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Easy Shepherd’s Pie is the perfect week-night dinner! Loaded with meat and veggies and topped with potatoes and cheese, this warm dish is the ultimate comfort food.
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This easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe was definitely one of those “rotation meals” in our family growing up. My family actually called it “hamburger pie” or “cottage pie” and I actually didn’t realize everyone else called it “shepherd’s pie” until after I was married. My mom would usually serve it if we had leftover mashed potatoes from Sunday dinner, which made it an even easier weeknight supper. Shepherd’s Pie was also our go-to meal that my mom would take to people in our neighborhood when someone had a baby, or surgery or was just in need of a warm, comforting meal. It is one of those dinners that hits the spot anytime!
Ingredients in Shepherd’s Pie
The great thing about this recipe is how versatile it is. You can swap out one meat for another, one veggie for another, etc. But here’s what we start with:
Mashed Potatoes:
- Potatoes – Four large russet potatoes makes the perfect amount of mashed potatoes for the top. You can also use a package of instant mashed potatoes or leftover potatoes from another dinner.
- If making fresh mashed potatoes, add a couple of tablespoons of butter and about three tablespoons of milk and some salt and pepper. Use a potato masher or hand mixer to get the potatoes your favorite consistency.
Filling:
- Ground beef – This is an “Americanized” version of what originated in England and northern Ireland. If you want to be more authentic, you can use minced or diced lamb. You can also try ground turkey, spicy Italian ground sausage, chopped roast, pretty much any type of meat you like.
- Onion – one large yellow onion works great in this recipe.
- Salt and pepper – to taste
- Green beans – use one can of French-style green beans, drained. You can also use frozen mixed vegetables, frozen beans, green peas, etc.
- Tomato sauce – a six-ounce can. If you don’t have tomato sauce, mix some tomato paste with water. You can also use a can of tomato soup for a rich tomato flavor.
- Cheddar cheese – top the mashed potato layer with some grated sharp cheddar cheese. YUM!
Steps to Make Shepherd’s Pie
- First, make your mashed potatoes by dicing and boiling the potatoes in a large pot until fork tender. Then add butter, milk, salt and pepper and mash until the potatoes are light and fluffy.
- Next, brown your ground beef in a skillet with a tablespoon of oil (I like to use olive oil, but vegetable oil works great too) and add the onion. If you want extra flavor, you can season the beef with garlicsalt in addition to salt and pepper.
- Then, add a can of drained green beans.
- Finally, add the tomato sauce, and let the whole skillet simmer for a few minutes.
- Layer the meat mixture in a large casserole dish or in individual ramekin dishes.
- Spread the creamy mashed potatoes in an even layer over the top of the meat mixture.
- Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
- Remove the dishes and top the mashed potatoes with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Finally, bake another five or so minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Shepherd’s Pie Recipe Tips
- Growing up we always topped this with ketchup and to this day I still can’t eat shepherd’s pie without a good helping of ketchup. Judge me if you must. My husband loves it with Sriracha sauce and my cousins love it topped with Ranch dressing. Of course, it tastes delicious just plain too.
- For a bit of a sweeter, richer tomato flavor, add in a can or two of condensed tomato soup instead of tomato sauce.
- Garnish with parsley, rosemary, or thyme before serving.
- Add a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce to the meat mixture for a richer flavor.
- You can add as many veggies to the mixture as you like. I love green beans but you could also add green peas, diced carrots, corn, celery, or red peppers.
Reader Reviews of this Recipe
“I hadn’t made this in forever and so glad I found your version! I had never added cheese. Delicious!”
Kelly S.
“LOVE the spicy Italian sausage variation – such amazing amped up flavors! Thanks for this easy family recipe!”
Jenn
“I like your idea of using individual ramekins for the recipe. Such a fun idea!”
Lauren K.
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional Shepherd’s Pie uses lamb, while Cottage Pie is generally the one that is made with beef. There are a few other differences but mainly it comes down to the meat used.
Let your meat mixture cool slightly before adding the layer of mashed potatoes. This should keep the layers nice and even without sinking.
Yes! After baking, let the pan cool to room temperature, cover tightly with foil and freeze. It’ll stay fresh for up to two months. Reheat by baking for about an hour at 350 degrees.
Read More: 35+ Easy Dinner Ideas
What to Serve with Shepherd’s Pie
This recipe really is a full meal all in one dish. We usually serve it with a big green salad or a side of fruit but you could try any of these yummy side dishes too:
How to Make Shepherd’s Pie
Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
For the potatoes:
- 4 potatoes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons milk
- salt & pepper to taste
For the filling:
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 pound ground beef
- salt & pepper to taste
- 15 ounces green beans French-style, drained
- 6 ounces tomato sauce (6-8 oz can)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
For the potatoes:
- Peel & dice potatoes. Place in a pot of cold, salted water and place on the stovetop on high heat.
- Bring potatoes to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until tender.
- When potatoes are done, drain well, and mash with butter, milk, salt & pepper until smooth.
For the Filling:
- Heat oil in a saute pan over medium heat. When oil becomes hot, add onion and saute until onions become clear.
- Add ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned. Drain excess grease, add green beans and cook an additional minute or two.
- Stir in tomato sauce and reduce heat to a slight simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Spread beef mixture evenly in the bottom of a glass baking dish or casserole dish (or divide evenly between individual ramekin dishes).
- Top with mashed potatoes and smooth evenly over beef mixture. Bake at 350-degrees for about 20 minutes.
- Top with cheese and bake another 5-10 minutes or until cheese begins to bubble up.
Notes
Recipe Tips:
- For a bit of a sweeter, richer tomato flavor, add in a can or two of condensed tomato soup instead of tomato sauce.
- Garnish with parsley, rosemary, or thyme before serving.
- Add a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce to the meat mixture for a richer flavor.
- You can add as many veggies to the mixture as you like. I love green beans but you could also add green peas, diced carrots, corn, celery, or red peppers.
Nutrition Information
I add an egg to the potatoes as it makes them a bit stiffer and they hold up better. I also use tomato soup not tomato sauce, too acidic for the dish. Beans do not need to be added to the burger be as you just made them mushy. Just layer. This is an easy dish. Don’t complicate it!!
I make a version of this with tomato soup and my family loves it I also use instant potatoes and sliced cheese to make it quick and easy. I like your recipes thanks for doing what you do
i don’t know why but green beans taste Absolutely at their best in Shepherd’s Pie. perfect.
great recipe thanks
Great! thank you so much 🙂
Hi! 🙂 This is going to be my first time making this, can frozen veggies be used in this recipe?
Absolutely!!
I hadn’t made this in forever and so glad I found your version! I had never added cheese. Delicious!
LOVE the spicy Italian sausage variation – such amazing amped up flavors! Thanks for this easy family recipe!
I like your idea of using individual ramekins for the recipe. Such a fun idea!
Yummy! The perfect fall family meal. Comforting, filling and healthy!
This is almost exactly how I make mine, except I like using tomato paste so I can control how ‘tomatoey’ it tastes. I had no idea other people made it this way, I thought I made it up, lol!
How many people does this recipe feed? What size pan should I use? Thank you!
It serves 5-6 depending on how big of eaters you have! You can use a 9×13 glass dish or a large dutch-oven type dish or casserole
I tried the recipe and thought it as excellent! It served four people nicely. I think next time I would almost double the mashed potatoes though! However, I thought the potatoes tasted just perfect! Thanks for the post!
Outstanding!!! Thank you.
We love most every single recipe we’ve tried from your website (Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce is one of our absolute family favorites!!!), but this one missed the mark on the sauce in my opinion. I thought I would try it the way the recipe says but wish I had used my mom’s favorite way of making it which is with a can of tomato soup instead of the tomato sauce. You should try it sometime and see if you like it too. Anyway, just a suggestion 🙂
I am so sorry the sauce missed the mark for you guys! A can of tomato soup is a great idea. That is how we make our sloppy Joes so it makes sense that it would taste great in Hamburger Pie! We will try it next time! Thanks so much for the suggestion and I hope you keep trying more of our recipes!
This is Cottage Pie, because it’s made with beef 🙂 Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb (hence the name), though it’s only recently I’ve discovered that most of America doesn’t realise the difference lol! But your family were more right with hamburger pie hehe, it’s definitely not Shepherd’s Pie if there isn’t any lamb involved! 🙂
I am glad you said something! I had no idea! My family will always call it hamburger pie.. just so there is no confusion haha
I love me some Shepard’s pie cant wait to try this!!
We love this recipe! …A favorite dish at our home too! (Question: How do you add fun wording/fonts to your photos?)
I just sent you an email, Julie!
what was the answer to Julie’s question. I would like to know that answer as well. Thank you!