Classic shepherd's pie recipe (2024)

  • 15 Ingredients
  • 4 Method Steps

15 Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

  • 1 brown onion, halved, finely chopped

  • 1 carrot, peeled, finely chopped

  • 2 celery sticks, trimmed, finely chopped

  • 1 tbsp Coles Tomato Paste

  • 500g lamb mince

  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tbsp plain flour

  • 500ml (2 cups) Massel beef style stock

  • 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 4 (about 200g each) desiree potatoes, peeled, chopped

  • 40g butter

  • 125ml (1/2 cup) milk

  • Melted butter, to brush

  • Select all ingredients

4 Method Steps

  • Heat oil (1 tbsp olive oil) in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion (1 brown onion, halved, finely chopped), carrot (1 carrot, peeled, finely chopped) and celery (2 celery sticks, trimmed, finely chopped) and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until soft. Add lamb mince (500g lamb mince) and cook, stirring to break up any lumps, for 5 minutes or until lamb changes colour.

  • Add the flour (2 tbsp plain flour) and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until combined. Add stock (500ml (2 cups) Massel beef style stock), bay leaf (1 bay leaf), Worcestershire sauce (1 tbsp worcestershire sauce) and tomato paste (1 tbsp Coles Tomato Paste). Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until sauce thickens. Taste and season with salt and pepper (Salt & freshly ground black pepper).

  • Meanwhile: cook potato (4 (about 200g each) desiree potatoes, peeled, chopped) in a saucepan of salted boiling water for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain well. Return to the pan with the butter (40g butter). Use a potato masher or fork to mash until smooth. Add milk (125ml (1/2 cup) milk) and use a wooden spoon to stir until combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

  • Preheat oven to 200C. Spoon lamb mixture into a 2L (8-cup) capacity ovenproof baking dish, or use four individual ovenproof serving dishes. Top with mashed potato and use a fork to spread over lamb mixture. Brush with butter (Melted butter, to brush). Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until mashed potato is golden brown. Serve immediately

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Recipe Notes

What is traditional shepherd's pie made of?

Traditionally, shepherd's pie is made with lamb mince, vegetables and mashed potato. The meat is added to an aromatic combination of softened carrot, onion and celery, known in French cooking as a mirepoix, which is then loosened up with stock, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and bay leaves to make a tasty gravy. This mixture is then topped with mashed potato and baked to bubbling, golden perfection.

What is the difference between cottage pie and shepherd's pie?

Cottage pie is very similar to shepherd’s pie (they're both topped with creamy mashed potatoes) but with one main difference - cottage pie uses beef mince (ground beef) instead of lamb (ground lamb) as its meat mixture. You can swap the lamb for ground beef in this recipe should you wish, or try our cottage pie recipe that’s on the table in 45 minutes.

We use a beef stock (or beef broth) to make shepherd's pie with this recipe (to further flavour the meat mixture), but you can use a homemade beef broth if you're feeling ambitious or have some on hand.

What to eat with shepherd’s pie?

Shepherd’s pie is hearty and filling, so it balances well with vegetable sides like garlicky green beans, balsamic roasted brussel sprouts and minted peas with broccoli. Crusty bread or Irish soda bread also makes for a good side to mop up the delicious gravy. You can serve shepherd's pie as a whole meal (it's a great leftover lunch too), if you like, as it's full of everything you need to complete your meal - protein, carbs and vegies.

How can I thicken my shepherd's pie?

This shepherd's pie recipe uses 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the gravy but if you feel like the meat mixture is too watery, add in another tablespoon and stir to combine. You may also try simmering the mince mixture for longer so that the stock reduces down and thickens. Finally, ensure that you have drained your potatoes well before mashing to avoid watery mashed potatoes.

Can I freeze shepherd’s pie?

Assemble your shepherd's pie filling and mashed potatoes in the baking dish or casserole dish, and allow to cool completely. Cover with cling film and freeze. The shepherd's pie will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat it, defrost it in the fridge overnight, and then follow recipe instructions for baking your shepherd's pie in the oven.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrition per Serving

%Daily Value#

Nutrition information and Health Score does not include ingredients listed as to serve or any serving suggestions.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.

# The % daily values indicates how much of a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet, based on general nutritional advice for a diet of 2100 calories a day.

* Health Scores are calculated on a 1-10 scale based on nutrient density and USDA (global standard) recommendations for a healthy diet. A higher Health Score indicates a healthier recipe. The value is based on the impact of macronutrients and micronutrients in the recipe.

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Classic shepherd's pie recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's in a traditional shepherd's pie made of? ›

Classic Shepherd's Pie is a comforting casserole that consists of ground lamb, carrots, and peas simmered with Guinness, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs and topped with a cheesy mashed potato layer that's baked until golden and crisp.

Does shepherd's pie have gravy in it? ›

This Easy Shepherd's Pie recipe is made with ground beef, brown gravy, and frozen vegetables in less than 30 minutes on the stove top. Broil in the oven for just 5 minutes and dinner is served! Make it with my homemade mashed potato recipe, or use up leftover mashed potatoes!

What is traditional cottage pie made of? ›

Cottage pie is an English casserole that's traditionally made with minced meat (usually ground beef), gravy, vegetables, and mashed potatoes.

What is the difference between Irish and British shepherd's pie? ›

It's called cottage pie in the U.K. because they use beef and in Ireland since the shepherds tend sheep, it's shepherd's pie. No doubt, the English put out an excellent cottage pie, but in Ireland it used to be a delicacy since the Irish couldn't afford beef they repurposed any unused veggies and meat.

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›

A good shepherd's – or indeed cottage – pie, needs a solid, but fluffy top: too much milk or butter, and you'll end up with a sloppy puree instead. Make sure you steam the potatoes dry before mashing, and season generously; I like Bareham and Hopkinson's nutmeg as well as the usual salt and pepper.

Why do Irish people eat shepherd's pie? ›

"Shepherd's Pie is one the most traditional Irish dishes I know of," she said. Culhane said the meal became popular in Ireland for a simple reason: It's easy to make, it makes a lot and it's cheap. Although there are many variations, most Shepherd's Pies are made with ground meat, potatoes, carrots, peas and onions.

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

What is Irish shepherd's pie made of? ›

It's a hearty dish with origins in the United Kingdom and Ireland composed of a ground meat cooked in gravy, onions, carrots, celery, and a mashed potato crust (can be top and bottom, or just top). I told you. It's a slam dunk meal for a cold St. Paddy's dinner.

Why is flour used in shepherds pie? ›

This shepherd's pie recipe uses 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the gravy but if you feel like the meat mixture is too watery, add in another tablespoon and stir to combine. You may also try simmering the mince mixture for longer so that the stock reduces down and thickens.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

What is a shepherds pie called when it is made from beef? ›

The two English terms have been used interchangeably since they came into use in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, although some writers insist that a shepherd's pie should contain lamb or mutton, and a cottage pie, beef.

What can I add to cottage cheese to make it tasty? ›

SWEET
  1. Fresh fruit. Try chopped peaches, plums or pineapple (or add your favorites). Berries. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc!
  2. Jam and toasted nuts.
  3. Granola and honey. Or Granola and maple syrup.
  4. Dried fruit. Try apricots or cranberries.
  5. Chocolate. Chips, chunks or shavings!

What country invented shepherds pie? ›

shepherd's pie, dish of British Isles origin that makes use of vegetables and chopped meat cooked in a casserole topped with or surrounded by mashed potatoes.

Is shepherds pie the same as cottage pie? ›

These meaty, mince-filled and mash potato-topped pies are very similar, the difference comes down to the filling. Cottage pie is usually made with beef, whereas shepherd's pie is made with lamb. You can also add vegetables and aromats to the filling, such as onions, garlic, carrot, zucchini and rosemary.

Is Shepherd's pie good for you? ›

This ultimate comfort food can be quite unhealthy, with lots of butter in the mash and pushing up your saturated fat intake. Here are a few ideas to make this classic a little healthier and just as tasty.

What meat is in traditional pie and mash? ›

Pie and mash is a traditional working-class food, originating in the Docks of London. Often accompanied with jellied eels, the dish has been popularised as "a co*ckney classic". It typically consists of a minced beef pie, mashed potato and a parsley sauce known as liquor.

Where is shepherds pie from traditionally? ›

Many people believe that the peasant housewives invented the pie as an easy way to repackage leftovers from their Sunday roast. The Shepherd Pie is thought to originate from Ireland and the northern parts of England.

Where is shepherds pie made from? ›

shepherd's pie, dish of British Isles origin that makes use of vegetables and chopped meat cooked in a casserole topped with or surrounded by mashed potatoes.

Why is shepherds pie traditional? ›

Shepherd's Pie first came about late in the 1700s and early 1800s. Accordingly, housewives back then were on the frugal side. Much like we do today, they were looking for ways to incorporate those leftovers that husbands and kids would turn up their noses at. The struggle was real back then just like today.

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