Shepherd’s Pie (Cottage Pie)
This classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe will have everyone asking for seconds. It’s full of flavor and the creamy mashed potatoes make it extra delicious!
Your luck has just struck with my recipe for Shepherd’s Pie. The lovely folks of Ireland knew what they were doing when they created this dish. With flavorful meat and veggies at the bottom of a deep baking pan with a thick layer of mashed potatoes and cheese on top, what’s not to love? There is something for everyone with this dinner! The only thing that could make this meal more authentic than it already is, is if you serve a cold Guinness on the side.
WITH THIS MANY POTATOES, THERE WILL BE NO FAMINE IN YOUR KITCHEN
As mentioned earlier, there is a little something in this dinner for everyone. For me and my kids It’s the layer of mashed potatoes that tops the dish. Anytime I can incorporate this into one of my recipes, I know my kids will devour their dinner. Me too! For my husband, Kale it’s the base of the dish. Lean ground beef is sauteed with vegetables like peas, carrots, onions, and seasoning to bring out the full flavor. This recipe makes a TON of food as well. It’s also incredibly filling. We usually put at least half of the pan in the refrigerator to serve and eat the next day.
COTTAGE PIE VS. SHEPHERD’S PIE
There are probably some of you out there wondering what the difference is between the two. Authentic Shepherd’s Pie is traditionally served with lamb. This kind of wildlife was more accessible in Ireland at the time of its origin. If you and your family like the flavor profile of lamb, then I recommend going for it! Here in the Lofthouse we like to substitute ground beef for lamb in the recipe. This style of recipe can be called Cottage Pie. Honestly, if it tastes delicious then I couldn’t care less what dinner is called.
ENJOY THIS RECIPE? HERE ARE A FEW MORE OF MY INTERNATIONAL DINNER FAVORITES!
Szechuan Chicken – Tender bits of chicken sauteed with fresh vegetables in a gourmet teriyaki sauce.
Italian Herb Roasted Chicken – Juicy chicken that has been rubbed in a variety of Italian flavored herbs and spices that is cooked to perfection.
Easy Thai Noodles – Very simple and delicious Asian inspired noodle dish that is great for vegetarians and meat lovers.
Chicken Chimichangas – Fried burritos that are stuffed with flavorful chicken, rice, and beans.
Shepherd’s Pie (aka. Cottage Pie)
Ingredients
Potato Layer
- 3 large russet potatoes
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Meat Layer
- 2 pounds ground beef or lamb, turkey
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas and carrots
- 1/2 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Potato Layer
- Peel potatoes and chop into small pieces. Place chopped potatoes in a large pot of water. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender. (About 15 – 20 minutes)
- Drain water from pot. Mash the potatoes. Add butter, milk and garlic powder. Continue to mash until no lumps remain. Cover potatoes and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
Meat Layer
- In a large 12-inch skillet, over medium-high heat, add ground beef,onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook and crumble meat until browned. Drain grease.
- Sprinkle flour evenly over meat mixture. Stir and cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, broth, Worcestershire sauce and oregano. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in frozen peas, carrots and corn. Cook another 5 to 10 minutes or until heated through.
- Pour meat mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes evenly over the top. Top potatoes evenly with cheddar cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes until casserole is hot and bubbly. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
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Hi Holly! I’m new to your site. I have the Shepherd’s Pie in the oven right now. I know it will be delicious. Reading all the comments i wanted to share that growing up my mom always made a dish called Chinese Pie. The ground beef mixture was topped with canned cream corn & then the mashed potatoes. When i was married to my husband his mother who grew up in England would make a dish similar to your recipe & she would call it cottage pie. So… i went online to read up on the difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie. Traditionally Shepherd’s Pie was made with Lamb. Now it is made with any type of meat you like. Years ago i made a ” Shepherd’s Pie ” where i used curried lamb in it. I have also seen recipes for Shepherd’s Pie where you use sweet potatoes to top the casserole. Seeing as i don’t shepherd a herd of sheep i will call it whatever strikes my fancy….but usually i just call it Shepherd’s Pie. Oh, also when i went online to read up on Chinese Pie there was difference opinions on how it got it’s name. That was several years ago now. I think I’m going to revisit those sites! Oh….there goes my timer now! Bon Appétit!!
🙂 Thanks Lily!
Chinese Pie: That is the name used for the meat and corn topped with potato in Maine and other parts of New England. In Quebec it is Pate Chenoise. Some say it was called that because the French immigrants to USA first had the dish in China, Maine and took the recipe home with them….others attribute the name to the Chinese cooks on the railroad and lumber crews . This dish is very popular in Maine and NH and MA and RI….shows up at every pot luck.
Made this tonight and it turned out delicious. The kids ate it and asked for seconds. For my husband, instead of the potatoes, I did a mashed cauliflower on top (with some extra seasonings) and he loved it too!!! THANK YOU!
Can you freeze this?
Hi, yes you can definitely freeze Shepherd’s Pie! I would freeze it after it has been cooked. Some people don’t like the texture of the mashed potatoes after they have been frozen, but I don’t have a problem with it. To read more on freezing Shepherd’s Pie just Google it. Lots of good suggestions.
I should add that if you freeze in a glass baking dish it is important to let this dish thaw before putting in a hot oven, as the hot oven can cause a dish straight from the freezer to crack. Not good! I sometimes freeze casserole type dishes in those foil food containers with lids. Then just remove the lid before popping in the oven.
I made this for dinner last night! It was a huge hit! The only thing I changed was I doubled the sauce recipe because I like saucy shepherds pie. Thanks for a yummy recipe, it’s a keeper.
This sounds so good. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Can’t wait to give this a go.
Simon
Holly, is there something else I could substitute the flour for? My husband has to have gluten free.
Thanks
Hi Amy. So sorry for my late reply. I think you could try cornstarch instead of the flour and get great results. And honestly, you could probably do without either and this would still be delicious. Just the meat mixture wouldn’t be as thick. Hope this helps and let me know if you try it! 🙂
It turned out fantastic! I changed it only slightly, using corn starch (celiac) and seasoning salt, not plain salt. I also didn’t have frozen carrots or corn so used fresh carrots i cooked for a few minutes and canned corn. Will make again soon 🙂 🙂
Yay, Beretta! Glad it was a success for you 🙂
I made this last night and it was good! Can you freeze the leftovers?
I would say that you can freeze it. I have before anyway.
I wanted to make this for dinner tonight but don’t have tomato paste, is there anything I can substitute for it? Thank you
Hi, if you don’t have tomato paste, add a little ketchup
Made it tonight – fab and easy! Thank you!
Everybody seems to be so hard on the author of this recipe, over the silly name of the dish. I use to live in Ireland where Shepherd’s pie originated from. Both lamb and beef were used interchangeably in the dish, but it was always called Shepherd’s pie. Please stop being so hard on the author over a silly name. This is a tried and true recipe. Absolutely delicious and takes me back to when I lived in Ireland. Thank you for sharing.
Cannot wait to try this ! Sounds like a Devine Comfort Food for our Cold, wet weekend ahead …!
Thank U …!
I’m from England and we always called it Shepherds Pie regardless of the meat involved
This is a delicious recipe and tastes just how my mother and grandmother made it
Definitely a keeper
I love shepherd’s pie or cottage pie. I eat it every time I am in Britain. I made it today at home with pork/beef mince (lamb wasn’t available) and added chopped green olives with pimento. Even my wife said it was delicious, She is normally rather fuzzy about everything with meat, so I soaked up the praise.
Thank’s a lot for this wonderful recipe.
Bo
I usually use beef or lamb but your alternative of turkey is a also good idea! May try that one day.
Your alternative of using turkey is also a good idea. May try that one day.
Always have this around.i live alone and freeze it in small casserole dishes to avoid eating it for a week. Suggest cooking the meat in the oven,keeps stove top cleaner.always top with cheese as this livens up the topping.
.
Does it matter what type of flour you use? all-purpose or self rising?
I always use all-purpose
Just made this and it’s delicious!! I don’t care what the name is–it’s good. Why get ruffled over a title? The food’s certainly not going to care once it’s in you.
This recipe is a winner in my house! We have a big family so i always double it and make two. Most of the time both are gone the same night!! When there are leftover they are sooooo good!! I’ve made this once a week for about 2 months now 🙂
I made this tonight and it was a huge hit! However, I cheated with the potato layer which made recipe easier. I bought Bob Evans family size original mashed potatoes. Made the potatoes as decided on the container. Then spread them over beef mixture! Easy and wonderful!
Fantastic recipe, my kids even like it, veggies and all. Great tasting SHEPHERDS PIE aka cottage pie. Thanks, Jim
I was looking for a healthier version of shepherd’s pie without cream of mushroom soup. Making this tonight! Looks yummy! Thanks for the recipe!
I made a (mostly) vegetarian one with green lentils and bulger wheat cooked in beef/mushroom broth, to replace the ground beef. Lots of veggies (cleaned out the fridge)and definitely add nutmeg! adds some complexity. Would be great with just a rich mushroom broth.
Growing up in NEW England it was always called Shepherd’s Pie even when made with beef. I will use your recipe for the first time tonight. It appears political correctness is now flavoring pie.