Shepherd’s pie is a classic comfort dish made with savory meat and vegetables topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until golden. 🥔🥧 Traditionally it uses lamb, though many people use beef.
Classic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the filling
- 1 lb ground lamb (or beef)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp thyme or rosemary
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp oil or butter
For the mashed potato topping
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 4 tbsp butter
- ½ cup milk or cream
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
1. Make the mashed potatoes
- Boil potatoes in salted water for 15–20 minutes until tender.
- Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth.
2. Cook the filling
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook onion and carrots for about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and ground lamb (or beef) and cook until browned.
- Stir in tomato paste, broth, Worcestershire sauce, herbs, peas, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 5–10 minutes until slightly thick.
3. Assemble
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Spread the meat mixture in a baking dish.
- Spread mashed potatoes on top and smooth with a fork.
4. Bake
Bake 20–25 minutes until the top is lightly golden.
Tips for Extra Flavor
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese on the potatoes before baking.
- Add mushrooms or corn to the filling.
- Use Yukon Gold potato for extra creamy mashed potatoes.
If you want, I can also show you a 30-minute shepherd’s pie shortcut recipe that busy families use (it’s one of the most popular versions online). 🍽️