Ah yes 🥧🔥 — comfort food royalty. Shepherd’s pie is all about savory meat filling + creamy mashed potato topping + golden finish. Here’s a classic recipe:
Shepherd’s Pie (Classic)
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
Meat Filling
- 1 lb ground lamb (traditional) or beef (technically cottage pie if beef)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced small
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef or chicken broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 1–2 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
Mashed Potato Topping
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled & cubed
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup milk (or cream)
- Salt & pepper
- Optional: shredded cheddar for topping
Instructions
1. Make Mashed Potatoes
- Boil potatoes until tender (12–15 min).
- Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
2. Cook Meat Filling
- In a skillet, cook onion, carrots, and garlic until soft.
- Add ground meat, cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and flour (for thickness).
- Add broth, simmer 5–10 min until mixture is slightly thick.
- Stir in peas at the end. Taste and adjust seasoning.
3. Assemble
- Preheat oven 400°F (200°C).
- Spread meat filling in a baking dish.
- Top evenly with mashed potatoes (smooth or ruffled with fork for texture).
- Optional: sprinkle cheddar on top.
4. Bake
- Bake 20–25 min until top is golden and edges bubble.
- Optional: broil 2–3 min for extra crisp top.
Pro Tips
- Rough mash with fork for texture, or smooth for classic look.
- Extra flavor: add a spoonful of Dijon mustard or fresh herbs to meat.
- Vegetarian twist: replace meat with lentils or mushrooms.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day.
I can also give a quick one-pan shepherd’s pie, mini individual servings, or a loaded cheesy twist next.
Do you want me to do that?
