Here’s a classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe 🥔🥩—hearty, comforting, and full of flavor.
Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the filling:
- 1 lb ground lamb (or beef if you prefer Cottage Pie)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef or lamb broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp thyme
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (optional, for thickening)
For the mashed potato topping:
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup milk (or cream for richer mash)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Optional: ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
1. Make the mashed potatoes
- Boil potatoes in salted water until tender (~15–20 minutes).
- Drain, then mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
2. Prepare the filling
- In a large skillet, cook onions, carrots, and celery in a little oil until softened (~5 minutes).
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Add ground lamb, breaking it up as it cooks, until browned.
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and flour (if using).
- Pour in broth and simmer 5–10 minutes until thickened.
- Stir in peas, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
3. Assemble
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread meat and vegetable mixture evenly in a baking dish.
- Top with mashed potatoes, spreading smoothly or creating peaks with a fork.
- Optional: sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top.
4. Bake
- Bake 25–30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and filling is bubbling.
5. Serve
- Let cool slightly before serving. Perfect with a side salad or steamed veggies.
Tips
- Use leftover mashed potatoes if you want a quicker version.
- For extra flavor, sauté the vegetables in butter and add a splash of red wine to the filling.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for 2–3 days and taste even better the next day.
If you want, I can also share a slow-cooker Shepherd’s Pie version where everything cooks together for extra flavor and less hands-on time.
Do you want me to share that?
