Description
This classic easy shepherd’s pie recipe is a hearty and comforting dish perfect for winter or St. Patrick’s Day. It features a savory ground lamb or beef filling cooked with fresh vegetables and herbs, topped with creamy mashed potatoes, and baked to golden perfection. Simple to prepare and made using everyday ingredients, it’s a satisfying main course for family meals.
Ingredients
Potato Topping
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup butter
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Meat Filling
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1½ pounds ground lamb or ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth (use beef broth if using ground beef)
- 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Boil Potatoes: Place peeled and quartered potatoes in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 13 to 15 minutes until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Mash Potatoes: Drain potatoes and return to the pot. Add milk, butter, salt, and pepper, then mash until smooth and creamy.
- Preheat Oven and Sauté Aromatics: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Heat oil in a large oven-safe sauté pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Cook Vegetables and Meat: Add diced carrots, celery, and ground lamb or beef to the pan. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, for 8 to 10 minutes until meat is browned and vegetables are slightly softened.
- Simmer Filling: Drain excess fat. Stir in chicken or beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for approximately 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Add Peas and Flatten Filling: Stir in frozen peas. Turn off heat and use the back of a spatula to spread the meat mixture evenly in the pan.
- Top and Spread Potatoes: Spoon mashed potatoes over the meat filling and spread evenly to the edges. Optionally texture the surface with a fork or spoon for a rustic look.
- Bake Shepherd’s Pie: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the topping is slightly golden. For a browned crust, broil the top for 1 to 2 minutes if desired.
Notes
- To make this recipe vegetarian or vegan, substitute the ground lamb with mushrooms and lentils.
- Ghee can be used instead of butter and non-dairy milk can replace regular milk for a dairy-free version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British, Irish
