If you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner you have to try one of my favorite underrated weeknight meals; Shepherd’s Pie. I’ve been told this is called Shepherd’s pie, but i’ve also been told since posting that this is known as cottage pie, whatever it is guys’ it’s sooo good and SUPER easy to make.
This is a classic meat and potatoes dish. Made with tender ground beef (or lamb) simmered in a delicious sauce with mixed veggies. Then layered in a casserole dish, topped with cheese, creamy mashed potatoes and topped with more cheese. It’s baked in the oven until it’s bubbly and golden. It’s simple to make, affordable, and makes even better leftovers IF they last that long.
What is Shepherd’s Pie?
Shepherd’s Pie is a savory casserole dish that is made of minced meat or ground meat topped with a thick layer of mashed potatoes and cheese. In the United States, it’s known as Shepherd’s pie, in the UK this recipe is separated based on what is in the dish. IF it has ground lamb it is known as “Shepherd’s pie” and if it has ground beef it is called “Cottage pie”.
How to Make Shepherd’s Pie?
One of the reasons I love Shepherd’s recipe, is how easy it is to make. There are a few components to making it but it comes together easily and so worth it.
- Start by making your mashed potatoes since that takes the longest. Bring a pot of Yukon gold potatoes and 2 cloves of garlic to a boil. (I like to leave the skin on the potatoes, but you can peel the potatoes, if desired).
- Once the potatoes are fork tender drain the water. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, warm heavy cream, unsalted butter, 1-2 cloves of garlic, and herbs (I like to use a blend of rosemary, oregano, and chicken bouillon.
For the meat mixture
- Begin by browning the ground beef with the onion and garlic until fragrant. Season to taste.
- Make a well in the center of the ground beef and add the tomato paste. Allow it to caramelize for a few minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Once the tomato paste has caramelized, carefully pour in the water or beef broth to create the gravy. For a thicker gravy, stir in a tablespoon of flour before adding the liquid.
- Allow the sauce to simmer, then stir in the Worcestershire sauce and BBQ sauce for an extra layer of savory flavor.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Stir in the mixed vegetables and allow them to cook in the sauce for a few minutes until tender.
To assemble
- Add the layer of meat to the bottom of the casserole dish. Then add a layer of colby jack cheese.
- Spread a thick layer of the mashed potatoes, then top with a blend of mozzarella and Colby jack. Bake in a 375 degree oven until the cheese is melted about 20-25 minutes. Pop it on broil for 3-5 minutes to get a nice golden top. Remove from the oven, top with parsley and allow to cool for 10 minutes before cutting and enjoy!
Ingredients for Shepherd’s Pie
Ground beef: you can also use ground turkey or ground lamb.
Mixed veggies: I like to add peas and carrots to my meat.
Seasonings: I used a variety of pantry staples like onion powder, garlic powder, Beef bouillon, Italian seasoning and more!
Tomato paste: this is the base of the gravy.
Worcestershire sauce: adds a flavor boost.
Honey BBQ sauce: I like adding a touch of this to my gravy.
Olive Oil: use a good quality olive oil.
Onion: yellow onion
Potatoes: I like using either Yukon gold or red potatoes
Heavy cream: this makes the mashed potatoes extra creamy!
Garlic: used to flavor my mashed potatoes
Butter: unsalted.
What to serve with Shepherd’s Pie?
This is a meal in itself. Check out some of my favorite sides to serve it with
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad Recipe
- Soft Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe
- Easy Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Recipe Variations for this Shepherd’s Pie
While this recipe is perfect as-is, feel free to get creative! Here are some recipe suggestions:
Protein alternatives:
- Switch up the protein: Swap the ground beef for ground lamb or turkey. Ground lamb will also give you a more traditional Shepherd’s Pie.
- Add mushrooms: Sauté chopped mushrooms with the vegetables for extra savory flavor and texture.
- Make it with sweet potatoes: Swap the traditional mashed potato topping for mashed sweet potatoes for a sweet and savory twist.
More Pasta Recipes To Enjoy
Creamy Cajun Pasta
Spicy Harissa Pasta
Chicken Rasta Pasta
Million Dollar Stuffed Shells
Creamy Sausage & Kale Rigatoni
If you try my Weeknight Shepherd’s Pie I’d love to hear your feedback. Please be sure to leave a comment, and/or tag me on Instagram @cookwithci. I would love to see your recreations and hear your thoughts.
Weeknight Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Ground beef
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp beef bouillon
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Worcescshire sauce
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 cup mixed veggies
- 1 1/2 cup shredded colby jack
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
For the mashed potatos
- Yukon gold potatoes
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 tbsp sour cream
- 1/2 tsp chicken buillon
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp rosemary
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Clean and peel potatoes, or leave the skin on, if desired. Use a fork to poke a few holes throughout the potatoes.
- In a large pot of cold water, season with salt and bring potatoes and garlic cloves to a boil over high heat. Cook until fork tender, then drain.
- To a saucepan, warm up heavy cream and butter over medium heat. Season with chicken bouillon, oregano, rosemary and one garlic clove. Once the cream comes to a low simmer, remove from the heat and pour into the pot with the potatoes.
- Mash the potatoes with the butter/cream until smooth, then add in a scoop of sour cream and mix to combine. Season the potatoes with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Adjust according to taste.
For the ground beef
- In a saucepan sautè the ground beef. When it's almost cooked through, add in diced onions and cook until fragrant. Drain excess oil if needed, then mix in minced garlic and seasonings.
- Add the tomato paste to the center of the pan and allow it to caramelize slightly to deepen the flavor. Stir it into the ground beef, then add the water, Worcestershire sauce, and BBQ sauce. Mix until well combined, then stir in the mixed vegetables. Cook for about 6 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened.
- Transfer the ground beef mixture to the bottom of a casserole dish and spread into an even layer. Top with about 1/2 cup of shredded Colby jack cheese, followed by a thick, even layer of mashed potatoes. Sprinkle the remaining Colby jack and mozzarella over the top.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Then, switch the oven to broil and broil for an additional 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden. Be sure to keep a close eye on it while broiling to prevent burning.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool and set for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Did you make it?
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