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 can you eat with shepherd's pie? ›

What to Serve With Shepherd's Pie: 20 Delicious Ideas for a Comforting Dinner
  • 01 of 21. Amazingly Easy Irish Soda Bread. ...
  • 02 of 21. Classic Caesar Salad. ...
  • 03 of 21. Honey Roasted Carrots. ...
  • 04 of 21. Quick and Easy Yorkshire Pudding. ...
  • 05 of 21. Green Salad. ...
  • 06 of 21. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 07 of 21. Great Garlic Bread. ...
  • 08 of 21.
Feb 7, 2024

What is a shepherd's pie called when it is made from beef? ›

The two English terms have been used interchangeably since they came into use in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, although some writers insist that a shepherd's pie should contain lamb or mutton, and a cottage pie, beef.

What is traditional shepherd's pie made of? ›

This traditional shepherd's pie recipe is made with a mixture of lamb and sirloin, lots of veggies, and a creamy, cheesy mashed potato topping ⁠— sure to delight everyone at the table!

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.

Why do people put ketchup on shepherds pie? ›

Ketchup: Ketchup will add a little tang to the ground beef mixture. Beef Broth: Beef broth creates a gravy-like consistency in the middle. Cheese: Top the shepherd's pie with extra Cheddar for a cheesy finish.

Does shepherd's pie have gravy in it? ›

Talk about satisfying. Ground beef, vegetables, and gravy are baked under pillowy mashed potatoes. If it's not yet already, this will soon be a family favorite recipe.

What's the difference between cottage pie and shepherd's pie? ›

The main difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd's pie is cottage pie uses ground beef, and Shepherd's pie uses ground lamb. Both pies are cooked with vegetables and gravy and baked under a layer of mashed potatoes. To make Shepherd's pie using this recipe, simply substitute ground lamb.

What is the difference between Irish and British shepherd's pie? ›

It's called cottage pie in the U.K. because they use beef and in Ireland since the shepherds tend sheep, it's shepherd's pie. No doubt, the English put out an excellent cottage pie, but in Ireland it used to be a delicacy since the Irish couldn't afford beef they repurposed any unused veggies and meat.

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›

Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

What is Costco shepherd's pie made of? ›

Ingredients: Beef and/or veal, vegetable sauce (water, onion, green peas, corn, seasoning [sugars [glucose solids, dextrose, maltodextrin], flour, modified cornstarch, canola oil, hydrolyzed soy protein, dehydrated vegetables, [ tomato, onion, beet, garlic], modified cellulose, beef extract, disodium guanylate, ...

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.

How to stop mash potato sinking in shepherd's pie? ›

To stop the mash sinking into the filling, allow the meat to cool before topping with the mashed potato. Freeze in individual ovenproof dishes for an easy meal for one. For a really crisp, golden topping, flash under the grill for a few mins before serving.

What to have with shepherd's pie? ›

I'd want to complement the meal by serving something a bit crunchy, bitter and/or mildly acidic. My go-to recipes would be a lightly dressed Kale salad with vinaigrette, roasted or fried brussel sprouts, pan finished green beans, or steamed broccoli.

Why is my shepherd's pie so watery? ›

Why is my shepherd's pie runny? Generally, this is caused by using too much stock.

What meal goes well with pie? ›

Guide to Perfect Pie Pairings to Dinners
  • Red meat and hearty stews. Finish a hearty meal with a lighter, fruity dessert such as succulent peach pie, balanced strawberry rhubarb pie or a delectable cherry pie.
  • Pork and Poultry dishes. ...
  • Fish and seafood. ...
  • Pasta and risotto. ...
  • Vegetarian or creamy dish.
May 28, 2021

What is pie served with? ›

Some of the best starchy side dishes include: Mashed potatoes - a meat pie side dish classic. Fluffy, soft, buttery mashed potatoes, with their creamy texture, are perfect for absorbing any gorgeous leftover gravy. Roasted potatoes - a great alternative to the traditional Sunday roast.

What goes well with French meat pie? ›

Traditionally, Tourtière is served with roasted vegetables or a light frisseé salad. An assortment of pickled foods is always delicious; pickled beets, spicy carrots, gherkins or pickled onions. Many enjoy a tomato-based chutney but most… just break out the ketchup.

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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