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Classic Shepherds Pie Recipe

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This homemade Shepherds Pie is filled with seasoned ground beef, peas, carrots, simmered in a delicious gravy and topped with fluffy mashed potatoes. Beef Shepherds Pie is also freezer friendly.

white rectangle baking dish with sheperds pie, topped with golden mashed potatoes, wooden spoon in right

Old-Fashioned Cottage Pie is made with ground beef, savory gravy, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. It’s an economical meal that is also freezer-friendly. This comfort food is filling and affordable to create.

How to make Shepherds Pie from scratch:

Step 1: Prepare the mashed potatoes. Cover and set aside until needed.

red enamelware pot with cooked onions, celery and diced carrots. Wooden spoon in right of pan.

Step 2: In a large cast iron skillet over medium heat cook the onions, carrots, and celery in the oil. Cook until translucent. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 3: Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to combine. Cook for about 1 minute.

Step 4: Add the ground beef and cook until browned. As the beef browns, stir with a spoon and break the meat into smaller pieces.

red enamelware pot with browned beef, carrots, onions, and celery pieces. Wooden spoon in the right of the pot.

Step 5: Using a large glass measuring cup, dissolve the Better than Bouillon in the hot water. Stir to combine to create beef stock. Set aside.

Step 6: Once the beef is browned add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock. Season again with salt and black pepper, if needed.

Step 7: Add the peas and corn to the beef mixture. Stir to combine.

Step 8: Pour the meat mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch oven safe baking dish.

cooked ground beef, carrots, peas, corn, and onions in a white ceramic rectangle casserole dish, sitting on taupe plaid kitchen cloth

Step 9: Spread the mashed potatoes evenly across the top of the meat mixture using the back of a large spoon or a rubber spatula.

Step 10: Cook in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden and the filling bubbling up.

white ceramic rectangle shaped baking dish with shepherds pie, spreading the top layer of mashed potatoes

I’ve mixed all of the vegetables together for this easy shepherd’s pie recipe. My mom used to layer the vegetables on top of the browned beef, then layer the mashed potatoes on top. Also try my grandmother’s recipe for French Meat Pie.

cooked shepherds pie in a white ceramic baking dish, wooden spoon to right side

Don’t have time to make homemade mashed potatoes? We love Idahoan Real Mashed Potatoes. I keep them stocked in our pantry for meals like this. It makes life easier and they are still real mashed potatoes!

Shepherds pie with beef is great served with Homemade Cornbread.

white ceramic baking dish with cooked shepherds pie, wooden spoon in the pie on the right

For more delicious dinner recipes be sure and try Classic Lasagna Recipe, Chicken Pot Pie, Cast Iron Pizza, and Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken.

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5 from 3 votes
Shepherds pie in a white rectangle glass baking dish, scoop out of the right bottom corner
Print

Classic Shepherds Pie

Prep Time25 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time50 mins
This homemade Shepherds Pie is filled with seasoned ground beef, peas, carrots, simmered in a delicious gravy and topped with fluffy mashed potatoes.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 411kcal
Author: Jessica Robinson

Ingredients

Shepherds Pie

  • 1 tablespoon corn oil (or any type of oil you prefer)
  • 1 chopped yellow or white onion diced
  • 2 large carrots peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef (80% lean)
  • ¾ cup hot water
  • 1 tablespoon Better than Bouillon beef base
  • 2-3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 3-4 cups mashed potatoes

Instructions

Shepherds Pie

  • Prepare the mashed potatoes. Cover and set aside until needed.
  • In a large cast iron skillet over medium heat cook the onions, carrots, and celery in the oil. Cook until translucent. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to combine. Cook for about 1 minute.
  • Add the ground beef and cook until browned. As the beef browns, stir with a spoon and break the meat into smaller pieces.
  • Using a large glass measuring cup, dissolve the Better than Bouillon in the hot water. Stir to combine to create beef stock. Set aside.
  • Once the beef is browned add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock. Season again with salt and black pepper, if needed.
  • Add the peas and corn to the beef mixture. Stir to combine.
  • Pour the meat mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch oven safe baking dish.
  • Spread the mashed potatoes evenly across the top of the meat mixture using the back of a large spoon or a rubber spatula.
  • Place the baking dish on a parchment lined half sheet pan to catch any juices that might boil over.
  • Cook in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden and the filling bubbling up.
  • Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

Tips on making Shepherds Pie:
If you prefer, you can spread the ground beef mixture on the bottom of the baking dish. Then just layer the peas and corn over that layer and cover with mashed potatoes.
Meal Prep/Shepherds Pie:
You can divide this Shepherds Pie into two 9-inch pie plates. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until you need a quick meal.
Going directly from the freezer to the oven. DO NOT preheat the oven! Or you will break the pie plate. Place the frozen Shepherds Pie on a parchment paper lined half sheet pan and into a cold oven. Then turn the oven to 400 degrees F. The glass pie plate will come to temperature as the oven does- so the glass does not break!
Substitute steak sauce for Worcestershire sauce if you don’t have it in your pantry!
I used about ½ bag (16-ounce) of frozen peas and corn. You can use whatever type of frozen vegetable you prefer.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 337mg | Potassium: 838mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2747IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 4mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amy says

    5 stars
    We have a freezer full of ground beef and this is the perfect recipe for using it up! Thanks!

    Reply

  2. Laura says

    5 stars
    Thanks Jessica! This recipe was delcious and easy. It came out great.

    Reply

  3. Lisa Hatfield says

    5 stars
    I made this recipe Jessica, it is EASY and my family loves it!!!! Yum. Thanks for another family favorite.

    Reply

    • Jessica Robinson says

      Such a classic and easy recipe to make!

      Reply

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