Tuesday, May 16, 2023
HomeCakeShepherd's Pie | Life, Love and Sugar

Shepherd’s Pie | Life, Love and Sugar


This simple Shepherd’s Pie is a consolation meals traditional to not be missed. It’s made up of completely seasoned floor beef, peas and carrots, and topped with creamy mashed potatoes, sprinkled with cheddar cheese, and baked to golden and bubbly perfection.

Shepherd's pie in a baking dish with a serving spoon taking a piece out of it.

Straightforward Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

There’s nothing fairly like an excellent shepherd’s pie. It’s consolation meals to the max. It actually will heat you up proper to your soul. I like this model as a result of it’s so fast and straightforward. It solely takes about 35 minutes and has every thing you want for a well-rounded meal – protein, carbs, and veggies. It’s a go-to for me (my entire household loves it!) and I hope it is going to change into one for you too.

So what makes this shepherd’s pie so particular? It begins with completely caramelized floor beef that has been cooked with onions and the right mixture of herbs. The meat is combined along with garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and beef broth so as to add some further taste and moisture. The entire thing is then poured right into a baking pan, topped with creamy mashed potatoes, and sprinkled with cheddar cheese. All that’s left is to pop it within the oven to get all good and golden brown. Scrumptious!

A slice of shepherd's pie on a plate.

What Is Shepherd’s Pie?

Shepherd’s pie is a standard Irish consolation meals. It’s made up of minced meat (often lamb or beef) combined with veggies, topped with mashed potatoes, and baked. Though it originated in Eire, it’s also extremely popular within the UK and in different elements of Europe. Within the US you possibly can usually discover it in Irish and British-style pubs.

Shepherd’s pie will get its identify from the truth that it’s most historically made with lamb from a shepherd’s flock.

Why You’ll Love This Cottage Pie

Fast, simple, filling, and an all-in-one meal. What’s to not love? Listed below are a few of my favourite issues about this cottage pie.

  • Fast and straightforward. Just a bit slicing, dicing, sauteeing, assembling, and baking. In simply over half-hour you’ll have your self an exquisite piece of Irish custom. It’s excellent for busy weeknights.
  • Hearty and heartwarming. You received’t be left hungry right here. This hearty most important dish is chock-full of filling carbs and protein. It’s deeply savory and certain to depart you glad.
  • All-in-one meal. Get your protein, veggies, and carbs multi function slice of this scrumptious shepherd’s pie. Be at liberty to whip up a aspect or two to associate with it however there isn’t a want.
Ingredients for shepherd's pie separated into bowls and labeled.

Recipe Substances

Here’s a checklist of elements wanted to make one of the best heartwarming cottage pie but. Be sure you scroll to the recipe card beneath for precise measurements.

  • Mashed potatoes – Make half a batch of my mashed potatoes or purchase a bundle of ready-made mashed potatoes. Simply notice that you simply would possibly have to make greater than 1 bundle to attain the correct quantity. You want 3 1/2 cups complete.
  • Olive oil – To maintain the meat from sticking to the pan.
  • Floor beef – I choose 80/20 beef however be happy to make use of a leaner product if you need. You possibly can additionally use floor turkey or rooster as a substitute.
  • Yellow onion
  • Herbs and taste – Dried parsley, rosemary, thyme are used together with salt and pepper for the right taste.
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Garlic cloves
  • All-purpose flour – Gluten illiberal? Use your favourite 1:1 gluten-free flour as a substitute.
  • Tomato paste – Only a contact actually provides good taste.
  • Beef broth – I actually suggest beef broth for one of the best taste, however rooster broth would additionally work.
  • Frozen peas and carrots
  • Shredded cheddar cheese – That is non-obligatory however I believe it provides lots. Be at liberty to make use of one other type of cheese if you need. Parmesan would even be yummy.

Make Shepherd’s Pie

Right here’s a fast overview of how one can make this scrumptious home made cottage pie. Be sure you scroll to the recipe card beneath for extra detailed directions.

Potatoes

  • Make the mashed potatoes. Make half a batch of my creamy mashed potatoes. Alternatively, used leftover mashed potatoes or make a bundle or two of pre-made mashed potatoes. Simply just be sure you have 3 1/2 cups price.

Meat filling

  • Prep. Preheat oven to 400 levels F.
  • Cook dinner the meat. Warmth the oil in a big pan over medium warmth. Add the bottom beef and break it aside. Add the onions, parsley, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir nicely and cook dinner for 6-8 minutes. Drain the grease.
  • End the filling. Add the Worcestershire sauce and garlic and cook dinner till aromatic. Add the flour and tomato paste and stir to mix. Add the meat broth and frozen peas and carrots. Deliver every thing to a boil and cook dinner for 3-5 minutes.
  • Assemble. Pour the meat combination right into a 9×9 or 11×7 baking dish and unfold the mashed potatoes over the filling. “Rake” strains into the mashed potatoes with a fork and
  • Add cheese (non-obligatory). Sprinkle with cheddar cheese excessive of the mashed potatoes.
  • Bake for quarter-hour. Broil on excessive for five minutes.
  • Serve heat.

Can This Be Ready In Advance?

Sure! Be at liberty to make the mashed potatoes and the meat filling as much as 3 days upfront. Permit the 2 parts to chill fully earlier than sealing them in separate hermetic containers and storing them within the fridge. When you’re able to put dinner on the desk, merely unfold the potatoes over the filling, rake them with a fork, sprinkle them with cheese, bake, broil, and serve.

Straightforward Variations

This recipe is a superb start line for shepherd’s pie however don’t be afraid to mess around with it and make it your personal. Listed below are some enjoyable ideas for you.

  • Use a special protein. Floor beef is my favourite for this dish however you’re greater than welcome to make use of floor rooster or turkey as a substitute. You possibly can in all probability even use roasted, shredded rooster or beef.
  • Attempt a special cheese. The cheddar cheese sprinkled on prime of this shepherd’s pie is non-obligatory nevertheless it does make it further tasty. Not a cheddar fan? Attempt shredded pepper jack or parmesan. You possibly can even experiment with goat cheese.
  • Tacky mashed potatoes. Add some cheese to the mashed potatoes themselves. Simply stir shredded cheddar, parmesan, or pecorino into the potatoes as you mash them. It ought to soften proper in.
  • Incorporate completely different or further veggies. I used frozen peas and carrots right here however you may simply use different veggies. Sliced zucchini, corn, diced bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, and/or chopped broccoli could be a few of my prime picks.
  • Attempt mashed candy potatoes as a substitute. Attempt mashed yams or candy potatoes rather than the potatoes right here.
  • Make it low-carb. Trying to lower out some carbs? Attempt a cauliflower mash as a substitute of mashed potatoes.
A slice of shepherd's pie on a plate with a bite taken out of it.

Suggestions for Success

Questioning how one can make this one of the best shepherd’s pie you’ve ever tasted? Comply with the following pointers and methods and also you’ll be nicely in your means.

  • Select a big pan. When browning the meat, ensure your pan is large enough. If there may be not sufficient floor space for the meat to unfold out and make loads of contact with the pan, it is not going to brown correctly. The caramelization that occurs in the course of the browning course of provides lots to the flavour of the filling.
  • Drain the grease. After cooking the meat, onion, and herbs, you should definitely drain the grease out of the pan. In any other case, you will see that your self with a greasy shepherd’s pie.
  • Stir nicely. Particularly when including the flour and tomato paste. Nobody needs lumps of both of their shepherd’s pie.
  • Preserve an eye fixed. When broiling the cottage pie, keep watch over it as broilers work quick. It ought to take about 5 minutes for the potatoes to show golden and the cheese to bubble nevertheless it will depend on the broiled. Don’t let it burn.
Shepherd's pie in a baking dish with a slice taken out of it.

Retailer and Reheat Leftovers

Permit the dish to chill fully earlier than masking the baking dish with a double layer of plastic wrap. Retailer it within the fridge for as much as 4 days or within the freezer for as much as 3 months. When you’re able to reheat, enable the entree to return to room temperature. Should you select to freeze it, enable it to thaw within the fridge in a single day first. Preheat the oven to 350 levels F, cowl the baking dish with aluminum foil, and cook dinner for half-hour or till heated by means of.

Extra Consolation Meals Recipes:

In a consolation meals temper? Attempt one (or all!) of those scrumptious recipes which might be certain to hit the spot.

See How It’s Made

Learn Transcript

Recipe up to date 5/16/23. For earlier model, obtain this PDF.

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Shepherd's pie in a baking dish with a serving spoon taking a piece out of it.