Easy Shepard's Pie

Ground beef or lamb with veggies in a rich gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked to perfection, you’re going to love this Easy Shepherd’s Pie! It’s the perfect all in one meal. 

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Classic shepherd’s pie actually calls for ground lamb, so if you use ground beef, you’d actually be making cottage pie since cottage pie uses ground beef. If you think about it, the name makes sense because lamb is sheep and a shepherd is a person who tends to the sheep, hence the name. 

For this recipe, you can make it with either ground beef or ground lamb. Ground beef is widely available making this a quick and easy weeknight meal, but if it’s for a special occasion, I’d recommend using ground lamb. 

If you’re using ground beef, you’ll be using simple ingredients you can find at your local grocery store. Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy shepherd’s pie:

• Ground meat- As stated above, you can either use ground beef or ground meat. For a healthier alternative, you could also use ground turkey. 
• Flour- You can use flour of any kind or buckwheat for a gluten free option. 
• Veggies- You’ll need peas, corn, and carrots for this recipe. I used canned veggies. If you use fresh, you will need to cook the carrots until they are soft before continuing the recipe.
• Mashed potatoes- I used instant mashed potatoes to make this recipe quicker, but you could make homemade mashed potatoes as well. Let the mashed potatoes cool to room temperature before using. 
• Onion- Use whatever onion you prefer, but be sure to finely dice it. 
• Beef broth- You’ll use beef broth to make the gravy. If you don’t have any, you can mix 6 bullion cubes with 6 cups of water to make your own. 
• Spices- To season your shepherd’s pie, you’ll want to use sea salt and ground pepper. 
• Parsley- Garnish your pie with fresh parsley if you choose. 

The best part about this homemade shepherd’s pie is that it is so easy to make, but comes out hearty and filling. Follow the steps below for a delicious dinner. 

1. First, preheat your oven to 400?. Grease a 9x13 casserole dish and set it to the side. 
2. Grab a skillet and cook your ground meat over medium heat for about 10-minutes or until it is cooked through. Season with salt and pepper. 
3. Once your ground meat is cooked, sprinkle it with 2 tablespoons of flour and stir.
4. Cook your diced onion for about 5-minutes. Then, add the can of peas, carrots, corn, and beef broth.
5. Bring your ingredients to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 10-minutes. 
6. Evenly pour your ground meat mixture into your prepared 9x13 casserole dish. 
7. Next, scoop the mashed potatoes on top and spread them across the beef evenly. 
8. Bake the pie in the oven for 30-minutes.
9. Serve and Enjoy!

• Flour helps to absorb the grease from the ground meat, and it helps thicken the gravy. You could opt to just drain your meat instead. 
• You could use leftover mashed potatoes for this recipe. Just be sure to set them on the counter so they come to room temperature. 
• Top with shredded cheese for a cheesy twist. 

Shepherd’s pie has all the main food groups whipped up into one dish, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a tasty side. There are a lot of great options for sides when it comes to shepherd’s pie! Try Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots, Corn Salad, Slow Cooker Baked Beans, Roasted Green Bean Salad, Beet Salad or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.

For more Irish food inspired recipes, click here.

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