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Easy Shepherd’s Pie is a comforting dinner that’s truly timeless! A mouthwatering mixture of veggies and beef (or lamb) meat is topped with store-bought mashed potatoes and browned to perfection in the oven in just 20 minutes. It’s a quick and easy casserole recipe that the whole family loves!
I’ve been making shepherd’s pie for years and every time cold weather strikes, I am instantly in the mood for this cozy comfort dish. There is just something about buttery, whipped mashed potatoes on top of a medley of veggies and meat with an incredibly rich and flavorful sauce enveloping it all. Stir it all together and you’ve got yourself a stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal to keep you warm all night!
Why You’ll Love This
- It’s so quick and easy. By using store-bought mashed potatoes, you’re really saving yourself a ton of time from peeling, boiling, and mashing potatoes. From start to finish, this easy recipe comes together in less than 45 minutes!
- Classic as can be. Shepherd’s pie is one of those entrees that’s known and loved by generations of people. It’s thought to have originated in Ireland and England sometime in the 1700s, and has only gained popularity in the centuries since then.
- SO comforting! Essentially, shepherd’s pie is a casserole dish that features a ground meat and veggie mixture beneath a layer of hearty mashed potatoes. It’s so warm, filling, and always a comfort.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Easy Shepherd’s Pie. Make sure to scroll down to view the full recipe for exact measurements.
- Yellow onion
- Ground beef or lamb
- Dried rosemary
- Dried thyme
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Worcestershire sauce
- Tomato paste
- Garlic
- All-purpose flour
- Beef broth
- Frozen peas and carrots
- Frozen corn
- Bob Evans mashed potatoes
How To Make Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Here’s a sneak peak of the step-by-step instructions for shepherd’s pie. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the full recipe.
Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F and let the mashed potatoes sit on the counter to adjust to room temperature.
Cook the ground meat. Sauté your onions in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the ground beef (or lamb), cook, and sprinkle in the spices.
Make it flavorful. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and garlic. Mix in the flour, making sure it’s incorporated before pouring in the beef broth.
Add the veggies. Stir in all of the frozen vegetables. Give everything a good mix, then remove the skillet from the heat.
Assemble. Pour the meat and veggie mixture into your casserole dish and spread it into an even layer. Top it off with a smooth layer of mashed potatoes.
Bake until browned. Pop the shepherd’s pie into the oven and bake for 20 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready to eat when the mashed potatoes are browned on top.
Substitutions and Variations
Don’t listen to too many shepherd’s pie purists out there. You can make your meal however you’d like!
- The meat choice is up to you. There are plenty who argue what a “real” shepherd’s pie is made with – beef or lamb. In my opinion, it’s your kitchen and you meal… you make the rules! Both options are valid and delicious. You can even make a mixture of half beef and half lamb if you’d like. Alternatively, ground turkey works great too!
- Change up the mashed potatoes. I prefer Bob Evans mashed potatoes because through my own trial and error, it’s proven to be the best store-bought brand. However, you can use whatever brand you prefer or make your own homemade potatoes.
Tips for Success
Want the best Easy Shepherd’s Pie every single time? Here are some quick tips for guaranteed success:
- Mix in the tomato paste thoroughly. No one wants a big chunk of thick tomato paste in their serving of shepherd’s pie! Avoid this mishap by thoroughly mixing in the tomato paste with the ground beef until it’s well incorporated.
- Make the potatoes easy to spread. Feel free to microwave the potatoes for a minute or two to make them easier to spread into a smooth top layer. They may be ready to go after sitting at room temperature for 20 minutes, but the microwave certainly helps them spread a bit easier.
- Broil the top for a more browned look. Yes, you can definitely broil your shepherd’s pie at the end of bake time if you want it to be even more browned! However, keep a very close eye on things. It’s very easy to burn just about anything when broiling.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Once the shepherd’s pie fully cools to room temperature, you can place it in an airtight container and keep it stored in the fridge for about 3-4 days. Feel free to reheat in the microwave or back in the oven until warmed all the way through. If you do choose to reheat your leftovers in the microwave, I recommend doing so in 30 second intervals so you don’t zap the life out of it on accident!
More Easy Casserole Recipes
Craving more comforting oven-baked dinners? You’ve come to the right place! Here are just a few of my all-time favorites:
Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 pound (454 g) 80/20 ground beef or ground lamb, you can also do half beef and half lamb
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 cup (237 ml) beef broth
- 1 cup (140 g) frozen mixed peas & carrots
- ½ cup (82 g) frozen corn kernels
- 24 ounce (680 g) tub of Bob Evans original mashed potatoes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and set out a 9×9 inch oven-safe casserole dish. Take the mashed potatoes out of the fridge to let it warm to room temperature.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add a little bit of cooking oil to the pan and cook the onion until translucent and softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the ground beef or ground lamb and break into smaller pieces. Add in the spices (dried rosemary, dried thyme, salt, and pepper) and stir to incorporate.
- Add in Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and garlic. Stir to incorporate and make sure the tomato paste is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Sprinkle all-purpose flour all over the mixture then stir to incorporate well before adding in beef broth. Once beef broth is added, add in frozen vegetables and give a good mix then remove from heat.
- Carefully pour mixture into casserole dish then take the mashed potatoes and spread evenly over top of the beef/lamb mixture. If the mashed potatoes are still hard to spread, pop in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes.
- Bake in oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until the mashed potatoes start to get browned on top. You can also broil the top of it for about 2-3 minutes after everything is done cooking if you prefer a little more color. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Wanted to have something different for my company, it was great!! MY husband made garlic bread for a .side dish and the meal was a hit. Would definily make this again
Easy is right! I made mine with ground beef, turned out amazing!