Beef Shepherd’s Pie

With our few easy shortcuts, you can have this hearty Homemade Shepherd’s Pie on the table in under an hour. Layered with savory ground beef, tender veggies, and fluffy mashed potatoes, this dish is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for a cozy family meal. 

 

This Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie Makes for a Cozy Dinner

Shepherd’s pie is an old-fashioned comfort food dish that has been enjoyed for years as a classic family favorite. It’s made with layers of savory ground meat, a vibrant medley of vegetables, and, of course, creamy mashed potatoes. It’s a casserole-style dish that’s a complete meal in one and is perfect for cold winter nights or anytime you’re craving something hearty.

While there are many variations of shepherd’s pie available at restaurants and in frozen food aisles, nothing beats the homemade version. What makes this one even better is that very little slicing or dicing is required. We use store-bought mashed potatoes and frozen veggies for the filling. This is a big-time saver, allowing you to get dinner on the table in under an hour.  

If you love casseroles with meat, potatoes, and vegetable filling, you should also check out this Chicken Pot Pie recipe. Another meat and potato favorite that your entire family will devour is this easy Beef Stew.

Why We Love This this Shepherd’s Pie with Beef

• Easy recipe – This amazing recipe is super easy to make with basic ingredients, perfect for busy weeknights. 
• Kid-friendly – Loaded with beef and potatoes, the whole family will love this dish, even the little ones.
• Great recipe for meal prep – The potato and meat filling freezes well, making it a great freezer meal to keep on hand. 

Recommended Tools

• 11 x 7-inch baking dish 
• Large skillet 
• Spatula
• Wood spoon
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Colander
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife

Beef Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients

• Refrigerated mashed potatoes – you can use homemade mashed potatoes, but the refrigerated ones work just as well.
• Olive oil – need to sauté the onion.
• Yellow onion – diced into the same-sized pieces as the rest of the veggies. 
• Lean ground beef – I prefer to use 85/15 but you can use what you find on sale. 
• All-purpose flour and beef broth – combined and cooked to create a rich, savory sauce.
• Frozen mixed vegetables – we used the bag with diced carrots, peas, and corn.   
• Tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce – added to give the casserole more robust flavors.  
• Salt and black pepper- basic seasonings.
• Fresh parsley – optional for an added garnish.

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and instructions.

How to Make Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef

Step One: Prepare the Mashed Potatoes

• Preheat the oven to 375° F. Grease an 11 x 7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
• Cook mashed potatoes according to package instructions. Set aside.

Step Two: Sauté the Onion 

• In a large sauté pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion in the oil for about 5 minutes, occasionally stirring with a wooden spoon, until it becomes soft. 

Step Three: Cook the Beef and Gravy Mixture

• Brown ground beef in the same skillet for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s completely cooked. Drain any excess fat.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the broth or beef stock and flour. Add the broth to the beef mixture and bring it to a boil. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until it thickens.

Step Four: Add the Veggies

• Add the mixed vegetables, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper into the skillet. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are heated through.

Step Five: Assemble the Casserole

• Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
• Then, spread the creamy mashed potatoes over the top and smooth them out into an even layer with a rubber spatula. 

Step Six: How Long to Bake Shepherd’s Pie with Beef

• Bake the shepherds pie for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Last step, garnish with fresh, chopped parsley before serving.

Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie Variations

• Mashed potatoes – Leftover mashed potatoes are great to use in this recipe, or you can buy refrigerated mashed potatoes. Bob Evans is a good brand.
• Sweet potatoes- For a little sweetness, you could do mashed sweet potatoes on top.
• Cheeses – Feel free to top the potatoes with cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese. 
• Red wine – For an added depth of flavor, you can deglaze your pan after sautéing the onion, with some red wine. Allow it to simmer until it reduces, and the alcohol cooks off. 
• Irish twist – Pour a splash of Irish stout (like Guinness) into the beef mixture as it cooks for a rich sauce. 
• Low-carb version – If you’re watching your carbs, you can swap the mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower. 
• Other sauteed veggies – You can add other sauteed vegetables, such as mushrooms, diced bell peppers, green beans, or zucchini.

Storing Shepherd’s Pie with Beef

Keeping Leftovers in the Fridge

If you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freezing Homemade Shepherd’s Pie

You can also freeze this casserole for up to three months. Wrap the dish in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. Make sure to label the outside with the date you froze it. 

How to Reheat this Shepherd’s Pie Recipe with Ground Beef

To reheat, first, thaw in the fridge overnight. Then you can either reheat each serving in the microwave or place the whole dish in a 350° oven, just until warm.

What to serve with Beef Shepherd’s Pie

• Simple side salad
• Crusty bread with butter
• Sauteed spinach
• Roasted vegetables like broccoli, green beans, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts.

 What’s the Difference in Cottage Pie and Shepherd’s Pie?

The main difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie is the meat. The original recipe for Shepherd’s pie uses ground lamb, whereas cottage pie uses ground beef. In America, ground beef is much more readily available, so over time, the ground beef version began to be known as shepherd’s pie. 

How to make Shepherd’s Pie with Beef in Advance

You can assemble this easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe up to 1 day in advance. Store it in the fridge overnight, and then let it come to room temperature (about 20-30 minutes) before baking. 

Tips for Making Homemade Shepherd’s Pie

• If the store-bought potatoes do not seem creamy enough, you can add about half of a block of softened cream cheese, plenty of butter, or some sour cream. Give them a good whisk until nice and fluffy.  They will be the creamiest mashed potatoes that taste just like ones made from scratch. 
• If the filling seems too runny, just add a little more flour to the ground beef mixture as it cooks.
• For the best shepherd’s pie, if you’re using fresh veggies, you’ll want to sauté them until tender because the whole dish only bakes for 20 minutes. 
• If you decide to use homemade mashed potatoes, make sure you use a starchy potato like russet or Yukon gold.
• If you have a large oven-safe skillet, you can make this dish all in one pan instead of pouring it into a baking dish. 

More Hearty Dinner Ideas

• Slow Cooker Pickle Chicken
• Homemade Chicken Alfredo
• Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs
• Leftover Turkey Casserole
• Fajita Burgers
• Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Pasta Shells
• Beef and Broccoli
• Easy Taco Bake with Crescent Rolls