Shepherd’s Pie is warm, hearty, and oh so delicious! This is a recipe the entire family will beg for time and time again!
It’s the time of year where Irish foods tend to grace tables across the United States. Shepherd’s Pie is a comfort food staple. We keep things simple with this classic recipe, and love to use ground lamb in lieu of ground beef. It is warm, inviting, and delicious. A grand salute to the Irish!
Do you prefer more veggies than meat? More meat than veggies? This recipe is quite forgiving and lets you adjust to your own personal tastes. We love the added texture the veggies give, but can’t deny the savory flavor of the meat. Give yourself a balanced ratio of both, and you’ll find yourself licking the plate clean.
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What is the difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage pie?
Oh the terminology of Shepherd’s Pie vs. Cottage Pie. There are some strong opinions out there. “Cottage pie” has been in use since 1791, when the potato was introduced as an edible crop affordable for the poor. The term “shepherd’s pie” has been used synonymously with “cottage pie” since 1877, regardless of the type of meat used, mutton or beef. More recently, the term “shepherd’s pie” has been used when the meat is lamb, and “cottage pie” when the meat is beef. We like to refer to it as a Shepherd’s Pie, no matter what meat goes inside of it.
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Do I have to use red meat?
We get it, not everyone can or likes to eat red meat. Red meat produces the best flavor for this dish whether you use ground beef or ground lamb, but ground turkey is acceptable as well.
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Make Ahead Instructions:
This is not a dish that should be made in its entirety ahead of time, simply because mashed potatoes do not reheat well. If you would like to save some time, you can make the meat and vegetable filling ahead of time and freeze or refrigerate until you’re ready to bake. If you choose to freeze, make sure the filling is fully thawed before baking. Continue on with the recipe and make the mashed potatoes fresh right before you’re ready to bake.
If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other casserole recipes:
- Creamy Chicken Casserole
- The Best Tuna Casserole
- Mom’s Chicken Pot Pie
- The Best Chicken and Rice Casserole
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes onYouTube,Facebook Watch, or ourFacebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
Can we substitute water for beef broth??
I made your Shepherd’s Pie today. It was so good. We ate it often when we lived in England and yours is the best. My husband who cares nothing about food, puts ketchup on bread and calls it a sandwich, raved about it. He had two big servings and said it was the best he has ever had. Now, that is a huge compliment.
Made this dinner, delicious, made with the beef, thank you.
So delish. Every bit was eaten. I always go to your recipes first because they are so good. Thank you Rachael.
Very good flavor.
Next time I prepare will prepare with more potatoes for better coverage. Also be sure to taste test for saltiness
Super easy and delicious! My pickiest granddaughter loved it. Thank you!
Best Shepard’s Pie Ever
Everyone loved it
Thank you for this recipe
Fantastic. Whole family enjoyed
This is the second time making this dish and it is perfect for my family just as it is. Thanks for sharing your great recipes.
Love, love, love Shepherd’s Pie. Not knocking this recipe but my mother (she was from New Brunswick) always made the gravy a little thicker. We used beef and pork, lots of onions and celery. When cooked and thickened, put in pan and we put all other vegetables (peas, corn, green beans, yellow beans, carrots) over the meat. We covered this with creamed corn. Then covered it all with the mashed potatoes. The cream corn just gave it a different taste all together! Yum!