Name: Shepherd's Pie
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 to 2 1/2 pounds potatoes (about 4 large); 1 to 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef; 4 ounce mushrooms (finely chopped); 1/2 large onion (chopped (about 1 cup)); 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 1 cup broth; 1 tablespoon corn starch; 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 cup frozen corn; 1 cup frozen peas and carrots mix; 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup milk; 4 tablespoons butter; 1 ounce grated Parmesan (about 1/3 of a cup); 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese; Additional salt and pepper to taste

Homemade Shepherd’s Pieis a classic comfort food made with ground meat, vegetables, simple seasonings, and the most delicious cheesy mashed potato topping.

This Shepherd’s Pie recipe is hearty, comforting, and always a crowd-pleaser. The combination of flavors and textures in this dish is unbeatable, from the savory meat and vegetable mixture to the creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes on top. It’s the perfect meal for a cozy night in with loved ones or for feeding a hungry family.

This recipe is so versatile and customizable. You can easily swap out the ground beef for lamb, turkey, or chicken to suit your taste preferences or what you have on hand. The addition of Parmesan cheese to the mashed potatoes is a game-changer that takes this shepherd’s pie to the next level.

Serve this dish up with asimple Chef Saladfor a complete meal. And then save another one-pot meal to make another day, such asChicken Broccoli Rice CasseroleorBaked Ziti.

A serving of shepherd's pie in a white bowl with three forks and a white and blue speckled enamel pan with the rest of the pie in the background.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Making Shepherd’s Pie is an easy way to get some veggies and protein into the whole family.
By using ground beef and frozen vegetables, this crowd-pleaser is also budget friendly.
This is a great dish to double while you’re making it and then freeze the second pan for an easy meal on a busy night.

Recipe Ingredients

Potatoes:Russet potatoes work great
Ground beef
Mushrooms: either white button or cremini mushrooms would work
Onion
Garlic
Broth: could use beef, chicken, or vegetable depending on the ground meat you use
Corn starch
Worcestershire sauce
Frozen corn
Frozen peas and carrots mix
Salt
Milk
Butter
Parmesan cheese
Sharp cheddar cheese

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

How to Make Shepherd’s Pie

Step #1.Boil peeled and cubed potatoes in a pot of water for about 25 minutes until they are tender.

Step #2.Cook the ground beef, mushrooms, and diced onions in a large skillet on medium high heat until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables have softened. Add the garlic and cook another minute.

Step #3.Mix together the broth and corn starch in a small bowl and add it to the large skillet with the meat and vegetables and cook for a couple minutes until it thickens slightly.

Step #4.Add the Worcestershire sauce and frozen vegetables to the skillet and then put everything in the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan.

Step #5.Drain the cooked potatoes, put them back in the pot, add the milk and butter and mash well. Then stir in the Parmesan and cheddar cheeses.

Step #6.Spread the mashed potatoes evenly on top of the beef mixture and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

The finished shepherd's pie in a white and blue speckled enamelware pan resting on a white towel with black squares.

Recipe FAQs

What type of meat should I use in shepherd’s pie?

This recipe calls for ground beef but shepherd’s pie traditionally contains ground lamb. You can also use ground chicken or turkey as a substitute.

What type of potatoes are best for shepherd’s pie?

Russet potatoes work well in this recipe. I’ve also had great luck using red potatoes and leaving the skin on. You end up with a chunky colored mashed potato topping that is delicious and pretty.

Can I add other vegetables to shepherd’s?

Yep. You can use any veggies that you like. Green beans are also great in shepherd’s pie.

Can I make shepherd’s pie ahead of time and reheat it later?

Yes! This is a great make-ahead recipe. Make the recipe through assembling the shepherd’s pie and then store it in the fridge. Bake it in the oven until heated through.

Is shepherd’s pie gluten free?

Yes. All the ingredients are naturally gluten free in this shepherd’s pie recipe but be sure to check all the ingredients that you are using.

Expert Tips

This is aneasy dish to add more vegetablesin if you have them. You can even double the amount of vegetables and it still turns out great.
You can change up the cheesesin the potato topping to suit your tastes.
You can bake the shepherd’s pie right in that skilletas long as the skillet you used to cook the ground beef in is oven-safe.
This is theprettyspeckled enamel panI used here.

Can I freeze shepherd’s pie?

Yes!Shepherd’s pie freezes very well. Assemble as directed but do not bake. Cover with a layer of plastic wrap (and press it down so that it’s touching the potatoes) and then top with a layer of heavy duty foil. Freeze for up to a month.

Let the shepherd’s pie thaw overnight in the fridge before removing the foil and plastic and cooking according to directions. You might need to add up to 10 minutes to the cook time if starting with cold potatoes.