Shepherd's pie, a classic British dish, is a hearty and comforting casserole made with ground lamb or beef, vegetables, and a mashed potato topping. Often served during the colder months, it's a delicious and easy-to-make meal that's perfect for busy weeknights. This article provides two variations of this classic recipe: a traditional shepherd's pie and a vegetarian shepherd's pie. The traditional recipe includes ground lamb, carrots, celery, onions, peas, and a rich gravy, topped with a creamy mashed potato topping. The vegetarian version swaps lentils and mushrooms for the lamb, and uses vegetable broth instead of beef broth. Both recipes are easy to follow and can be tailored to your own preferences, making them perfect for both experienced cooks and beginners alike.
Let's cook with our recipes!
SHEPHERD'S PIE
The epitome of simple, homey comfort food, shepherd's pie is a casserole consisting of creamy mashed potatoes atop a rich and bubbly stew.
Provided by Jennifer Segal
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- Place the beef, baking soda, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 tablespoon of water in a medium bowl. Mash with your hand to combine. Set aside for 20 minutes.
- While the meat tenderizes, place the potatoes in medium saucepan and add just enough cold water to cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the potatoes are soft and fork-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return to the saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and stir the potatoes with a wooden spoon or potato masher until they are dry and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the sour cream, butter, half & half, and the remaining teaspoon of salt. Using a potato masher, stir and mash the potatoes with the other ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Set the mashed potatoes aside.
- Heat a 12-in oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan. Add the onions and carrots to the bacon fat and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and starting to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the wine and increase the heat to high; bring to a boil, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half. Add the flour and stir until dissolved. Add the reserved ground beef mixture, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce; continue cooking on high heat, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth; bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and cook, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the thyme, pepper, peas, and reserved bacon, and cook until the peas are warmed through. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
- Dollop the mashed potatoes evenly over the filling. Use a rubber or offset spatula to spread the potatoes evenly over the stew and all the way to the edges of the skillet. Drag a fork across the top to make ridges. Place the skillet on a baking sheet or large sheet of foil to catch any drips and bake until the filling is hot, the topping is lightly browned, and the edges are bubbly, about 30 minutes. (For more color, turn on the broiler and broil for the last 5 minutes, or until the top is golden.) Sprinkle with chives and serve.
- Note: If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer the meat mixture to a 2.5-qt casserole dish and then spread the mashed potatoes overtop.
- Make-Ahead Instructions: The stew portion of the recipe can be made several days ahead of time and refrigerated. Before assembling the pie, reheat the stew, adding a little broth if necessary if it seems dry. The mashed potatoes should be made right before assembling and baking the pie.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 650, Fat 33 g, Carbohydrate 50 g, Protein 33 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Sugar 7 g, Fiber 5 g, Sodium 1243 mg, Cholesterol 122 mg
BEST CLASSIC SHEPHERD'S PIE RECIPE
The Best Classic Shepherd's Pie - AKA Shepards Pie or Cottage Pie. Ground Beef (or lamb) with vegetables in a rich gravy, topped with cheesy mashed potatoes and baked.
Provided by Amanda Finks
Categories Dinner Entree Main Course
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Add the oil to a large skillet and place it over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the onions. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the ground beef (or ground lamb) to the skillet and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the parsley, rosemary, thyme, salt, and and pepper. Stir well. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until the meat is browned, stirring occasionally.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the flour and tomato paste. Stir until well incorporated and no clumps of tomato paste remain.
- Add the broth, frozen peas and carrots, and frozen corn. Bring the liquid to a boil then reduce to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Set the meat mixture aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place the potatoes in a large pot. Cover the potatoes with water. Bring the water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are fork tender, 10-15 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes in a colander. Return the potatoes to the hot pot. Let the potatoes rest in the hot pot for 1 minute to evaporate any remaining liquid.
- Add butter, half & half, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mash the potatoes and stir until all the ingredients are mixed together.
- Add the parmesan cheese to the potatoes. Stir until well combined.
- Pour the meat mixture into a 9x9 (or 7x11) inch baking dish. Spread it out into an even layer. Spoon the mashed potatoes on top of the meat. Carefully spread into an even layer.
- If the baking dish looks very full, place it on a rimmed baking sheet so that the filling doesn't bubble over into your oven. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes.** Cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /6th of the recipe, Calories 400 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 30 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Cholesterol 97 mg, Sodium 751 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 2 g
SHEPHERD'S PIE
When you're in the mood for a meaty, savory comfort-food classic, serve Alton Brown's Shepherd's Pie from Good Eats on Food Network.
Provided by Alton Brown
Categories main-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling. Place the canola oil into a 12-inch saute pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the lamb, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly.
- Add the corn and peas to the lamb mixture and spread evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.
30 MINUTE SHEPHERD'S PIE
Try Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Shepherd's Pie recipe, a layered casserole of mashed potatoes, veggies and beef, from 30 Minute Meals on Food Network.
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl. Combine sour cream, egg yolk and cream. Add the cream mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth.
- While potatoes boil, preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil to hot pan with beef or lamb. Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 minutes. If you are using lamb and the pan is fatty, spoon away some of the drippings. Add chopped carrot and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat 5 minutes, stirring frequently. In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Thicken gravy 1 minute. Add gravy to meat and vegetables. Stir in peas.
- Preheat broiler to high. Fill a small flameproof rectangular casserole with meat and vegetable mixture. Spoon potatoes over meat evenly. Top potatoes with paprika and broil 6 to 8 inches from the heat until potatoes are evenly browned. Top casserole dish with chopped parsley and serve.
EASIEST CHEDDAR SHEPHERDS PIE
Make and share this Easiest Cheddar Shepherds Pie recipe from Food.com.
Provided by TammieV
Categories Potato
Time 1h5m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Brown ground beef and add onion; cook until onion is transparent.
- Add soup, veggies and garlic and mix, pour into a oblong baking dish.
- Spread mashed potatoes on top and sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
- •Looking for a variation on this recipe? Try this: Instead of topping with mashed potatoes and cheese, top the casserole with a single layer of tater tots instead. This is also a big hit.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 465.6, Fat 20.9, SaturatedFat 9.2, Cholesterol 71.2, Sodium 665, Carbohydrate 44.5, Fiber 5, Sugar 4.3, Protein 25
BEST SHEPHERD'S PIE
This is the best shepherds pie recipe I've ever had, and it comes from a friend who was a whiz at pinching pennies without sacrificing hearty flavor.-Valerie Merrill, Topeka, Kansas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mash potatoes with sour cream. Add salt and pepper; set aside. In a large skillet, cook beef with onion and red pepper until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir garlic salt into meat mixture. Stir in the soup, corn and milk. , Spread meat mixture into a 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with mashed potatoes; drizzle with butter. , Bake, uncovered, until heated through, 30-35 minutes. For additional browning, place under broiler for a few minutes. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 378 calories, Fat 17g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 69mg cholesterol, Sodium 626mg sodium, Carbohydrate 33g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 21g protein.
YUMMY SHEPHERD'S PIE
Just a basic, simple recipe that is delicious comfort food! You can't go wrong with this dish on a cold winter's night! There is never any leftovers in our house when I make this!
Provided by Chef Nichol
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 45m
Yield 1 8x8 dish, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Brown the ground turkey with the celery, onion, minced garlic, salt and pepper.
- While browning the turkey, boil the potatoes until fork tender.
- Mash potatoes with the butter, milk, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Stir the tomato soup into the turkey mixture thoroughly and add carrots.
- Fold in the peas carefully and heat through.
- Put turkey mixture in an 8x8 casserole dish.
- Sprinkle half of the cheese on top.
- Top that with the mashed potatoes.
- Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- ENJOY!
YUMMY SHEPHERDS PIE
Make and share this Yummy Shepherds Pie recipe from Food.com.
Provided by chef beth in THORNT
Categories Meat
Time 1h5m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Fry the mince meat in oil add chopped onion. fry 5 mins add curry powder, then gravy then mango chutney and black pepper. Cook 15 minutes.
- cook potatoes till tender and mash with butter.
- put meat mixture into glass pyrex dish and top with potato.
- cook 45 mins at 190c or gas mark 5.
- serve with fresh or frozen peas.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 607.5, Fat 28.8, SaturatedFat 10.1, Cholesterol 81.2, Sodium 1256.4, Carbohydrate 60.1, Fiber 6.6, Sugar 4.2, Protein 27.3
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the shepherd's pie will be. Use fresh, flavorful vegetables, and high-quality ground lamb or beef.
- Brown the meat well: Browning the meat adds flavor and helps to keep it moist. Be sure to brown the meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it is cooked through.
- Don't overcook the vegetables: The vegetables should be tender but still have a little bit of crunch. Cook them for just a few minutes, until they are heated through.
- Use a good quality gravy: The gravy is what really makes the shepherd's pie special. Use a gravy that is flavorful and has a good consistency. You can use a store-bought gravy or make your own.
- Mash the potatoes until they are smooth and creamy: The mashed potatoes are the topping for the shepherd's pie, and they should be smooth and creamy. Use a potato masher or a food processor to mash the potatoes until they are completely smooth.
- Bake the shepherd's pie until it is bubbly and golden brown: The shepherd's pie should be baked until it is bubbly and golden brown. This usually takes about 30 minutes.
Conclusion:
Shepherd's pie is a classic comfort food that is perfect for a cold night. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. Whether you like it with lamb or beef, with a thick or thin gravy, or with a variety of vegetables, there is a shepherd's pie recipe out there for everyone. So next time you are looking for a hearty and satisfying meal, give shepherd's pie a try.
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