravy.
Kudos to Ms. Finks for this tasty recipe. I have tried it several times now and it’s always been a big hit with dinner guests.
I’ve made this several times – a family favorite! I don’t change a thing . Recipe is perfect 👍
I found this recipe to use my leftover mash potatoes from our big Christmas party and oh my gosh!! So yummy. I think this is our family’s new comfort meal. Delicious
I made this without the spices called for (rosemary and thyme)Used garlic and parsley only. and all the other ingredients. With a sprinkling of mozzrella on the potatoes and served with a dollop of sour cream on the side with a tossed salad. Yum, yum. Thanks for this recipe.
This is one our all time favorite recipes in our house! We’re vegetarian, so we use Impossible ground beef and it turns out amazing every time. Incredible flavors and perfect for the holidays!
Easy to make and really rustic and yum!
This was so delicious! My family Loved it. I didn’t have Parmesan so I used sharp cheddar. Thank you!
This dish is AMAZING! Very easy to prepare and the seasonings all come together to form a masterpiece of flavors! I’m bringing two pans to my son’s house on Christmas Day as part of our supper. I know it will be a huge hit! This is definitely my favorite Shepherd ‘s Pie recipe!
I made this tonight and ended up making twice as much potatoes so I out it in two pie dishes! Also substituted Gardein ground Be’f for the ground beef and it turned out amazing! Tasty and I feel good eating it. Great recipe will make again!