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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
This recipe looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it! What kind of potatoes do you recommend using?
any kind will work, but i like using simple red potatoes.
How long can you freeze the shepards pie for.
Hi Michelle, casseroles are best for 3 months in the freezer.
Delicious! The entire family loved it, a hearty meal with great flavor. Thank you for sharing
That great Lori, my its one of my family’s favs!
Well in Iowa we call it shepherds pie!!!
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.
It IS shepherds pie!! Not sure where you are from, but WE call it shepherds pie!! Maybe say, “hey we call that cottage pie” you didn’t have to be so brash about it!! It’s a delicious recipe! I’ve ALWAYS put veggies in my shepherds pie!! And btw we also use ground beef, Italians, some northerners and such and mostly people with MONEY use Lamb!! Lamb is NOT easily found here in the south and if you find it it’s extremely expensive!!! So your comment was unwarranted and unnecessary!! Everyone does recipes differently and possibly calls them different names as well!! That’s what makes us unique and why I am always looking for different recipes!!
In Ireland it’s Shepherds Pie. Not because we were rich. Quite the opposite, we had sheep, pigs and potatoes. But, no matter what you call it, it’s good.
Make it and enjoy it with a tall glass of Guinness.
Slainte=cheers
Margaret
Hey Margaret, for sure the tall glass of Guinness to go with it!!
That’s so tacky for you to say that