My Shepherds Pie Recipe with Ground Beef is an easy comfort meal that features fragrant herbs, tender beef, and a mashed potato topping. It’s made in one skillet, and baked in the oven to a delicious golden brown.
I love comfort food, if you do too, try my beef pot pie with biscuits and this homemade turkey pot pie.
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Why this Ground Beef Shepherds Pie Recipe is a Keeper
This easy recipe is made with ground beef, vegetables and prepared mashed potatoes.
- 30 Minute Meal: This shepherds pie with ground beef recipe only takes 30 minutes to make with this easy to follow recipe.
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients in this shepherds pie casserole can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store. It is a favorite of my boys wh love meat and potatoes.
- Adaptable Fantastic Recipe: Easily adjust the ingredients in this easy shepherd pie recipe to your tastes and dietary needs.
What is the Difference Between Cottage Pie and Shepherd’s Pie?
Cottage pie and shepherd’s pie are similar recipes, although a traditional shepherd’s pie uses ground lamb instead of beef. This recipe is actually closer to a cottage pie.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie Ingredient Notes
This is not a classic shepherd’s pie recipe not like the Irish shepherd’s pie which is made with lamb. However this recipe for shepherd’s pie is a real family favorite.
- Lean Ground Beef: This comfort food recipe calls for ground beef, but you can also make it with ground turkey or even lamb for the shepherd pie.
- Mash Potatoes: Make your own creamy mashed potatoes ahead of time using a potato masher, or use instant mashed potatoes.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Casserole with Beef and Mashed Potatoes Prep Ahead Suggestions
- Ground Meat filling: This can be made 1-2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. The flavors often meld and improve over time for the shepherd pie.
- Make the Mashed potatoes: These can also be made a day ahead. For best results, use a good amount of butter and cream. Store them in the refrigerator and gently reheat before assembling the pie.
- Vegetables: Chop your onions, carrots, and celery in advance and store them in the refrigerator until ready to bake the shepherd pie
Pro Tip to Love this Recipe
A small amount of tomato paste or a pinch of sugar can balance the savory flavors.
How to Make Shepherds Pie Casserole
These are the basic steps for making shepherd’s pie with beef. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions. This pie is the ultimate comfort food.
1. Cook the Beef Mixture
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat; add ground beef, onion, garlic, all purpose seasoning, thyme, and rosemary. Cook until beef is cooked through.
2. Add the Flour
Drain excess fat from the pan and stir in flour. Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add the Vegetables and Bake
Stir in the peas and carrots. Then, add cheddar cheese to the mashed potatoes. Spread the potatoes on top of the beef mixture and bake for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are browned.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Shepherd Pie
- Storing: Store leftover shepherd’s pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheating: Reheat leftover easy shepherd’s pie recipe in the oven and bake or microwave until warmed through.
- Using Leftovers: Leftover shepherd’s pie should be good for about 3-5 days.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Guinness: Change the flavor by adding some Guinness beer to your sauce. You can also add some gravy over the mashed potatoes on top.
- Make Individual Casseroles: Serve in individual casserole dishes for presentation.
- Cauliflower: Top with cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes.
- Vegetables: Add other vegetables, such as corn, peas or green beans.
- Seasoning: Try extra worcestershire sauce for an extra kick.
Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie Recipe FAQs
Serve this recipe with Irish soda bread, potatoes with gruyere, or caramelized onion dip. You can also serve it alongside chicken pot pie or other savory pies.
This recipe works well with ground beef or lamb.
Bake for 15 minutes. If the potatoes are not brown enough, bake in 5 minute increments to keep them from overcooking.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
I love this recipe as written. However, you can change it up with these expert tips. You can use garlic mashed potatoes, use ground beef or ground lamb and the vegetables that you enjoy.
- Browning is Key: Don’t rush the browning of the ground beef. Do it in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, which leads to steaming instead of browning. Deeply browned meat equals deeper flavor.
- Flavor Bomb Base: Sauté your onions, carrots, and celery (the holy trinity of many savory dishes) in the same pan you browned the meat in. This utilizes the fond (the browned bits at the bottom) for extra richness. Cook them until softened and slightly caramelized.
- Warm is the Way: Warm your milk or cream and butter before adding them to the mashed potatoes. This helps them incorporate smoothly and prevents the potatoes from becoming gluey.
More Recipes You Might Like
Shepherds Pie Recipe with Ground Beef
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Equipment
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 1 medium Onion, diced
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1 teaspoon Dried Rosemary
- 2 tablespoons Flour
- 1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 cup Beef Broth
- 1 cup Frozen Peas and Carrots
- 4 cups Mashed Potatoes, prepared
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
- Add ground beef, onion, garlic, House Seasoning Blend, thyme and Rosemary; cook until beef is cooked through.
- Drain excess fat from the pan.
- Stir in flour.
- Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir peas and carrots into the beef mixture.
- Add cheddar cheese to prepared mashed potatoes.
- Spread potatoes on top of beef mixture.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until potatoes are lightly browned.
Christina’s Notes
- Browning is Key: Don’t rush the browning of the ground beef. Do it in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, which leads to steaming instead of browning. Deeply browned meat equals deeper flavor.
- Flavor Bomb Base: Sauté your onions, carrots, and celery (the holy trinity of many savory dishes) in the same pan you browned the meat in. This utilizes the fond (the browned bits at the bottom) for extra richness. Cook them until softened and slightly caramelized.
- Warm is the Way: Warm your milk or cream and butter before adding them to the mashed potatoes. This helps them incorporate smoothly and prevents the potatoes from becoming gluey.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
I have made this 2 times. Blew me
away how great this is. The first time I cooked it I needed to sub something for beef broth and I chose a can or 1 cup of French onion soup. That version, using FO soup was my family favorite. I did use instant mash potatoes, frozen veg medley cooked 3/4 the time in the microwave, and was amazed by the flavor 👍🏻 Sharing this recipe to my family.
So glad that you and your family enjoy it!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
This takes me back to my childhood and I love that it’s made on the stove top!
Definitely a kid favorite and I loved how easy it was to whip up!
Shepards pie is one my son’s favorite meals. He loved this easy version. Thanks!
Tasted really good and delicious! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing shepherds pie recipe! Will surely have this again! Loved it!
This was delicious. Shepherd’s pie is such a great comfort food. This one was nice and easy!
I thought this recipe was great! Only thing I’m curious about is what size casserole dish you used. You never discussed transferring the beef mixture to a baking dish. I had several to choose from, but went with the 9×13. I’d wished I’d used the small one.
So tasty! And easy to make, too! I love your tip to use pre-made mashed potatoes, that really streamlined the prep for me. Thanks!
Love, love, love Shepherd’s Pie and this is a delicious and easy recipe we all loved! I’d give it 10 stars if I could! It’s that good!
I just make this and put in the freezer for an easy dinner for my family while I’m out of town. Comfort food is always a hit in our house!
I have never had shepherds pie, but it looks delicious and total comfort food for a cold night.
We love Shepherds Pie. This recipe will be made often!!
This was amazing – I must admit though the second time I made it I switched out the Ground Beef for Minced Lamb and it tasted as good if not more like the pub shepherd’s pies I’ve had before.
This shepherd’s pie recipe is amazing! It was mouthwateringly delicious. It’s not only a great comfort food recipe for the fall and winter months, but it’s absolutely perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
I love a good one-pot meal! My son is in full agreement with your son and thinks this is one of the best meals!
These boys have good taste!
Christina this looks delicious! I know this recipe will be a hit at my house both for it’s ease and it flavor!
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
This was delicious! I have never been a Shepard’s Pie kinda girl, even though my husband LOVES it because I am not a big dough eater. However, this has a thin top layer, so it was perfect for my tastes and my husband loved it, too! Yum! Thanks for sharing!!
I could eat Shepherds Pie any day of the week and I especially love that this one only takes 30 minutes! Perfect for an easy weeknight meal 🙂
I’m all about quick and easy…and DELICIOUS! 🙂 Enjoy!
My kids love shepherds pie. Although in England shepherd pie is always made with ground lamb (hence shepherd in the name) and cottage pie is made with ground beef.
So funny how languages change country to country 😀
I love the inclusion of cheese over the mash :.
I had no idea there was a different name for the beef version. I noted in the post that you’re supposed to use lamb but my family prefers beef. And, cheese makes everything better in my book 🙂