Here’s a classic, comforting Shepherd’s Pie recipe — rich meat filling topped with fluffy mashed potatoes and baked until golden 🥧✨
(Traditional Shepherd’s Pie uses lamb. If using beef, it’s technically Cottage Pie — but both are delicious.)
🥧 Classic Shepherd’s Pie
🧾 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
🥩 Filling
- 1 lb ground lamb (or ground beef)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
- 1 cup beef or lamb broth
- 1 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp butter or oil
- Salt & black pepper
🥔 Mashed Potato Topping
- 2 lbs russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled & cubed
- 4 tbsp butter
- ½ cup warm milk or cream
- Salt to taste
- ½ cup shredded cheddar (optional but tasty)
🔥 Instructions
1. Make the Potatoes
- Boil potatoes in salted water 15–20 minutes until fork-tender.
- Drain well.
- Mash with butter and warm milk until smooth.
- Season with salt. Stir in cheese if using.
- Set aside.
2. Cook the Filling
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large skillet, heat butter/oil over medium heat.
- Add onion and carrots; cook 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic; cook 30 seconds.
- Add ground lamb. Cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Stir in flour and cook 1 minute.
- Add tomato paste, Worcestershire, thyme, broth, salt & pepper.
- Simmer 5–10 minutes until thickened.
- Stir in peas.
3. Assemble
- Spread meat mixture in a baking dish.
- Spoon mashed potatoes on top and spread evenly.
- Rough up the surface with a fork (this helps browning).
4. Bake
- Bake 20–25 minutes until golden on top.
- Broil 2–3 minutes for extra crisp edges (watch closely!).
Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
💡 Tips
- Add a splash of red wine to the filling for deeper flavor.
- Mix in a little Dijon mustard to the potatoes for a twist.
- Make ahead and refrigerate up to 2 days before baking.
If you’d like, I can also give you:
- An easy weeknight version
- A Guinness-style Irish version
- A cheesy loaded version
- Or a healthier/lightened-up version
What style are you feeling?
