Classic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe with Crispy Cheddar Topping
This Classic Shepherd’s Pie Recipe is gravy-soaked beefy goodness, with peas and carrots, covered with 5 pounds of potatoes. Because there are NEVER ENOUGH MASHED POTATOES. The best Shepherd’s Pie, done right my friends.
Originally published February 23, 2016.
Have you ever taught a kid to roller skate before? Turns out I am literally the worst person in the world for this job. (Where is my parenting manual?? I know I’m going to need it come 6th grade math, too. Don’t judge me.) This about sums it up:
Here’s Charlotte and I at her cousin’s birthday party at the skating rink. You will note that I am most certainly not wearing roller skates. If I had, we would BOTH be sprawled out under the disco lights.
“Stand straight. Lean into it. Glide your skates OUTward. Hold tight. Don’t slip! Find your balance.”
Seriously, “find your balance?” “glide outward”? SHE’S FIVE. It’s like I’m giving yoga instructions to a puppy. No wonder she’s holding on for dear life in that photo. I may as well be telling her to do the crow pose.
I was laughing, but that’s because I only had one kid at the party. You should have seen the mom’s trying to drag 2 or even 3 kids along. Note: a 5-year-old wielding a roller-skate-clad foot is a danger to innocent feet everywhere.
Now Charlotte is asking for her own pair of roller skates. I am now preemptively collecting donations for her body cast. And for my pair of steel-toed shoes.
How to make the best Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Do you love Shepherd’s Pie as much as I do? We didn’t have the traditional version growing up. My mom made “Meat and Potato Stuff.” No, I’m not kidding. (We also had “Chicken and Broccoli Stuff.” Bless your heart Mom.) Meat and Potato Stuff had tomato sauce and was basically Sloppy Joe Casserole. (Which explains why I was not into it. Sloppy Joes are gross. Slop sloppy joes…slop, sloppy joes.)
THIS Shepherd’s Pie however, is anything but sloppy. You make a flavorful gravy with beef broth and ground beef, add some peas and carrots, and cover it up with All The Potatoes. In my opinion, the greatest fault of most Shepherd’s Pies is a serious lack of creamy potato-y goodness. It’s all meat, tiny potatoes. Not gonna cut it for this mashed potato freak. 5 pounds definitely does the trick though!
Allllllll the potatoes.
Top it off with some cheddar cheese that you broil for a few minutes to make it extra crispy. Mm-mm. Invite the neighbors because this casserole feeds a small army!
Try not to drop your plate of shredded cheese on top.
If you make this Shepherd’s Pie, snap a photo and tag #TheFoodCharlatan on Instagram! I love seeing what you’re making! Here’s a link to a pin where over 150 people have tried this recipe and shared their review. Check it out!
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One year ago: Texas Cowboy Cookies
Four years ago: Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Peanut-Lime Sauce
Six years ago: Quick Lunch Wraps with Cream Cheese and Avocado
Classic Shepherd’s Pie
Serves 8-10 adjust servingsIngredients
For the mashed potatoes
- 5 pounds potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1 or 2 inch pieces
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup milk, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
For the beef mixture
- 4 tablespoons (half stick) salted butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
- 4-5 medium carrots, (about 1 and 1/2 to 2 cups)
- 1 and 1/2 cups frozen peas
- 1 and 1/2 pounds ground ground beef
- 1 and 1/2 cups beef broth*
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Beef paste* (see note)
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Fill a large stock pot with plenty of water. Add the chopped potatoes and make sure the water covers them.
- Bring to a boil, covered, over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and continue boiling for about 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Drain the potatoes and return to the pot.
- Add 1/2 cup butter. Mash with a potato masher or mixer until they are as smooth as you like them.
- Stir in sour cream, milk, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, seasoning salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. All seasonings are to taste. Cover and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat.
- Add the onions and carrots. Saute for about 8 minutes, until the carrots are tender.
- Add the ground beef and cook and crumble until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes.
- Drain the fat.
- Add the frozen peas.
- In a small bowl, stir together beef broth* and cornstarch.
- Add this mixture to the meat, as well as the Worcestershire sauce.
- Cook over high heat for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture boils and the sauce has thickened. Cook and reduce until it has reached a consistency you like.
- Season with salt and pepper. Taste it and see how you like it! Add other seasonings if you want.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Pour the meat mixture into a deep 9x13 inch casserole dish.
- Top with the mashed potatoes and spread evenly.
- Top with cheddar cheese.
- Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, or until bubbly. (You could do 375 if you are in a hurry. Check it at 20 minutes.)
- Broil on the top rack for about 2 minutes if you are obsessed with crunchy brown cheese like my family is. Don't walk away!!
- Now invite over the neighbors. Because this pie feeds a crowd!
by The Food Charlatan
More casseroles to love!
Easy Cheesy Ravioli Lasagna << family classic right here! Too easy.
Easy Cheesy Asparagus Tortellini Bake:
Chicken and Broccoli Stuff << my mom’s recipe!
Chicken Crepes << another one from my mom. It’s soooooo good.
More Shepherd’s Pie from friends!
Easy Shepherd’s Pie from Simply Recipes << this is the recipe that inspired my version. Elise’s blog is so amazing!
Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie from Budget Bytes << I’m trying this version next!
Shepherd’s Pie from Life in the Lofthouse
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This is my go-to shepherds pie recipe. I have made it so many times and its really the best one out there!
That is awesome Hannele! So happy to hear this! Hard to be a classic like this one, right? Thanks for reviewing :)
Shepherds Pie is traditionally made with minced Lamb rather than Beef. The Beef version is called Cottage Pie.
‘Shepherds’ = Lamb
Cottage pie = Beef
Are you a photographer? Or do you have a photographer take your photos? They are amazing!
You are so sweet Cheryl! Yes, I take all of the photos for my blog. So I would call myself a food photographer yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m good at regular photos! Ha. Enjoy the Shepherd’s Pie!
this is not shepherds pie, rather cottage pie. shepherds pie is made with lamb or mutton.
Do you use beef or chicken Better than bouillon? :)
Great question Savannah, it should be in the recipe! I’ll go change it. Beef!
I made a Tex-Mex version of this using leftover taco meat and Mexican cheese blend, green onions, and cilantro on top. It was a big hit!
Whaaat that sounds amazing Wendy! Culinary genius! I gotta try it!
Learned to enjoy shepherds pie while in England. How about a recipe for STEAK AND KIDNEY PIE
Oooh I will have to tackle Steak and Kidney Pie next Roy!! Great idea!
I have been making this shepherd pie for a year now , it is the best ever!!! Thank you Karen
I’m so glad the recipe has become a staple for you Darline! That is awesome. :) Thank you for leaving a review!!
I would go nuts without my Better Than Bouillon. I think I have all they make in the fridge.
Now for the reason I am contacting you. When I was young Shepherds Pie was made with leftover vegetables and even the mashed potatoes were leftovers. Of course when I make them fresh I always make extra for potato cakes, which are always nice to have. Ground beef and seasoning was the only thing needed oh and cheese of course. Great way to get the leftovers out of the fridge.
It is a great leftovers recipe Barbara! I wanted to have a recipe that used all fresh ingredients though, just in case I want to make it when I don’t happen to have leftovers. I hope you try out the recipe soon! Let me know how it goes!
The BEST Shepherd’s Pie ever!!! Even my husband who was not a fan of regular pie’s, asks me to make this!
This is the second time I have made this recipe because it is that good. My husband just couldn’t believe just how good it was. Like she describes the gravy is just awesome. This one is definitely a hit!
Yay! So glad you are enjoying the recipe Debbie! Hard to beat good comfort food. Thanks for commenting!
What could I use besides beef broth? I thought I had some 😭
Hi Priscilla! I’m not sure what a good substitute would be honestly! Chicken broth would work. Some people in the comments have mentioned using a gravy packet.
Loved making a smaller version for myself. My kids (now grown and moved out) never liked peas so, for them (in the past) I’d use corn instead. This time I followed your recipe and used peas – delicious :)
To put more ‘shepherd’ in, try half and half ground beef and ground lamb – it’s a real flavour boost :) Also, sliced tomatoes on top of the mash before coating with cheese – also very tasty!
Ooh I love the half lamb idea Jason! That would be delicious! And good tip with the tomatoes. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reviewing!
This is terrific! Hardly any leftovers when the gang comes over! They ask me take make it many times. Enjoyed your skating story, too.
I’m so happy to hear that Loraine! It’s a crowd pleaser for sure! Thanks for commenting!
Have you ever frozen this to use at a later date? Obviously without the cheese.
Hi CJ! You can make the meat mixture ahead of time and freeze. I would not freeze the mashed potatoes. Make those last minute (or 1 day ahead) and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. Add the cheese just before baking. Enjoy!
You are so funny! I couldn’t stop laughing. I definitely want to try this recipe!
Thanks Joan! Roller skating with a 5 year old should be an Olympic event! :) Enjoy the Shepherd’s Pie!
The best Shepherd’s Pie recipe that I have tasted! Thanks for sharing.
So happy to hear that Donna! Thanks so much for sharing your review! Way to help a food blogger out :)
This is misleading as it is cottage pie and not Shepard’s pie. Shepard’s pie is made with lamb. Cottage pie is made with beef.
Hi there! Americans call this dish Shepherd’s Pie, not Cottage pie, and generally speaking we always use beef. I don’t know of many Americans who cook regularly with lamb, it’s even tough to find at the market. The name has changed over the years, just like many words that Americans borrowed from the British :) If you bring up “Cottage Pie” to the average American, they will have no clue what you’re talking about!
Sorry, I thought this recipe was tasteless, if my husband wasn’t willing to eat it, I would have thrown away. WAY TOO MANY Potatoes!( And I even cut them back to 3 pds. Sorry guys, I’m going back to my old recipe.
I think this is the first negative review on this recipe! I’m sorry you didn’t like it Hyjean. We must have very different palates. Mashed potatoes forever! ;)
Your food looks delicious
Why thank you Marlaine! :)
It was delicious! My picky teenager made a face when I described it. She went back for seconds. That means it’s a winner in this house! Next time I will add more carrots because yum!
HA! I love when you can rub it in their face like that ;) And amen to more carrots!
Totally delicious recipe, but shepherds pie is made with lamb and cottage pie is made with beef. Two traditional dishes and very different 😀
Not in America! Take it up with my California lunch lady circa 1995 ;)
Hi,
My boyfriend is throwing a party next month and I found this recipe on google. I am really excited to make this. Can I prepare it in advance and freeze them as there more 12 people coming over.
Thanks
Hey Rachel! Definitely make the meat mixture ahead of time and freeze. I would not freeze the mashed potatoes. Make those last minute (or 1 day ahead) and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake.
This is definitely not a shepherds pie. It’s a cottage pie as it is made of beef, shepherds pies have lamb – shepherds don’t look after cows
Hi Jordan! In the US, us common folk always use beef and we always call it Shepherd’s pie.
I have made your recipe for Shepard’s pie probably a dozen times. The whole family loves it, as do my friends. I too add a can of corn, or frozen corn to the carrots and peas. So delicious. Better Than Bouillon is amazing…..where has it been all my life?! The chicken flavor is great in my homemade chicken noodle soup. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful recipe
Hey CJ! So happy to hear you are loving the recipe! I love the idea of adding corn. And so happy that you’ve discovered Better than Bouillon…that stuff is GOLDEN.
I made this recipe this past Thursday during the polar vortex weather which was -43 degree wind chill!! It turned out perfectly and everyone loved it! Looked just like the photo on Pinterest. I really enjoyed making it so thanks for a great recipe! It was especially wonderful on a frigid cold day and made the house smell yummy!
-43!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Terri did you make it out alive??? Gah. I’m so glad a nice warm Shepherd’s Pie was there for you at a time like this ;) Stay warm out there!!
I make a shepards pie like this with a can of corn instead of peas and carrots. It adds a nice bit of sweet with the beef and of course … Lots of grated cheese! Looks nd smells soooo good! My niece asks for it every time she comes visit…
Love the idea of adding corn!! Great idea!
Does this freeze well? I made it tonight for dinner. It was delicious, but boy, is there a lot left!
Hey Shannon! In my experience mashed potatoes don’t freeze well. They get watery. If you freeze mashed potatoes by themselves you can fix this by stirring, adding cream, etc. But since they are layered with the beef…it might be more difficult. Let me know if you try it and how it goes!
Can I pre-make the potatoes and meat mixture earlier in the day and refrigerate until time to cook?
Absolutely Jennifer! You can even layer in in the pan, even down to adding the cheese on top. Cover it and keep in the fridge til you’re ready to bake! It might take a few more minutes to heat up if you put it in the oven cold.
Indeed, this is a Cottage Pie (due to the beef), not a Classic Shepherd’s Pie.
Hey GB! Lots of debate about this! You can read more comments below :) It’s called Shepherd’s Pie for anyone in the US. I’ve never heard an American refer to it as Cottage Pie, even though I know that’s what it’s called across the pond.
I made this as my first attempt at shepherd’s pie. My brother and I ended up eating the whole thing in a few days. And I’m now addicted to Better than Bouillon.
I’m making it again this week for a family needing hot meals. This is the ultimate comfort food.
Yesss another Better than Bouillon convert! I’m totally obsessed with it too. And I may also be able to eat this entire thing over the course of a few days. Pure comfort food! Thanks for commenting Jen!
So would you recommend using boxed beef gravy AND better than boullion? Or just the better than boullion?
Thank you ❤️
Hey Tiffany! I would just use the better than bouillon, but that’s just because I’m more familiar with it.
What kind of Better Than Bouillon do you use with this? I’m seeing a lot of different bases.
Hey Lauren! I always use Better Than Bouillon Beef Base, it’s the best out there!
This is awesome recipe. One variation I put a layer of mashed potatoes on the bottom before
spreading the meat mixture. Spray the 9 X 13 in pan first then layer.
Great Job love it. Church Potluck family, Bible Study group all love this recipe
Chaas
Mashed potatoes on the bottom! That’s a fun idea! Thanks for the idea Charles!
One of my children declared this the “best dinner I’ve had in a long time!” It was delicious! And apparently my cooking hasn’t been as of late! 😂 My whole family enjoyed it. Score!
Haha! Nothing like children to keep your ego in check, right? I’m glad everyone loved it!
I make Shepherd’s pie, do NOT add peas or carrots. I hate carrots, so therefore they don’t belong on my table.
Hey Betty, fortunately this recipe is easily adaptable to other vegetables, you could try using corn or green beans! Enjoy!
Why sound so harsh? Geez! Don’t comment then. Just because it’s your personal preference. Make it without then and move along.
Hey, Karen. Long time. Just wanted to share with you if you have not tried the Chef John Korean Fried Chicken (thighs) recipe, it is a killer! He said it was his new favorite fried chicken recipe, so I had to try it. Of course, I doubled the recipe, so I could share it with my wife, show surprised me by saying she REALLY liked it (the sauce is close to a sweet and sour, but it is sweet with heat). So, I ate it for 2 days, making it in 2 different batches, not all cooked the first day. I also shared the last 6 quarter thighs and sauce with a fellow Veteran since he had not eaten yet. So, just google Korean Fried Chicken and if it is the one with Chef John’s video, that is the one. Looks like you are doing well. Peace.
Hey Bill! Korean fried chicken sounds amazing! I’ve never had anything like that! I will have to look it up and try it out. Thanks for the suggestion!!
Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe. I will try this to make my weekend holiday something special.
Recipe looks delicious but please know that according to my Irish friends and family, this is cottage pie, not shepherd’s pie. They are identical but, shepherd’s pie is made with lamb, while cottage pie is made with ground beef. Americans are pretty ubiquitous in making this mistake, but as a food writer please don’t perpetuate it :)
As an American food writer, I will totally perpetuate it! :) No one in the U.S. knows what you’re talking about if you call it Cottage Pie. Cooking with lamb is just not a thing here, in general. That means in America, the dish is called Shepherd’s Pie, even when made with beef :)
When the recipe said to use a large skillet they weren’t kidding!! I went for my usual larger than the majority pan and boy was it too small!! So make sure you honestly use the biggest skillet you have.
Good tip Jasmine! It’s true, this recipe is enough to feed a small army, haha! Thanks for commenting!
This is such a yummy recipe. I made a few batches (without the 5 lbs of potatoes) and froze it ready for a quick dinner when we need it.
I just need to add though, being of Scottish blood, I would never be allowed to call this Shepherds Pie. It’s Cottage Pie.
Shepherd is always ground lamb and Cottage is ground beef.
Either way, it’s fricken awesome!!
That’s a good idea to freeze without the potatoes Lorna! Smart.
And you are right, if you are Scottish or British, this is indeed Cottage Pie, but for us Americans, it’s Shepherd’s. :) Most Americans don’t use lamb in their cooking. And if you ask the average American about Cottage Pie they will have no idea what you are talking about :) I title my recipes according to what people are searching for on google, and I have a mostly American audience. So if I want to attract Americans who want Shepherd’s pie, that’s what I will title the recipe. Hope that makes sense!
Stick to your guns girl. I’m of Irish-Italian ancestors … however … my grandad when I asked our nationality told me we are Americans. He told me its been over 200 years so we are now a nationality, and while I am proud of my heritage I am more proud to be an American. I searched for Shepherd’s pie and can’t wait to try this. Have never cooked lamb in my life!!
Haha, yes!! Americans unite! I love that your grandad said that, it’s so true. I never cook with lamb either!! Enjoy the recipe Niki, thanks for chiming in!
Is that oregano sprinkling on top? It doesn’t say
Hey Sharon! It’s fresh parsley. Oregano would be good too!
Amazing!
Thanks Raylene!
Hey just to be clear, I can just use the Better than beef bouillon and water instead of beef broth?
I made this about a year ago and it’s perfect! Just can’t remember what I did with the broth.
Hey Sandra! Yes, Better than Beef bouillon and water is what I always use! Enjoy!!
Better then bouillon…..I assume you mean beef since it’s a beef dish, or ? Thanks
Also, what size pan do you recommend?
Hey Leia, yes I use Better Than Beef Bouillon! And I bake this in a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Enjoy!
At least you call yourself a charlatan…
Ha!! Why thank you Liz.
This recipe is DELICIOUS! So far I have made it twice. The first time I made it pretty close to recipe except I increased the ground beef to 2 lbs. I was shocked that I actually used all 5 lbs of potatoes. I caused a problem though when glopping in and spreading the potatoes where I got a bit of a crater in the middle of the dish and had some areas with very little meat to a mountain of potatoes. The second time I swung the ratio too far the other way when I increased the meat and decreased the potatoes. I fixed the crater issue by using a piping bag for the potatoes to apply them evenly and the second time and the rows of little potato mounds were really pretty.
I’m so glad you liked it Courtney! I remember thinking that the first time I made it…am I REALLY about to use 5 pounds of potatoes?? But yes, yes I did :) So glad you were able to work out the crater issue! Piping it would be pretty!
I loved this recipe so yummy !!!
Delicious Shepherds Pie. I grew up in Scotland so used Bisto instead of corn starch. Bisto gives the meat mixture a lovely brown colour and adds flavor too.
Had to google Bisto! Lots of others have commented that gravy mix is a good sub for the bouillon, but that’s a good idea to use it instead of cornstarch. Adds more flavor. Thanks for the tip Liz! Also thank you for being a Scot and not lecturing me about Shepherd’s vs Cottage pie. Haha! ;)
I’ve always thought it’s a bit rude and pedantic to quibble over cottage pie (beef) and shepherds pie (lamb). Small stuff indeed! Anyway, we used Bisto in stews, mince (ground beef), meat pies etc and it is fantastic stuff for gravy. Bisto also comes in turkey, chicken and I think lamb flavours now. Not sure how readily available it is in the US. I live in Canada and it’s available all over here. I’d bet Amazon has it.
Hey Karen, Have you ever use Kitchen Bouquet in your recipes, it can a rich beef flavor and color to your beef dishes. I do add it to my Shepard pies and to Salisbury steaks and beef stews and other things. :)
Hey Susan, no, I never have! That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing the tip!
I typically use yukon gold potatoes but what would you suggest for this recipe?
Hey Rachel! Any potato will work. I used Russet I think. Yukon would be good too!
Absolutely loved this Shepherd’s Pie recipe. I actually have never made it and wasn’t overly interested to be honest. We have a friend from Norway staying with us and she requested it for her birthday. I stuck pretty close to the recipe but since I had 2 pounds of ground beef I increased the veggies just a little. I ended up with a large 4.8 qt. casserole dish. We ate it for 4 days in a row and we still weren’t sick of it!! So Yummy!! I have to admit, although I love mashed potatoes, 5 pounds seemed extreme but it was not!! Thank you for this awesome introduction to Shepherd’s Pie! I won’t ever have to look for another recipe!
That is so awesome Linda! I’m so glad this was a hit for you guys, even the Norwegian! High praise indeed :) And I know, even when I was developing the recipe I was like, really Karen, 5 pounds?? but all the other recipes I tried I always wanted MORE POTATOES! Thanks so much for the feedback!
would love to try this, but need to downsize since there is only 2 of us. can yu help?
Well you can definitely cut the recipe in half and bake in an 8×8 or 9×9 pan. Then eat what you want, individually portion the rest, and freeze! That’s what I would do! hope you love it!
No, no, no! Shephed’s pie should never be made either with beef or peas and carrots. The true recipe calls for ground leftover roast lamb with a mashed potato covering. NO cheese, either!!!!
That is what I always hd in England……..
Hey Susan! This is an American Shepherd’s pie. Ground beef, peas, and carrots is what we use over here, with LOTS of cheddar on top :) I’ve never seen anyone in the US serve Shepherd’s pie with anything but ground beef. You can see additional commentary on the subject below the recipe on the Facebook comments. Hope this helps!
This is so super delicious. I made it for dinner. It just outstanding.
Just tried this today. Dont have ‘Better than Bouillon’ paste, so for the liquids I used Beef Consommé. Was too lazy to cook & mash potatoes, so I always have Sherriff’s Instant potatoes ( which frankly for this kind of dish is just FINE!) Anyway, the meal was SCRUMPTIOUS- have enough for another 2 meals each.
Great shortcut Janet! Good tip! Thanks for commenting!
I was dirt you mentioned kitchen bouquet. My mom always had that in our kitchen. Eager to try recipe.
Disregard error.where that came from is a surprise to me. I was surprised to see you mentioned kitchen bouquet.
coming from an Irish girl this is a great recipe!!!
Woohoo, thanks Meghan, high praise indeed!! :)
Absolutely love this recipe. Never made Shepherds pie and searched for the perfect recipe……so glad I found this one…..it will be my go to.
Thanks Lisa, I’m so glad you are happy with the recipe! It’s my favorite as well! It’s so nice when the search is over, right? :) Thanks for coming back to comment!
Made this over the weekend and it’s great, need to cut back on the potatoes a little tho.
I’m so glad you liked it Kelly! I’ll take your extra potatoes. Sit by me next time ;)
Really good flavors in the meat mixture and the potatoes. A few too many potatoes for my taste but that’s a simple fix. I froze half of it for a friend that had surgery and she said it was still really good after freezing.
Oh good, thanks for the info on freezing Nina! You’re the best! Thanks for the tip!
Absolutely excellent! A winner to all I gift this as a freezer meals. Many very happy new moms–thank you!
Oh that’s such a great idea Audra! Your new mom friends are so lucky to have you! This is the perfect postpartum food, too. FEED ME I’M NURSING. haha. Thanks for the review and comment!
I did this tonight, and just waiting for it to finish in the oven and it was Yum already!! The only difference I made was to make a roux and added 1 cup beef broth eyeballed about 1 1/2 tsp Worchestershire sauce. The rest of the can of beef broth went into the hamburger after I added the sauteed carrots, onion and celery. Topped with garlic mashed potatoes.
For the freezer question–could you freeze just the meat and veggie mixture and then when reheating it make the yummy potatoes fresh. Then pile them on the 15 to 20 minutes of reheating?
Genius Naomi! I think that would be the best way to do it! Let me know how it goes!
So yummy!! I made this last night because I am close to my due date and wanted yummy food to freeze. I have frozen shepherds pie before and it comes out pretty well. Not like freshly made but still yummy! It was possibly a little bit too much mashed potatoes for me (hard to imagine actually but still!) so I think next time I will use a pound less to have the right ratio of meat to potatoes. But the taste was DIVINE! I used buttermilk instead of milk because I still had some leftover and can recommend because it gives it a lighter taste.
Good idea with the freezing Andrea! You are so on top of things. I’m halfway done being pregnant so I’ve still got time, but historically I’ve been terrible about freezing meals in preparation. Thanks for coming back to comment! I’m so glad you liked it!
I am having surgery and would like to fill my freezer beforehand . Can I freeze this?
Hey Marcie! You could, but it won’t be as delicious. Something weird happens to mashed potatoes when you freeze them, and they usually need the help of stirring and more liquid to get them closer to a normal texture, but since you couldn’t stir them (since they are a layer in a casserole) I’m not sure how it would work out. This would be a great freezer meal instead: https://thefoodcharlatan.com/2015/08/13/easy-ravioli-lasagna-recipe/ Good luck with your surgery!
I use Bob Evans ready-made mashed potatoes for just about any meal; they are delicious. These would be a good last-minute choice to really cut time. And you can freeze the meat mixture and add the potatoes just before popping in the oven!
That’s a great idea Jeane! Saves a ton of time! Thanks for sharing your tip!
I just got my pie ready for tonight but I have to keep it in the refrigerator all day. What do you suggest for baking time and temp in this case? By the way, it already smells delicious! Thank you!
Hey Alyssa! If it’s going into the oven stone cold I would give it at least a solid 45-60 minutes at 350. You will know it’s hot all the way through when it’s bubbling. Enjoy!!
I’m dying of laughter over here of that photo of Char. That’s a look of terror. And NOW she wants her own pair of roller skates??
Gimme some of this shepherd’s pie stuff.
Karen this looks so delicious and that cheese on top though – yum!!
I was just thinking of making Shepherd’s pie the other day. This one looks amazing! All of those potatoes! Yes! You’re right-there are never enough potatoes. And the cheese on top looks great.
Never have i thought to myself, “there are too many potatoes.” haha! Thanks Amanda!
If you say “five pounds of mashed potatoes” ANYWHERE near the vicinity of my house, my dad will come running out drooling :) This Shepherd’s pie looks seriously next-level, especially with that cheesy topping. Such comfort food!
Haha! That’s basically how I react when people talk about cheesy potatoes too :)
I was the worst roller skater as a kid and still am today! I refuse to attach anything extra to my feet besides shoes and sometimes that is too much, lol!! Love shepherds pie and love lots of mashed potatoes!
That is a pretty good life rule I think Malinda, haha! Shoes or nothing!
Look at those mashed potatoes… :) Yummy!
i cannot rollerskate, ice skate, ski, or basically do anything where i don’t have complete control over my own limbs. but, growing up, rollerskating parties were totally A Thing, so i even had one or two despite the fact that i would only “skate” on the rug outside the ring (i.e. cling to the rail and try to walk in skates) while all my friends whizzed around like they were born with wheels. inexplicably, i did ask for and receive my own “skates” – those fisher price things that you could expand as your feet grew and they just velcro’d over your sneakers.
i also love shepard’s pie despite having something growing up that was not shepard’s pie even though my mom totally called it shepard’s pie. at the table there would be a dish of mashed potatoes, a dish of cooked ground beef, and a dish of frozen microwaved corn. you put the potatoes on your plate, then the beef on top, and then the corn on top of that. and then you were supposed to eat it, but much to my parents’ dismay, i first had to stir it all together thoroughly. voila, shepard’s pie! lol, NOT. but i did love it all the same. (we also had a similar “beef stroganoff” recipe that i still love, although i distinctly do not like “real” beef stroganoff now!)
Haha! Your mom is doing it right. That’s what I call lazy Shepherd’s pie. lol!! ps. I’m totally the one walking on the carpet too.
The recipe sounds great and I’ll try it soon, though I think I’d like a bit of celery and garlic in mine. We call it cottage pie if it includes beef, shepherds pie with lamb, which I think is better than the beef and almost worth cooking a leg of lamb just to be able to put the leftover meat in the shepherds pie.
Love your site, though I often can’t get the ingredients required (Better then Bouillion for example). Thanks a bunch!
Are you in the UK Alison? I’ve heard of Cottage Pie but I’ve never had it! Er wait I guess what I posted is Cottage Pie and so I’ve never had Shepherd’s Pie. Haha. I think a lamb version would be amazing! Maybe I will try it out! PS you can buy Better Than Bouillon online! I know Amazon has it :)
You can look for beef base.if your grocer dosent have it,check one that provides for restoraunts. Hope this helps! God bless !