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.
What is the difference between shepherd's pie and cottage pie?
The 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.
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.
Some great additions for extra seasoning
½ cup red wine
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
This easy shepherd's pie recipe is such a hearty one pot meal you do not need any sides, but if you like, make a simple green salad like my tossed pomegranate salad.
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.
This post was originally published on June 27, 2015. Occasionally I update with fresh tips, content, and photos. Current update April 28, 2021.
Super Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds extra lean ground beef
- 7 medium potatoes 6-7 cups raw, chopped
- 3 carrots chopped 2 ½ 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.
Video
Nutrition
CariLynn
Hey Thanks so much for sharing! I'm blessed to have to little angels 3 an 5 who are not picky eatters. My grandma use to make this same recipe with gravy that's how we grew up on Shepard's pie an I've never madeit myself. I got a craven for it couldn't get grandma on the phone turn to pininterst an your recipe seems to be the exact recipe my grandma made.I'm excited to make this tonight for my hubby an the kiddos they are going to love having something new but similar to there fav meatloaf mash pot an veggie dinner. Just so much easier for Mama! Lol thanks again wish me luck! I will def let you how it turns out an what my little critics think! Keep up the great Blog!
Laureen King
Hi CariLynn, I hope they love it.
deb
Good grief people, get a life. Why is everyone so angry?? What a waste of time most of these comments were just because someone had the nerve to think the recipe was misnamed, Can't people make comments anymore unless everyone agrees with it? Save this type of anger for facebook.
Thankyou for the recipe...looks delicious.
Lori Z
Delicious! The entire family loved it, a hearty meal with great flavor. Thank you for sharing
Laureen King
That great Lori, my its one of my family's favs!
Michelle E
How long can you freeze the shepards pie for.
Laureen King
Hi Michelle, casseroles are best for 3 months in the freezer.
Miriam T
This recipe looks delicious and I can't wait to try it! What kind of potatoes do you recommend using?
Laureen King
any kind will work, but i like using simple red potatoes.
Sam
Not to be critical, (and this is not about the shepherd's pie name!) but the more specifics that are given in a recipe, the greater the chances of a successful dish. The recipe states 6-7 potatoes with no size or weight given & the directions state to use an unspecified size of a casserole dish, yet the pictures show it was prepared in a skillet.
Laureen King
Hi Sam, thanks for the feedback. I did some adjustments to the recipe to given some more precise measurements. I hope this helps and you enjoy the recipe. As far a the casserole dish, the one I use is a stainless steel casserole pan.
Jenny
My husband hates vegetables, so I was thinking of making individual servings in a muffin pan...have you ever tried this (your one picture made me think of it). About how long would you try cooking it for?
Than I figured I could freeze the individual servings and have an easy grab and go meal for work....do you think it would be ok (i know it won't be the best) to microwave the froze servings?
Thanks!
Laureen King
Hi Jenny, can't say for sure but I think muffin tins would make the Shepherd's Pie hard to get out of muffin tin. I would use ramekins or something that could go from freezer to oven or microwave. If you are not freezing I would say cooking time would be about 20 minutes, but just guessing. Everything is cooked before placing in oven, so it is just a matter of making sure is thoroughly heated.
Elbert
Hey I love the recipe and thank you for sharing. I am about to prepare this lovely dish, but donot have whole potatoes. I have instant. Could you please tell me how much I should prepare? I wouldn't want to overpower the dish with spuds lol. Ok thank you again!
Laureen King
Hi Elbert, I actually have never made instant potatoes and not sure the flavour or texture you will attain, but I would try to make enough to top the burger mixture with about 1 inch of potatoes.
Carolyn
Made your Shepard's Pie for my friend's family as a comfort meal while she is going through her chemo appointments. I just tasted my little sample and I must say, it looks like and tastes like your description. It is absolutely delicious! Thank you for your explicit directions...it was a breeze! The only change I made ( because I couldn't find your package) was to use jar Heinz Savory Beef Gravy. Now I must look for more recipes 😊
Laureen King
Hi Carolyn, so sorry to hear about your friend. How very kind of you to be there for her and what better way than a good comfort meal. I am so glad to know you liked the recipe. Take good care.
Twincess MoM
This is my second time making your deliciously awesome Shepherds Pie and my family loves it! I have 5 year old twins that think they've boycotted vegetables until I make this and it's game on. I'm so happy I found your recipe. Thank you Lauren! 👍👍
Laureen King
That is terrific, what a way to get the twins eating their veggies.
Kathy G
I found this recipe today and plan to make it for a 90 wonderful man tomorrow, he mentioned he loves "hamburger meat Shepherd's pie" So here I am! This looks simple enough for me to make for his dinner!! I have everything needed except the beef gravy mix. I do have pork gravy mix, so I'll use it. I bet it will turn out fantastic!!
Laureen King
Hi Kathy, hope he enjoys it. Its one of my husband's favourite meals!
Melinda
A little to dry. Maybe double the gravy. Overall good taste.
Martin Blecha
It was excellent. Thank you for the recipe. Um, many things are one thing in Britain and something else in the U.S. A bonnet in GB is called a "car hood" here, a "Bobby" is a "policeman" and there are many other differences. Cottage Pie in England is called Shepherd's Pie here and we don't use enough lamb here to have a special name for a Shepherd's Pie made with Lamb.
Deb
I don't much care what you call it, your recipe looks delicious! But for the record, I've made a Shepherd's Pie for years that is a bit different than this but also uses beef not lamb. I am going to make your version tonight for supper, I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.
Rickster
I plan to make this for my kids when they come for the weekend because it looks totally awesome and sounds so easy to make! But I'm really concerned because if I use ground turkey, should I then call it "Turkey Pie"? or "Poultry Pie? Or maybe even "Barnyard Pie"? And good God almighty, what if I decide to leave the meat out altogether? Should I then call it Vege Pie? Or maybe "Pie-Pie"?
Thanks Lauren for the recipe. It does look totally awesome!
Laureen King
Lol, thanks for the great comment Rick, you sure gave me a good chuckle this morning!
Karen
The BEST comments!!! A sweet mini book! ❤️
Linda
Gravy mixes vary greatly so I would appreciate the one or ones you prefer. Have you tried the addition of Worcestetshire sauce as one reader suggested? That sounds good.
Laureen King
Linda, I like McCormick International roast gravy mix
Larry
Well, here I go my stomach is growling at me. I was thinking of making this pie with whole chicken livers and a lot of grilled onions, maybe some mushrooms in there too! Maybe latter with ground venison. Wine in both versions.
I may even go back to Aldis and purchase the sheperds' pie I saw in the freezer case.
By the way. The word sheperd refers to someone that herds sheep. The only time I've heard any version of the word herd around cattle is when I was a cowboy driving cattle and one turned around, looked at, and said
STOP IT, YOU'RE HERDING ME!
Martin St.John
The comparison between Shepherd's Pie and Cottage Pie ignores a couple of basic rules on language itself. A word in one country may have a different meaning in another country although they speak the same "root" language. What's a hood in America is a Bonnet in the UK and both words are correct only in the location in which they are used. There are many other varietals of the English Language. Austrailia has many varietals, South Africa has many varietals. The second rule is the rule of dictionary meaning which, in English, means that any word in common usage and widely used by everyone in the area in which it is used is, in fact, a legitimate word. Shepherd's Pie, therefore, is a regional dish and has regional names, and second, whatever local uses a word has are, by definition, correct as long as there is widespread LOCAL agreement as to what the word means.
Kbrew
I’m new to cooking and was wondering what the best stove top setting would be to cook the onions carrots and garlic? Also the beans corn and peas. Thanks in advance!
Laureen King
I usually cook onions carrots and garlic over medium heat. Cook the onions and carrots a bit before adding garlic as it doesn't need as much time to saute and you don't want to burn the garlic or it becomes bitter tasting.
Gwennifer
We substituted packet gravy with kfc gravy and it was even better. We also put pastry in because it's not a pie without pastry and you can pry that from my cold DEAD CHINESE HANDS. Also we didn't put the tomato paste or thyme in because it sucked. in
John
Firstly, Shepherd's Pie should only be called that if it's made with with LAMB. Secondly, it is BRITISH cousins not American as incorrectly stated in the heading.
Also, if one applies the same logic as this particular cook, then it is okay to make Pecan Pie with walnuts, Beef Wellington with pork, Peach Cobbler with apricots, and Apple Pie with pears....!!!!!
Marjorie
Lauren, this is a wonderful Shepherd pie. We had seconds and this recipe is what I will cook from now on. I didn’t have green beans so used frozen red and green bell peppers. I can’t wait to make it for friends coming for dinner after Thanksgiving. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and thank you for sharing your delicious recipe.
Laureen King
Hi Marjorie, thrilled you tried my recipe. This is one of my family's favs!
Derek
I wish people would comment on the dish and not the recipe name. I can't believe how many people are quick to point out that sheep come from shepherds and blah blah blah. Thanks for the history lesson. Who cares? Kraft Dinner is not dinner, it's mac & cheese- albeit a terrible one. People need to get over it. I'm testing out this recipe today, let you know how it goes! Thanks for sharing!
Laureen King
I'll bet many of our Gramma's made the same recipe and each one of them called it something different 🙂
Elisa
Wow, how negative! Geez!