To me, Shepherd's Pie is the ultimate comfort food - meat and potatoes, topped in melted cheese. It just doesn't get any better than that. It is so easy to make, and a family dinner classic. You picky eaters will love this recipe.
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 usedlean 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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Looking for more easy dinners? Here are a few of our favorite:
- Garlic Lime Marinated Pork Chops
- Low Fat Turkey Bacon Wrap
- Baked Chicken Parmesan Casserole
- Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
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- Salisbury Steak Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie
- Tater Tot Chicken Pot Pie Casserole Recipe
- Quick and Easy Shepherd’s Pie Casserole
Serves: 8 servings
Easy Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
5 from 6 votes
To me, Shepherd's Pie is the ultimate comfort food – meat and potatoes, topped in melted cheese. It just doesn't get any better than that.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
PrintPin
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
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
Serving: 1 g · Calories: 357 kcal · Carbohydrates: 50 g · Protein: 23 g · Fat: 8 g · Saturated Fat: 4 g · Cholesterol: 50 mg · Sodium: 454 mg · Potassium: 1006 mg · Fiber: 6 g · Sugar: 3 g · Vitamin A: 2483 IU · Vitamin C: 46 mg · Calcium: 137 mg · Iron: 3 mg
Equipment
9×13 Inch Baking Dish
Large Skillet
Recipe Details
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Slightly adapted from Iowa Girl Eats
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Hannah says:
Can you substitute all-purpose flour for whole-wheat flour for this recipe?
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Cyd says:
Yes, you can use all purpose flour in place of the whole wheat flour.
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Kati says:
This shepherd's pie turned out so good. The meat veggie mixture is amazingly flavorful! Already planning to make it again.
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Tanya Osborne says:
I don't have tomato paste, will it be ok to omit?
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Sarah says:
I used a squirt of ketchup in its place and it was really good!
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Mark Ambrose says:
It came outback watery like from too much liquid. The recipe also didn’t say whether or not to cover it in the oven
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Vicki Turner says:
This is a wonderful recipe for Shepherd's Pie ! I hadn't made one in years and my husband and son loved it !!
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Haley says:
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.
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Sandi Penoyar says:
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.
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Susan says:
So easy and delicious to make. This is a favorite at our house.
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Saminda Gates says:
The recipe was perfect. I added my own mashed potato and used plain flour Then added a thick layer of shredded cheese ontop.
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Marisa says:
Can I use vegetable broth instead of Beth broth?
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Momma Cyd says:
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.
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Marisa says:
Can I use vegetable broth if I don’t have beef broth??
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Momma Cyd says:
You could but it will alter the taste. I you have any beef bullion cubes that will work.
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Lorissa says:
Delicious and easy! I used fresh mashed potatoes because that’s what I had on hand.
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Kathy says:
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!
About The Author:
Camille Beckstrand
Camille Beckstrand is married to Jared and they have 4 kids. She is a certified life coach that loves helping women become "unstuck" in their lives and is the host of the podcast "Moms On The Rise". She also loves a good true crime podcast, a big plate of cheesy loaded nachos, and going on adventures with her family.
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