Easy Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's pie is comfort food. Saucy ground meat under creamy mashed potatoes topped with a cheesy crust. And, this recipe is so simple and easy that you will be making it over and over often.

Table of Content

• Why make this pie?
• Ingredients and substitutes
• Homemade shepherd's Pie
• What side dish to serve with shepherd's pie?
• Tips for success
• More ground meat recipes
• Frequently asked questions
• You may also like
• Printable Recipe
• Join the conversation

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A pie made with ground lamb is called shepherd's pie. It makes sense since shepherds and lamb go together. A pie made with ground beef, however, is called cottage pie.

Traditionally shepherd's pie use to be made from leftover meat and veggies. And, sometimes, even leftover mashed potato after a big festive dinner. What better way to use up leftovers. Make a completely new and delicious dish like this Shepherd's Pie

Well, to be honest. I have never made Shepherd's pie with leftover lamb meat or mashed potatoes. Since, I've always planned my pie, which means I  end up making it from scratch.

Why make this pie?

• This is a great way to use up leftover meat that needs a little help getting over. But, it's also so delicious that you have to make it from scratch instead of leftover!
• So typically, you can make this if you have leftover mashed potato which often happens in our home.
• Most of the ingredients used are simple pantry staples plus fresh herbs.
• The process itself is very simple and easy and takes no more than a few minutes. Then the oven does the rest of the cooking.
• This is a great dish to serve to guests too. After all, who does not like to dig into a big casserole with bubbling juices?

Ingredients and substitutes

•  Meat - Traditionally, ground lamb is used but ground beef works just as well.
• Veggies - Carrots and peas cook soft but don't really get mushy. Celery is often used as well. These three make a wonderful mis-en-plus to any casserole and add tons of flavor but you can omit them altogether. Add a teaspoon of honey if you omit the veggies this will compensate for the natural sweetness the veggies add into the dish.
• All-purpose flour - helps thicken the sauce and adds a nice creaminess to the sauce. You can add cornflour/cornstarch instead, for a gluten-free option. But if you can I highly recommend the flour.
• Stock - I usually use chicken stock because I always have that on hand but feel free to use beef or vegetable stock instead
• Tomato paste - paste is usually strong so I highly recommend not adding more than 3 tbsp. You want a creamy meat pie, not a tomato sauce.
• Red wine - Always use a good quality wine that you like to drink. This does make a huge difference when cooking with meat.

Homemade shepherd's Pie

• Preheat the oven to 190 C / 380 F.
• The meat mixture and mashed potatoes can be done simultaneously.

Prepare meat sauce

• Heat oil in a saute pan.
• Add onions, garlic and bay leave- saute for 2 minutes.
• Then, add carrots and celery - cook for 3 minutes more
• Next, add the ground meat - break it up while stirring and cook until the meat is browned and all the liquid has almost evaporated.
• Now, add the flour - combine well.
• Next, goes in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, stock, red wine, salt, and pepper.
• Let come to a boil - then reduce heat to a simmer and let cook on low for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. If the heat is too high the sauce will dry out.
• After 10 minutes, taste and adjust seasoning and consistency - add more water if the sauce is too thick. Alternatively, if it too thin continue to cook until you reach desired consistency.
• Set aside and let the sauce cool before you assemble the pie.

Prepare mashed potatoes

• In a large pot, bring the potatoes to a boil and cook until soft.
• Drain and place them back in the pot over low heat for just 30 seconds. This will absorb excess moisture.
• Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or potato ricer.
• Stir in the butter, parmesan, cheddar, sour cream, milk, salt, and pepper - stir well to combine
• Add more milk if necessary so the potatoes are not to thick.
• Set aside - keep warm

Assemble and bake

• Pour the sauce into a baking dish.
• Spoon the mashed potatoes over the minced meat filling using a tablespoon.
• Then use the back of the tablespoon to spread it evenly.
• Sprinkle the parmesan and cheddar cheeses over.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 190 C/380 F for about 30 minutes or until the edges are bubbling from the heated sauce.

What side dish to serve with shepherd's pie?

A few vegetables on the side would be a great idea. In fact, you can even make them in patties or fritters. Also, here are some suggestions:

• Quick garlic sesame asparagus or Garlic Parmesan asparagus, 
• Swiss chard patties, corn fritters, leek potato patties
• Sesame green beans, sauteed broccoli, sauteed asparagus
• Oven-baked butternut squash  or Oven-baked carrot sticks
• Salads - carrot salad, avocado salad, cabbage salad,
• See all side dish recipes

Tips for success

• Thaw the meat well before cooking. This will brown the meat meal and give it a better flavor.
• Saute the veggies well - do not try to do this quickly. Give the veggies time to sweat and then caramelize slightly. It makes a huge difference in flavor.
• Cook the sauce on low heat and let it simmer for a good 30 minutes. That way all the flavor stays in and does not evaporate.
• Let the sauce cool as it makes assembling the final pie easier. You can even make the sauce a day in advance and reheat it when ready to assemble.
• The consistency of the sauce is key to all that wonderful bubbling when it is done. The sauce does not evaporate from under the mashed potato so it's easy to decide how much liquid you need in the sauce. You don't want it too thick, or too liquid.
• Use the right potatoes such as Yukon gold when making mashed potatoes. These give the best flavor and texture.
• Make the mashed potato much ahead of time so it's easier to work with when assembling.
• Don't pour all the mashed potato over the sauce. Instead, dot them in tablespoons over the meat sauce. That way it's easier to spread without making a mess.
• Don't overdo the cheese on the crust - as it tends to burn easily. If you want more cheese, add a bit more to the mashed potato instead.
• Let the prepared pie cool for at least 10 minutes before you let people dig in because the sauce is VERY hot.

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Frequently asked questions

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