The BEST Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
My ultra-cozy shepherd’s pie recipe is so hearty and satisfying, you will be hard pressed to not go back for seconds. Flavorful lamb or beef, crisp-tender veggies, and a silky homemade gravy all topped with fluffy mashed potatoes…this is true comfort food! Much like my salisbury steak, this 100% from-scratch recipe tastes SO much better (and is better for you) than one made with store-bought soup or gravy mix. We’ll use a handful of simple pantry staples to create an impressive depth of flavor everyone will love. It makes for a simple and filling weeknight meal, or a fun and festive St. Patrick’s day dinner (alongside some soda bread, of course)! Besides the taste, the shining quality of this shepherd’s pie recipe is how easily it comes together. You don’t need any fancy tools (I just run a fork over my potatoes after spreading) and while there’s a fair share of mincing and chopping, this recipe is very beginner friendly.
What You Need
Let’s get familiar with today’s ingredients before heading over to the stove. Most importantly, you will need:
Ground meat. Shepherd’s pie is traditionally made with lamb and you are welcome to use that here (it’s incredible this way!), but you can use either beef or lamb (or even chicken or turkey!) in my shepherd’s pie recipe. Lamb is not readily available where I live, so I typically opt for beef.Veggies. Including the classics: peas, carrots, onions, and potatoes (either russet or gold, for the mash on top). If you want to up the veggie factor and add in some frozen corn with the peas, that works, too!Spices. Including parsley, thyme, and black pepper. Adding some chopped fresh parsley as a garnish just before serving is always a good idea!Flour. A bit of flour thickens the sauce and helps it cling to the meat, creating a hearty dish rather than a soupy one.Worcestershire sauce. This adds depth of flavor alongside the tomato paste and beef broth. You could substitute coconut aminos for the Worcestershire!Parmesan cheese. Grate your own cheese so it can seamlessly blend into your mashed potatoes. Pre-shredded/grated cheeses contain anti-caking agents that prevent them from melting nicely (I talk about this in my bacon mac and cheese post too!).
SAM’S TIP: I’ll sometimes add a pinch (like a teaspoon) of brown sugar in with the meat for extra depth of flavor. If you do this, be careful not to add too much, or you could end up creating a barbecue/sloppy joe -esque flavor.
How to Make Shepherd’s Pie
This meal isn’t difficult to make at all, but it isn’t a zippy-quick 30 minute dinner, either. To cut down on assembly time, I’ll often cut my veggies in advance or even make the entire dish a day or several hours in advance of serving.
Prepare the Ground Meat Layer
Prepare the Mashed Potatoes
SAM’S TIP: I like to let the meat rest while I prepare the mashed potatoes. This makes it easier to spread and keeps the potatoes from just sinking into the meat in the oven (maintains two defined layers). You could certainly start making the potatoes the same time that you start the meat to save time, but there’s nothing wrong with the meat sitting while you prepare the mashed potatoes. SAM’S TIP: I’ll occasionally make a simple gravy to serve on the side with this shepherd’s pie recipe. It’s not necessary, but if you like a lot of gravy, it’s nice to have extra to serve atop the potatoes. Serve yours with some crusty sourdough bread (recipe on its way!) for a complete & hearty meal! Enjoy! Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram or find me on YouTube and Facebook
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