Shepherd’s Pie is the sort of food that brings a smile to everyone’s face! That saucy, deeply flavourful filling, that creamy potato topping, and that awesome golden cheese crust.…
While Shepherd’s Pie is traditionally made with lamb, beef is just as tasty in this recipe. This is a timeless classic – make this once and you’ll make it over and over again!
Shepherd’s Pie
When I shared my Cottage Pie on Facebook, there was almost an all out cyber-war about whether it was in fact Cottage Pie or Shepherd’s Pie. 😂
So let me just answer the burning question first, to get that out of the way:
What’s the difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie??
Cottage Pie is made with beef and Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb.
Shepherds herd sheep. Not cows. That’s how I remember it!!
Other than beef vs lamb, they are essentially exactly the same recipe.
So a Shepherd’s Pie made with beef is Cottage Pie, and Cottage Pie made with lamb is Shepherd’s Pie!
What is Shepard’s Pie
If you’re new to Shepherd’s Pie (also spelled Shepard’s Pie), let me be the first to welcome you to your new favourite comfort food. Essentially, it’s lamb and veggies smothered in a gravy – and who doesn’t love an excuse for tons and tons of gravy?
All those times you were limited to just a small drizzle on a few slices of roast lamb because there wasn’t enough to go around… Bah! This is how you get your gravy fix!!
How to make Shepherd’s Pie
A really good Shepherd’s Pie should always start with a soffrito – that is, onion, garlic, carrots and celery sautéed on a lowish heat until sweet. It’s the secret to a great flavour base that’s a technique used widely by many cuisines, such as Italian cooking (for example, this Italian Shredded Beef Ragu).
After this, we cook the ground / mince meat – traditionally lamb but equally delicious made with beef – before adding flour (which thickens the sauce) and gravy flavourings (beef broth, tomato paste, beef bouillon cube, Worcestershire sauce and red wine which is optional).
Simmer until the sauce is thickened, spread in a baking dish then top with creamy mashed potato (the creamier = easier to spread). To make the top beautifully golden and extra crispy, I like to drizzle with a bit of butter and parmesan. You’ll see how amazing it looks when it comes out of the oven in the recipe video!
What to serve with Shepherd’s Pie
When it comes to choosing sides for your Shepherd’s pie, try Glazed Roasted Carrots or perhaps Sautéed Garlic Spinach. The only other thing you need is a glass of red and a crackling fire…
Tips for making Shepherd’s Pie
There are a few stages to making Shepherd’s Pie, but it’s a straightforward recipe. There’s just two little things that you don’t see in most recipes, little things that bugged me:
-
Cool the filling before topping with potato: It thickens and makes it easier to spread the potato across the top and it stops the potato weeping into the filling;
-
Creamier mashed potato = easier to spread and just an all round better eating experience. I just don’t like dry, very firm mash. When I break through the mash, I want it to be borderline collapsing, rather than being able to cut cleanly through it like cake.
I stress again – these are little things that bug me, so feel free to by-pass them! – Nagi x
PS One last time – Cottage Pie is made with beef. Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb! 😂 (Shepherd’s herd SHEEP!)
Watch how to make it
Sometimes it helps to have a visual, so watch me make this Shepherd’s Pie recipe!
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Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 1 carrot , finely chopped
- 1 rib celery , finely chopped
- 3/4 tsp each dried thyme and rosemary (or 2 sprigs fresh thyme + 1 sprig rosemary)
- 750g (1.5 lb) ground lamb (mince) OR beef
- 1/4 cup (35g) flour , plain/all purpose
- 1/4 cup (55g) tomato paste
- 2 cups (500ml) beef stock / broth
- 1/2 cup (125ml) red wine (or water)
- 1 beef bouillon cube , crumbled
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 3/4 tsp cooking / kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup frozen peas
Mashed Potato
- 1.2kg (2.2 lb) potatoes, peeled and cut into 2.5cm / 1" cubes
- 2/3 cup (165 ml) milk (whole or low fat)
- 2 tbsp (30g) butter
Crust
- 2 – 3 tbsp grated parmesan , optional
- 2 tbsp (30g) butter , melted
- Fresh thyme leaves, optional garnish
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for 1 minute. Then add carrots, celery, thyme and rosemary. Cook for 3 minutes or until softened and sweet.
- Turn heat up to high. Add lamb and cook, breaking it up as you go, until browned.
- Add flour and mix in. Add tomato paste, broth, red wine, bouillon cube, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaves. Stir well.
- Bring to simmer, then turn down heat so it is simmering rapidly - I have it on medium. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reduces down to a thick gravy consistency (Note 1) (see video).
- Add salt and pepper, taste, then add more if you like. Transfer Filling to 1.5 litre / 1.5 quart pie baking dish. Stir through peas. Cover, then refrigerate to cool for 1 - 2 hours or overnight (optional, Note 2)
Assemble:
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Cook potatoes in boiling water for 15 minutes or until soft. Drain then return to pot on turned off stove. Allow to steam dry for 30 seconds or so (Note 3).
- Add butter and mash until melted, then add milk, salt and pepper. Mash until it's soft and smooth (ie spreadable, but not sloppy), adjusting with a touch more milk if required.
- Spread mash onto pie, use a fork to draw squiggles over the surface. Sprinkle with parmesan, drizzle with butter.
- Bake for 30 - 40 minutes or until deep golden on top and bubbling on the edges. Stick a knife into the middle to ensure it is piping hot.
- Stand for 5 minutes before serving, garnished with fresh thyme leaves if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published June 2018. modified January 2019, and updated March 2020. No change to recipe!
More cosy pies!
Life of Dozer
Flashback to when Dozer destroyed his ACL (rear knee) back when I first shared this recipe in June 2018. He underwent surgery and was 2 weeks into a 4 month recovery period, and under strict instructions to remain confined to a small space.
It was very challenging for this highly active dog. But his patience was rewarded, he is back to his wild antics at the beach!
I’ve made this several times and somehow it just gets better each time. Often forget the peas like another commenter. The meat sauce ends up with a gravy consistency & I often make the meat the day before and then top it with the mash potato and bake the following day.
Yum!! Another absolute winner. My whole family gives this one 2 thumbs up. Thank you for a great Sheppard’s Pie recipe.
Hi Nagi, I’ve followed your site/recipes for years now and love Dozer to bits! I don’t know if you can help me but I need to start making meals for my 98yr old mum in law which she can reheat in the oven. Is there any way you could advise reheating times for your casserole/slow cooker meals in the oven when packed into a foil container for one. She insists on living in retirement village on her own and her son calls in regularly however assistance is required for meals. We live nearly 2hrs away so can’t supervise. I understand if you can’t help, thanks for your time x Julie Heath
The best shepherds pie I have ever made delish. Look forward to trying more recipes.
I have made this many times following recipe, but just made it with Nagi’s leftover Lamb Sharmara recipe which I did two days ago. Delicious
I use turkey mince chicken stock and chicken bouiliion and a few drops of liquid browning to get that dark colour also i use a strong cheddar for the crust just beacause that’s what i was brought up with here in the UK.
Whole baby/mini carrots are also great,the smaller the better as you want to keep them whole if possible.
Just made this tonight and it was a hit! Made it with lamb, so proper Shepherd’s Pie. I subbed celery for fennel as I didn’t want to buy a huge thing of celery for one dish – it was delish! Will definitely make it again.
Delicious! But I forget the peas every single time lol
It doesn’t say when to add them in the recipe instructions
Phenomenal! Best SP I’ve ever had by far. I used leftover Romano cheese for the topping… did not disappoint.
Delish! So much flavour. I didn’t have enough potatoes so the top was mixed with pumpkin, we loved it! Served with steamed veg and had to stop myself from going back and polishing off the rest. Thanks Nagi!
Good recipe. I like my lamb sweet so I fried off some mint leaves in the oil before adding the meat then drizzled in a tablespoon of honey. Perfect, for my palate at any rate.
Once again thankyou.🥰
Absolutely awesome, whole family loved it ❤️
Loved, loved, loved this! As much we we loved it, though, there’s only three of us and that means a lot of leftovers. What are your thoughts on freezing the leftovers?
Made this for my grandmother as I thought it would be nice to revisit a dish from her youth and she adored it! I rather enjoyed it myself, and it came out looking great too.
A new thing has started in my family after my husband enjoys a dish that I have cooked from your vast array of recipes. He scores it out of 10! Needless to say this dish received a 10/10. What a brilliant dish. Full of flavours, wholesome and left overs for tomorrow nights dinner. Win win.
As we say in my household,”recipe tin has done it again!” 😁 Thanks Nagi x
I nailed it on my very first attempt at it. I did do it going the traditional lamb way but hesitant that you can only buy the beef in the stock and bullion but OMG. Used the exact proportions … and even the cheese in the mash OMG lol.. This will definitely be my go to dish for pleasurable eating anytime ❤👍
Absolutely delicious! Followed the recipe to a t and it turned out amazing. Had to have seconds 😋
Gooooood…..I’ve had alot of Shepherds pie…..ie, Boy Scouts, etc,. an this one was on it…. :^)
Wish video reactions to meals made could be uploaded! So so good!