Super Shepherd’s Pie
Super Shepherd’s Pie is the ultimate comfort food recipe! A savory casserole of ground beef and vegetables simmered in a rich gravy, topped with fluffy mashed potatoes.
Casseroles or dinner pies are a great way to feed the family. Two other budget friendly meals you will want to try are Baked Spaghetti Pie and Classic Tuna Casserole.
Ingredients
- Ground beef – use extra lean ground beef. I have found that regular ground beef is too fatty. Minced lamb can be used for a more traditional recipe.
- Vegetables – fresh and frozen vegetables are used in this recipe. Canned vegetables will bake up too mushy.
- Potatoes – Yukon gold are my favorite for making mashed potatoes.
- Butter – butter is added to the mashed potatoes giving them an extra creamy flavor.
- Milk – whole milk is added to the mashed potatoes. For a richer and creamier layer of mashed potatoes you can use cream.
- Thyme – this herb adds a subtle hint of flavor. If you do not like thyme, simply leave it out.
- Tomato paste – tomato paste compliments the ground beef for an extra punch of flavor.
- Beef gravy mix – prepared as per packet directions. In addition to adding more savory flavor, the gravy will ensure the Super Shepherd’s pie is saucy, not dry.
Variations and substitutions
- Using ground turkey in shepherd’s pie is a healthy alternative to ground beef.
- Try some different vegetables like celery, zucchini, red peppers and mushrooms.
- Instead of using regular mashed potatoes, this recipe tastes incredible topped with my garlic mashed potatoes.
- Top with melted cheddar cheese.
Add additional flavoring with:
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Lamb is not readily available here in Canada, so I have always made with recipe with lean ground beef. Growing up we simply called it Shepherds Pie, not Cottage Pie as some people will point out is incorrect. Call it what you like, it is a hearty, delicious recipe that my family loves!
Traditional Shepherd’s pie came from England and was made with minced lamb. The American version commonly referred to as Cottage Pie uses ground beef. Ground beef is more readily available in North America and has become the more popular version of this classic recipe.
How to make Shepherd’s Pie
Peel and cut potatoes into cubes. Boil in salted water until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain.
Add the butter and milk. Mash with potato masher until fluffy, set aside.
Using a large heavy skillet add ground beef, salt and pepper. Fully cook the meat and set aside.
Using the same skillet drain fat from skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Add onions, carrots and garlic. Sauté over medium heat until tender.
Stir in the green beans, corn and peas. Simmer for about 4-5 minutes.
Prepare the gravy mix as per package directions.
Mix together the gravy, ground beef and vegetables. Stir in the tomato paste and thyme, then spread into a 2 quart casserole dish.
Top with the mashed potato mixture. Cover and bake at 350º fahrenheit for 40-50 minutes.
Optional – Add shredded cheddar cheese. Remove from oven, sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese. Return to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes.
Can you freeze Shepherd’s Pie?
Super Shepherd’s Pie freezes very well for up to 3 months. Cover with plastic wrap, and store in airtight container. Thaw and bake for 50-60 minutes.
Best ever ground beef recipes
From soup to meatloaf to burgers, ground beef is a budget friendly meat that I love to use in so many hearty recipes!
This post was originally published June 27, 2015. Occasionally I update with fresh tips, content, and photos. Current update April 28, 2021.
Super Shepherd’s Pie
Video
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds extra lean ground beef
- 7 medium potatoes 6-7 cups raw, chopped
- 3 carrots chopped 2 1/2 cups raw, chopped
- 1 onion chopped about 1 cup
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 cup corn frozen or fresh
- 1 cup green beans frozen or fresh
- 1 cup peas frozen or fresh
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 6 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 packet beef gravy mix prepared as per instructions
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Peel and cut potatoes into cubes. Boil in salted water until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain.
- Add the butter and milk. Mash with potato masher until fluffy. Set aside.
- Using a large heavy skillet add ground beef, salt and pepper. Cook until meat is browned. Set aside.
- Using the same skillet drain fat from skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Add onions, carrots and garlic. Sauté over medium heat until tender.
- Stir in the green beans, corn and peas. Simmer for about 4-5 minutes.
- In the meantime prepare the gravy mix as per package directions.
- Mix together the gravy, ground beef and vegetables. Stir in the tomato paste and thyme. Spread mixture into 2 quart casserole dish.
- Top with the mashed potatoes. Cover and bake at 350º fahrenheit for 40-50 minutes.
- Optional – add shredded cheddar cheese. Remove from oven, sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese. Return to oven and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes or until has melted.
Nutrition
Thanks for the comment 🙂 Isn’t that what cooking is really all about. Starting with a recipe then adapting it with a little of this and that to come up with a personal favourite.
Try it they may not even taste the veggies, aren’t kids just delightful to feed.
I may have to give the cream corn a try, thanks for your comments 🙂
I have never tried that, but it sounds interesting.
Let me know if you try it, and you don’t have to put it in the round cylinders, a 9×9 baking pan works great!
Awesome!!
Hi Lisa , how dense of me to forget that, bake at 350 degrees. Let me know how it turns out.
Hi Freddie, yes where I grew up in Western Canada we always called it Shepard pie (made with beef) .
Thanks Robin, hope you enjoyed the recipe. Do you have a website?
Hi Memoria, I guess even Martha Stewart has it wrong as well then 🙂
Shepherds pie is exactly like yours yummy. It’s called sheppards pie as its made from all things you an throw in. That’s just being tacky so to speak. I love this recipe. My nana was from Ireland and this is pretty much how she made it! Koodo’s to you.
Thanks Lori, those nana’s sure knew how to cook delicious, hearty meals!
I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT I CAN’T SEE WHERE THE DIRECTIONS ARE FOR THE GRAVEY ?? WHAT TYPE GRAVEY ? CAN’T WAIT TO TRY THIS
Hi Scott, I should have been more clear in the instructions, the gravy is prepared as per package instructions.Any type of packaged gravy mix will work.
Shepherds pie is made from lamb, hence the name shepherds. Cottage pie is made from beef, always has been always will be. As a Scottish chef living in Texas this is one of my pet peeves! My family recipe doesn’t have peas or cheese in it either, just onions and carrots with a good mashed tattie topping with salt, butter and a good lot of white pepper!
Good for you. There is more than one way to make a dish! It is my pet peeve hearing about others pet peeves!
Absolutley right. Thx is cottage pie.
Absolutely
Hi Lauren, Your dish looks really good.
I don’t mean to be bipolar, but in the one posters’ defence. I don’t think he was being sarcastic, I think he was just trying to be informative. And he may be correct even though I’ll call your dish Sheperds’ Pie. That’s what a lot of restaurants refer to it as too.
The word Sheperd is an abbreviation for sheepherder. I don’t think sheepherders had a lot of cattle. Sheepherders’ Pie was their invention.
It may sound like a good idea, but if you substitute cornbread for potatoes, then what do you call that?
By the way. If you don’t want your cornbread to get rock hard in a few hours put it in a sealable container. It will stay soft forever! Sometimes I put a little Crown Royal Maple flavored whisky in the cornbread mix. As a drink, the smell gives me a headache!
You direct to cover the dish to freeze it.
How long can you leave it in the freezer then? What do you think of putting it in sealable containers like the cornbread and freezing it then microwaving it when ready.
That packet of gravy mix comes in an envelope like chili seasoning and should be well under $1.00 for the gentleman that asked about the gravy.
The next time you make a dish of your Sheperds’s Pie for dinner, may I come over? I promise not to bring any whine!
Hi Larry, people seem to be quite passionate about what they call their Shepherd Pie LOL. My Grandma made it like this, so that I will probably always call it Shepherd’s Pie even though it is made with beef. There are so many adaptations of recipes and names of recipes. I just want it to taste good! Crown Royal is one of my favourite drink, I’ll have to try the maple. If well sealed it should last for 3 months. For sure come on by next time I cook some up. LOL
This looks amazing! One of my good Irish -American friends always corrects me when I say Shepherds Pie instead of Cottage pie, lol. Its cool though, I’m totally going to keep calling it Shephard’s pie. It’s what we grew up calling it, and I’m totally not changing, lol! It’s the stubborn Englishwoman in me. 😜😄
Thanks Valerie. There are so many recipes over the years that get adapted, called different names. I don’t get too worked up about that. My Grandma called it Shepherd’s Pie and that is what I will always call it, regardless of the type of meat used.
I made your shepard pie as written and,it is wonderful
how fantastic Marda, thank you!
Well you know somebody is always learning in cyberspace to correct you,lol we also call it Shepherds pie
Laureen : I dont care what anyone wants to call this pie….Whether Shepherd or Cottage …. I tried your recipe and it is delicious…
Thanks Brenda, I agree, but people sure seem to get passionate about what they call recipes. lol