Easy Shepherd’s Pie
This easy shepherd’s pie is simple to make and makes great leftovers. This is a delicious supper that my whole family enjoys!
If I’m looking for a supper that I know our whole family loves, this one is my go-to! It’s delicious, comforting, and you can use any leftover veggies you happen to have on hand. Serve it with a green salad with balsamic dressing and you have a yummy meal!
Ingredients
- yellow potatoes
- carrots
- olive oil
- red onion
- ground beef
- frozen or fresh peas
- salt & pepper
- flour
- beef broth
- milk
- butter
- cheddar cheese, shredded
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of water and add the potatoes. Cook for 20 minutes or until soft.
- Meanwhile, add the olive oil to a large, hot pan on medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and sautee until the onion is clear.
- Add the lean ground beef and cook until the beef is browned thoroughly.
- To the pan, add the diced carrots, peas and salt & pepper. Cook & stir for 10 minutes.
- Add the flour and beef broth to the pan and stir until thickened.
- Pour the beef mixture into a 9 x 13″ casserole dish.
- Drain the potatoes and add the milk, butter and salt. Mash the potatoes.
- Spread the mashed potatoes over the meat mixture.
- Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the potatoes.
- Bake the shepherd’s pie for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Hint: you can used leftover mashed potatoes from a previous meal in the week to save time!
Substitutions
- Ground beef – instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey or ground pork
- Vegetables – swap out some of the veggies with any that you have on hand that are in season like chopped bell pepper, chopped beans etc.
- Vegetarian – the ground beef can be replaced with a plant-based ground to make this vegetarian (omit the cheese)
- Rice version – I’ve even swapped the mashed potatoes out with cooked rice for a rice version of this dish!
Equipment
You’ll need an oven and a 9 x 12 casserole dish for this shepherd’s pie recipe.
Storage
Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Top tip
This makes fabulous leftovers or a gift to a family that could use a home-cooked meal!
FAQ
Traditional shepherd’s pie is a British comfort food, and is usually made with ground lamb. I’ve always made ours with ground beef as its more widely available here in Western Canada.
Shepherd’s pie goes well with a side of green salad, but you can also serve it with bread, biscuits, or more roasted vegetables.
You can use a meat thermometer and place it in the center of your shepherd’s pie to see if it’s done cooking. It should read at least 165 degrees F.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 4 large yellow potatoes peeled & quartered
- 2 large carrots peeled & diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- ¼ cup red onion diced
- 1 lb ground beef extra lean
- 1 cup peas frozen or fresh
- salt & pepper to taste
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 cup beef broth
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of water and add the potatoes. Cook for 20 minutes or until soft.
- Meanwhile, add the olive oil to a large, hot pan on medium heat. Add the diced onion and sautee until the onion is clear.
- Add the lean ground beef and cook until the beef is browned thoroughly.
- To the pan, add the diced carrots, peas and salt & pepper. Cook & stir for 10 minutes.
- Add the flour and beef broth to the pan and stir until thickened.
- Pour the beef mixture into a 9 x 13" casserole dish.
- Drain the potatoes and add the milk, butter and salt. Mash the potatoes.
- Spread the mashed potatoes over the meat mixture.
- Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the potatoes.
- Bake the shepherd's pie for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
