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Easy Shepherd's Pie (or Cottage Pie)

Shepherd's Pie is comfort food central! A hearty, home-y dinner that sticks to your ribs and satisfies. Make ahead and freeze!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 407 kcal
Course: Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 2 pound ground beef
  • 1 large onion or two smaller ones
  • 3 carrots cut into slices, or diced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • salt & pepper
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water
Topping
  • 2 pound potatoes
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • salt & pepper
OPTIONAL
  • Parmesan Cheese for the top

Instructions

Make the filling
    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large skillet or dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain any excess fat.
  2. Add onions and carrots, and cook until onion is soft, and the carrots begin to soften.
  3. Add tomato paste, thyme, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, for around 15 minutes.
  5. Turn the heat up, then add cornstarch to the water and mix. Add the mixture to the skillet,  and cook until it thickens.
  6. Add the frozen peas, and mix in (the heat from the meat mixture is enough to cook the peas).
Cook and Mash Potatoes
  1. Boil the potatoes until tender, then mash with the butter, milk, salt, and pepper.
Assemble
  1. Preheat the oven to 375.
  2. Pour beef mixture into an 8 x 8 (square) dish.
  3. Spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the beef mixture and score the top with a fork (for crispy peaks).
Bake
  1. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven until the top is brown and crispy.
  2. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then serve.
  3. Devour.

Notes

  • FAQs and Top Tips
  • FAQs and Top Tips
  • Is this recipe gluten-free? Yes! Check out the ingredients info above, to be sure.
  • Can you freeze Shepherd's Pie? Yes! This recipe freezes well. Just thaw in the fridge while you go about your day, and bake in the oven when you're ready to eat. You'll need a little extra baking time to get it piping hot if it's chilled. Depending on how deep your dish is, you will bake it for 30-60 minutes.
  • Replace the potatoes with mashed sweet potatoes.
  • Switch up the vegetables with frozen mixed vegetables, or just peas, or green beans. You choose what your family likes!
  • Use ground lamb (or bison, or venison if that's your jam) instead of ground beef. 
  • Add cheese to the top of the mashed potato - it goes all bubbly and melt-y. And yummy.
  • Is this recipe gluten-free? Yes! Check out the ingredients info above, to be sure.
  • Can you freeze Shepherd's Pie? Yes! This recipe freezes well. Just thaw in the fridge while you go about your day, and bake in the oven when you're ready to eat. You'll need a little extra baking time to get it piping hot if it's chilled. Depending on how deep your dish is, you will bake it for 30-60 minutes.
  • Replace the potatoes with mashed sweet potatoes.
  • Switch up the vegetables with frozen mixed vegetables, or just peas, or green beans. You choose what your family likes!
  • Use ground lamb (or bison, or venison if that's your jam) instead of ground beef. 
  • Add cheese to the top of the mashed potato - it goes all bubbly and melt-y. And yummy.

Nutrition Information

Calories 407kcal (20%) Carbohydrates 25g (8%) Protein 25g (50%) Fat 23g (35%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Cholesterol 81mg (27%) Sodium 360mg (15%) Potassium 1088mg (31%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 4030IU (81%) Vitamin C 24.2mg (27%) Calcium 84mg (8%) Iron 7mg (39%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 407

% Daily Value*

Calories 407kcal 20%
Carbohydrates 25g 8%
Protein 25g 50%
Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 81mg 27%
Sodium 360mg 15%
Potassium 1088mg 23%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 4030IU 81%
Vitamin C 24.2mg 27%
Calcium 84mg 8%
Iron 7mg 39%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.