My Famous Homemade Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
A classic and comforting homemade Shepherd’s Pie featuring a savory ground beef or lamb filling with mixed vegetables, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and a golden baked cheese crust.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Filling
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 pounds ground beef or lamb
- 2 cups mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mashed Potato Topping
- 4 cups potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the assembled dish.
- Cook Onions and Garlic: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute to develop flavor.
- Brown Meat: Add ground beef or lamb to the skillet, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in mixed vegetables and cook for 5 minutes to slightly soften them.
- Add Flavorings: Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, dried thyme, and dried rosemary. Combine all ingredients well.
- Simmer: Reduce heat and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Spread the meat filling evenly into a baking dish.
- Cook Potatoes: While the filling simmers, place diced potatoes in a large pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
- Mash Potatoes: Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add milk, butter, salt, and pepper, then mash until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Pie: Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat filling in the baking dish. Optionally, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Cool and Serve: Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving to let the flavors meld and to avoid burns. Enjoy your homemade Shepherd’s Pie!
Notes
- Use ground lamb for a traditional Shepherd’s Pie, ground beef for a Cottage Pie.
- Feel free to customize the mixed vegetables according to preference or seasonal availability.
- For a richer mashed potato topping, add cream or sour cream instead of milk.
- Cheddar cheese topping is optional but adds a nice golden crust and extra flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
Keywords: Shepherd’s Pie, Homemade, Ground Beef, Lamb, Mashed Potatoes, Comfort Food, Baked Casserole
