Here’s a classic, comforting Shepherd’s Pie recipe — savory ground meat and vegetables topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
🥧 Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the Filling:
- 1 lb ground lamb (or beef for cottage pie)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef or chicken broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Mashed Potato Topping:
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup milk (adjust for creaminess)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare Mashed Potatoes
- Boil potatoes in salted water until tender (15–20 minutes).
- Drain, mash with butter and milk, season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
2️⃣ Cook the Filling
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook onion and garlic until softened.
- Add ground lamb (or beef) and cook until browned.
- Stir in carrots, tomato paste, broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 10–15 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Stir in frozen peas at the end.
3️⃣ Assemble the Pie
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Spread meat and vegetable filling evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread mashed potatoes on top, smoothing with a spatula.
- Optional: sprinkle cheddar cheese over the potatoes.
4️⃣ Bake
- Bake 20–25 minutes until the top is golden and slightly crispy.
- For extra browning, broil 2–3 minutes at the end.
5️⃣ Serve
- Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with a side salad or steamed vegetables.
Tips & Variations
- Make-ahead: Assemble the pie and refrigerate overnight; bake before serving.
- Vegetable boost: Add corn, green beans, or mushrooms to the filling.
- Creamy topping: Mix 2–3 oz cream cheese into mashed potatoes.
- Cottage pie version: Use ground beef instead of lamb for a milder flavor.
If you want, I can also give you a slow-cooker Shepherd’s Pie version that cooks the meat and veggies ahead of time and you just top with potatoes before baking.
