Easy Shepherd's Pie

This shepherd's pie is a classic casserole of Britain and Ireland done American-style.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated October 20, 2023
Elise Bauer

Shepherd's pie comes to us from England, and is traditionally made with lamb or mutton. Here in the states we are more of a beef eating culture than a lamb eating one, and when one is served "shepherd's pie" here, it is most often made with ground beef.

What Is Shepherd's Pie?

In England (and Australia and New Zealand) they would call the beef dish a "cottage pie" and the lamb dish "shepherd's pie".

Regardless of what you call it, a shepherd's pie is basically a casserole with a layer of cooked meat and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes, and baked in the oven until the mashed potatoes are well browned.

A piece of shepherds pie on a plate with a fork.

Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

When you dig in you get a spoonful of mashed potatoes, some crispy bits, meat, and vegetables all in one bite. It's pure comfort food.

What follows is a simple recipe for a ground beef version of Shepherd's Pie. The original recipe comes from my friend Frances Hochschild, and her mother (thanks Frannie!).

Recipe Variations

  • Put a layer of creamed corn between the ground beef and the mashed potatoes.
  • Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the top of the mashed potatoes before baking.
A casserole dish with a piece of shepherd's pie removed.

Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

Make It Ahead

The beef mixture can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Or make the whole casserole ahead, cover the dish with plastic wrap, and store in the fridge for up to a day. Let it sit out on the counter while the oven preheats, then add a few minutes to the bake time.

Freezing Shepherd's Pie

You may be concerned about freezing shepherd's pie because potatoes don't always do well in the freezer. Because of the added fat in the mashed potatoes, this casserole freezes really well. Freeze for up to 3 months using the instructions in the link below.

More Ways to Eat Shepherd's Pie

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Easy Shepherd's Pie

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 65 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

  • 3 large (1 1/2 to 2 pounds) potatoes , peeled and quartered

  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, divided

  • 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)

  • 1 to 2 cups mixed vegetables, such as diced carrots, corn, or peas

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground round beef

  • 1/2 cup beef broth

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • Pepper and/or other seasonings of choice

Method

  1. Boil the potatoes:

    Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in medium sized pot. Cover with at least an inch of cold water. Add a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until tender (about 20 minutes).

  2. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  3. Sauté the vegetables:

    While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large sauté pan on medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until tender, about 6 to 10 minutes.

    If you are including vegetables, add them according to their cooking time. Carrots should be cooked with the onions, because they take as long to cook as the onions do.

    If you are including peas or corn, add them toward the end of the cooking of the onions, or after the meat starts to cook, as they take very little cooking time.

    Sauteing vegetables to make easy shepherds pie recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
  4. Add the ground beef, then the Worcestershire sauce and broth:

    Add ground beef to the pan with the onions and vegetables. Cook until no longer pink. Drain the pan of excess fat, if necessary (anything more than 1 tablespoon). Season with salt and pepper.

    Add the Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. Bring the broth to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, adding more beef broth if necessary to keep the meat from drying out.

    Taste the cooked filling and, if needed, add more salt, pepper, Worcestershire, or other seasonings of your choice.

    Ground beef and vegetables in a skillet to make the filling for a shepherds pie recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
    Beef broth added to the skillet to make a shepherds pie recipe.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
  5. Mash the cooked potatoes:

    When the potatoes are done cooking (a fork can easily pierce), remove them from the pot and place them in a bowl with the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. Mash with a fork or potato masher, taste, and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.

    Mashing potatoes in a glass bowl for shepherds pie.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
  6. Layer the meat mixture and mashed potatoes in a casserole dish:

    Spread the cooked filling in an even layer in a large baking dish (such as a 9 x 13-inch casserole.

    Spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the ground beef. Rough up the surface of the mashed potatoes with a fork so there are peaks that will get well browned. You can even use a fork to make creative designs in the mashed potatoes.

    Overhead view of the ground beef filling for shepherds pie in a white casserole dish.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
    A casserole dish with shepherds pie in it and ready to be baked.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
  7. Bake:

    Place in a 400°F oven and cook until browned and bubbling, about 30 minutes. If necessary, broil for the last few minutes to help the surface of the mashed potatoes brown.

    (Be careful when broiling using Pyrex or glass dishes, they have been known to shatter under the high heat of the broiler. It's not a worry if you are using a ceramic or metal casserole dish.)

    Did you love the recipe? Leave a comment and give us some stars below!

    Shepherd's pie in a white casserole dish.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
865 Calories
50g Fat
51g Carbs
54g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 865
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 50g 64%
Saturated Fat 25g 123%
Cholesterol 212mg 71%
Sodium 1031mg 45%
Total Carbohydrate 51g 18%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 54g
Vitamin C 43mg 214%
Calcium 107mg 8%
Iron 8mg 43%
Potassium 2007mg 43%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.