When we were growing up, one of my favorite dishes was our Mom’s Easy Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie Recipe.
She would always make the mashed potatoes from scratch and load it with tons and tons of cheese over ground beef – her shepherd’s pie was heaven in a dish.
Her recipe uses a couple of different cans of soup and vegetables which is super convenient (and still super delicious), but I decided to switch this one up a little bit to decrease the sodium and maybe make it a little more healthy.
Traditionally, Shepherd’s Pie is made with mutton or lamb, but to make things simple I just used lean ground beef.
I have also made shepherd’s pie with ground turkey and my family loved it, so feel free to use what you prefer (or whatever you have on hand!).
Why is it called “Shepherd’s Pie”?
The name Shepherd’s Pie actually comes from England a few centuries ago and they used the term to define a dish made of minced meat with potatoes on top.
It was called Shepherd’s Pie if it was made with lamb and they actually called the dish “Cottage Pie” if it was made with beef.
So I guess if we are going to get technical, this recipe is for Cottage Pie.
Could I use instant potatoes for this ground beef shepherd’s pie recipe?
For the mashed potato topping, I recommend using homemade mashed potatoes, but if you are short on time, instant mashed potatoes work great (I have definitely used them on more than one occasion).
If you are in a crazy time crunch, you can even throw frozen tater tots on top and then cover them in cheese – it’s delicious.
Making this Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie (aka Cottage Pie) is simple.
Brown the ground beef, add vegetables and seasonings, place in the bottom of a 9×13″ baking pan, top with potatoes, add lots of cheese, and bake until it’s hot and gooey.
This shepherd’s pie is truly comfort food at it’s finest.
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Easy Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3 Tablespoons whole wheat flour
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 14.5 ounces low sodium beef broth
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, carrots, peas and corn
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 13.75 ounces instant mashed potatoes
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add ground beef, onion, and garlic. Sauté until beef is fully cooked. Drain grease.
- Add flour and cook for a minute longer.
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and beef broth. Cook for 5 minutes or until sauce begins to thicken.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the frozen vegetables, salt and pepper.
- Pour meat mixture into the bottom of prepared dish.
- Prepare potatoes according to package directions. Carefully spread 5 cups prepared mashed potatoes on top of the meat.
- Top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the meat mixture is bubbly.
Notes
- If you are in a crazy time crunch, you can even throw frozen tater tots on top and then cover them in cheese – it’s delicious.
- I have also made it with ground turkey and my family loved it, so feel free to use what you prefer (or whatever you have on hand!).
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.Slightly adapted from Iowa Girl Eats
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Can you substitute all-purpose flour for whole-wheat flour for this recipe?
Yes, you can use all purpose flour in place of the whole wheat flour.
This shepherd’s pie turned out so good. The meat veggie mixture is amazingly flavorful! Already planning to make it again.
I don’t have tomato paste, will it be ok to omit?
I used a squirt of ketchup in its place and it was really good!
It came outback watery like from too much liquid. The recipe also didn’t say whether or not to cover it in the oven
This is a wonderful recipe for Shepherd’s Pie ! I hadn’t made one in years and my husband and son loved it !!
I made this for my husband and I and we absolutely loved it! Will definitely make this again, but maybe get a smaller thing of instant potatoes since we had a good amount left over from what the actual recipe requires.
Fifty people were trampled your family running for seconds. It was wonderful. I substituted Guiness Beer for a quarter of the broth. Definitely added flavor. I also used fresh English peas and fresh carrots and a tsp. Fresh rosemary. The potatoes came out with a crispy crust over fluffy mash. I also used fresh mash.
So easy and delicious to make. This is a favorite at our house.
The recipe was perfect. I added my own mashed potato and used plain flour
Then added a thick layer of shredded cheese ontop.
Can I use vegetable broth instead of Beth broth?
Vegetable broth will work as a substitute for Beef broth. But the taste will not be quite the same since the two broths don’t taste alike.
Can I use vegetable broth if I don’t have beef broth??
You could but it will alter the taste. I you have any beef bullion cubes that will work.
Delicious and easy! I used fresh mashed potatoes because that’s what I had on hand.
This is one of the most delicious “Cottage Pie” (lol) recipes I’ve ever made! It will definitely be a regular at our house! It was perfect!
why is it watery?
shepeherds pie came out watery why? i used mixed fozen veggies
That’s a great question. I would try reducing the broth or increasing the flour to 4 tbsps and letting the meat sauce cook until it reduces a little more. I wish I could help more!