Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (2024)

Home Recipes Main Dishes Beef Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

by Jennifer Debth

4 Comments

5 from 3 votes

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ThisShepherd’s Pie Recipe is a comfort food classic. Loaded with a rich gravy, beef, veggies, and creamy mashed potatoes – this is sure to be a family favorite!

Quick Navigation

  • General
  • What is shepherd's pie?
  • Ingredients
  • How to make
  • Get the recipe
  • Step-by-step video
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Making ahead of time
  • Variations
  • Pairing suggestions
  • How to store
  • Nutrition information

This recipe isthe ultimatecomfort food meal. I mean, come on, veggies and meat cooked in a super yummy gravy and topped off with creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes?

Yeah, count me in.

What is shepherd’s pie?

Shepherd’s pie is a minced meat pie traditionally made with a flavorful gravy, mashed potatoes, veggies, and ground lamb (hence, the word “shepherd” in the title.)

Technically, a shepherd’s pie made with ground beef is called “cottage pie” and a pie made withlamb is called shepherd’s pie. However, I decided to use ground beef instead of lamb since it’s cheaper and more accessible…so I guess today we’re really making cottage pie.

Anyway, whatever you want to call it and however you want to make it…this meal is DELICIOUS!

Ingredients

  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes– myall timeFAVORITEmashed potato recipe. They only take 15 minutes and they’re SO luxurious.
  • Butter– used to cook the veggies.
  • Onion, Carrot, Peas, and Corn– a classic combo of veggies. Adds nutrients, color, and texture!
  • Garlic– adds a subtle nuttiness.
  • Ground Beef– make sure to use a lean ground beef so it’s not too greasy.
  • Salt, Pepper, Dried Rosemary, and Dried Thyme – the perfect combination of herbs and spices.
  • All-Purpose Flour– thickens the sauce to create a rich gravy.
  • Tomato Paste, Worcestershire Sauce, and Chicken Broth – the base of the sauce.The tomato paste adds depth, the worcestershire adds tang, and the chicken broth adds a savoriness.

Pro tip

Make the instant pot mashed potatoes a day in advance to save time! Be sure to let them come to room temperature for easy spreading.

How to make

There are two part to shepherd’s pie: the mashed potato topping and the meat and veggie filling. Try multi-tasking! While the mashed potatoes are cooking, whip up the filling!

  1. Make a batch of instant pot mashed potatoes.
  2. Melt butter in a sauté pan, add in onion, carrots, garlic, beef, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme and cook until the veggies are tender and beef is cooked through.Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (2)
  3. Drain any excess grease then sprinkle the meat/veggie mixture with flour and stir.Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (3)
  4. Add in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and broth and simmer to thicken then stir in peas and corn.Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (4)
  5. Pour mixture into a prepared baking dish.Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (5)
  6. Top evenly with mashed potatoes and bake for 25 minutes then serve and enjoy!Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (6)

Pro tip

This is a hearty meal! Serve with a crisp salad on the side for a well-balanced meal.

Can shepherd’s pie be made ahead of time?

Shepherd’s pie is great made in advance. Simply assemble it as directed then cover it and store it up to 24 hours in the refrigerator before baking.

Keep in mind this may extend the cook time by a little bit so be sure it’s cooked all the way through before serving!

Pro tip

You can also make then store the filling and potatoes in separate containers in the fridge. Assemble and bake as directed when you’re ready!

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (7)

Variations

This recipe is pretty darn perfect as-is, if I do say so myself. 😉 However, if you want to switch it up, here are some variations you could try!

  • Use a different meat.Feel free to do ground lamb for the classic shepherd’s pie, turkey, or even sausage!
  • Make it gluten-free.Use cornstarch instead of flour – you’ll want to use 1/2 the amount of cornstarch. As always, make sure allyour ingredients are certified gluten-free before using!
  • Make it vegetarian. Ditch the meat and make a veggie forward filling — add mushrooms and cooked lentils!
  • Use different potatoes.Try it with mashed sweet potatoes. In a pinch, you can also use store-bought mashed potatoes but it won’t have quite the same flavor.

What to serve with shepherd’s pie

This shepherd’s pie is pretty darn filling as is but I also love to serve it up with a couple of yummy sides!

  • homemade dinner rolls
  • pear, blue cheese, candied pecan salad
  • roasted veggies

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (8)

How to store

Leftover shepherd’s pie can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2 months.

To reheat,thaw overnight in the refrigerator, if frozen, then microwave or heat on stovetop.

Eat up!

– Jennifer

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (9)

Shepherd’s Pie

5 from 3 votes

ThisShepherd's Pie Recipe is a comfort food classic. Loaded with a rich gravy, beef, veggies, and creamy mashed potatoes - this is sure to be a family favorite!

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 6 people

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 1 batch Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes cooked according to recipe directions; room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 2 carrots finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 pounds extra lean ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt + more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas

Recipe Video

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

  • Melt butter in a large sauté pan.

  • Add in onion, carrots, garlic, beef, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme.

  • Cook, breaking up the beef as you go, until the meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender.

  • Drain off an excess grease.

  • Sprinkle the meat and veggie mixture with flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.

  • Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and broth.

  • Simmer, if necessary, to thicken.

  • Stir in peas and corn, then taste and re-season, if desired.

  • Pour mixture into the prepared dish and top evenly with mashed potatoes.

  • Bake for 25 minutes or until warmed through.

  • Serve and enjoy!

  • Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!

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STORING

Room Temp:N/A

Refrigerator:3-4 Days

Freezer:2 Months

Reheat:If frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight then heat in microwave or on stovetop

*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions

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Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Shepherd’s Pie

Amount Per Serving (1 person)

Calories 347 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 111mg37%

Sodium 826mg36%

Potassium 854mg24%

Carbohydrates 17g6%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 36g72%

Vitamin A 3747IU75%

Vitamin C 15mg18%

Calcium 64mg6%

Iron 5mg28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

Keywords: easy, ground beef, Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Enjoy this recipe?

Tag @showmetheyummy on Instagram and hashtag it #showmetheyummy

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, English

Author: Jennifer Debth

Reader Interactions

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    All Comments 0 Questions 0 Reviews

  1. Mel

    Cottonwood, California

    Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (19) This was so good! Love using instant mashed potatoes; so much easier. You can add or subtract as many vegetables as you want to make it kid friendly. I did add some shredded cheese on top. Good flavor. I’m now making it again for a sick friend.

    Reply

    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      Love it!! Thanks Mel!

  2. Anonymous

    Jersey City, New Jersey

    Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (20)

    Reply

  3. Anonymous

    Minchinbury, New South Wales

    Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (21)

    Reply

Shepherd's Pie Recipe - Quick and Easy Kid Friendly Dinner! (2024)

FAQs

What to eat with shepherds pie? ›

What to Serve With Shepherd's Pie: 20 Delicious Ideas for a Comforting Dinner
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Feb 7, 2024

Why does shepherd's pie need to go in the oven? ›

Both ingredients are already cooked so it really only needs to be in the oven long enough for the potato to form a golden brown crust on top. Minced or ground beef is used for a Cottage Pie not a Shepherds pie.

What is shepherd's pie traditionally made of? ›

Lamb. Classic shepherd's pie is traditionally made with ground lamb. If you don't like lamb and prefer to use beef, you can certainly do so. Making this substitution would result in cottage pie, rather than shepherd's pie.

Why does my potato sink in shepherds pie? ›

How do you keep potatoes from sinking in shepherd's pie? Let the beef layer cool before you top it with the mashed potatoes. This is the number one way to keep your potatoes from sinking. Another tip is to not make your potatoes too runny because firmer mashed potatoes stay more level while baking.

How many days can you eat shepherds pie? ›

Leftovers or Make Ahead

A Shepherd's Pie is the perfect make-ahead food. In the fridge Cook up to point 11 in the recipe below and you can keep this recipe in the fridge for 2 days.

Is shepherds pie soft diet? ›

Some ideas for soft savoury foods are: Meat or vegetarian: casseroles, stews or curries. shepherd's pie or cottage pie.

Is it normal to put ketchup on shepherds pie? ›

Crumble meat into pan and cook until brown all over. Sprinkle with flour. Stir in ketchup, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce and mustard.

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

Is shepherd's pie good for you? ›

This ultimate comfort food can be quite unhealthy, with lots of butter in the mash and pushing up your saturated fat intake. Here are a few ideas to make this classic a little healthier and just as tasty.

What ethnicity is Shepherd's Pie? ›

The dish originates from the British Isles, but some might argue that it is an Irish dish by origin. The name "Shepherd's Pie" was first recorded in an 1877 cookbook. In this same cookbook, it was noted that the dish was of Scottish origin. During the period between the 18th and 19th centuries, money was very tight.

What is an interesting fact about shepherd's pie? ›

According to the Oxford Companion to Food, once upon a time, Scotland made its shepherd's pies with pastry instead of mashed potatoes. Indian cooks once considered shepherd's pie to be a perfect dish for tiffin (a word used to mean a light snack in British India).

Does shepherd's pie have cheese in it? ›

The dish often includes cheese and chicken; cod is sometimes used instead of beef. The filling is similar to that of a cottage pie, with the addition of sliced hard-boiled eggs. Similar to cottage pie; may also contain peppers.

Is it safe to eat shepherd's pie that was left out overnight? ›

According to the USDA, food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. That's because between 40° F and 140° F (what the USDA calls the "Danger Zone"), bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick.

Why is my shepherd's pie greasy? ›

After cooking the beef, onion, and herbs, be sure to drain the grease out of the pan. Otherwise, you will find yourself with a greasy shepherd's pie. Stir well. Especially when adding the flour and tomato paste.

How to make shepherd's pie less soupy? ›

Why is my Shepherd's Pie soupy? If your casserole is too runny, chances are you either didn't add enough flour to thicken the gravy or you didn't simmer it long enough to reduce the liquid. Also, make sure your potatoes are thoroughly drained before making the mashed potatoes, so the topping is not too sloppy.

What can you serve with cottage pie? ›

The best side dishes to serve with cottage pie are green beans, honey glazed carrots, Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese, creamed spinach, arugula salad, butternut squash, roasted Brussels sprouts, sautéed mushrooms, blooming onion, avocado fries, Caesar salad, corn on the cob, and steamed broccoli.

What is traditionally served with pie and mash? ›

Since the 19th century, a common side dish has been jellied eels, and the liquor sauce was traditionally made with the liquid left over from stewing or boiling the eels.

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