Our Classic Shepherd's Pie recipe marries a heavenly, umami-rich beef vegetable stew with a savory potato mash for comfort food perfection.
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What's the Story Behind this Recipe?
Some years ago, on the day after St Patrick's Day, my daughter Gracie and her father were t-boned by a truck-driving teenager. Gracie sustained multiple life-threatening injuries, and was life-flighted to ICU, where she stayed for nearly a month.
At the time, in addition to nine-year old Gracie, we had four other young children, including an eight-week old newborn. While the girls' father held down the fort at home, Baby Em and I lived at the hospital with Gracie.
I survived the first week almost entirely on saltine crackers and Jello Pudding cups from the ICU refrigerator.It was several days before I finally made my first trip home – to take a real shower, revive my spirits, and visit my other girls and their father.
When I arrived, I found my dear friend Bev and some other ladies in my kitchen, delivering dinner to my family. After a short visit with the ladies, I went to shower and clean up. I read the girls a book, sang them a song or two, and packed up for the next week.
Almost as an afterthought, I spooned some of the potato-topped casserole that Bev had left us into a plastic tub to take with me, and then I buckled Em back into her carseat and sped off to the hospital.
It wasn’t until late in the night, as my injured child slept amidst her web of tubes and wires, that I realized I was hungry. I opened the plastic container, and at once the sterile hospital air filled with savory goodness.
Padding down to the Parents’ Kitchen, I popped it in the microwave, and then fork full by fork full, I let that Shepherd’s Pie wrap me in a blanket of warmth, kindness, generosity – and hope. Even today, the memory – standing there alone in the hospital kitchen eating Bev’s Shepherd’s Pie – brings me to tears.
From that time on, making Shepherd's Pie has been a labor of love, and in that spirit, we have made it a Valentine's Day tradition. It is warm, comforting, enduring, and hope-filled – and serving it to the people who mean the most to me in this world is one way I show my love for them.
Why You Will Love this Recipe
Bev’s original Shepherd's Pie recipe was A-Mazing, but over the years I’ve made a few tweaks. Most notably, the original recipe calls for peas, but I substitute diced yams because, as I mention frequently, I strongly dislike cooked peas.
The prep for this recipe is pretty basic. The hardest, most time consuming part of the whole thing is dicing the vegetables.
Another thing to love about this dish is how easy it travels. Mr B and I almost always take a weekend getaway for Valentine's Day, and Shepherd's Pie is our standard Valentine's Day dinner: we eat it every single year, no matter where we are.
Using this recipe, I just put everything together ahead of time, and then we bake it when we get to where we are going. (We once even had the hotel kitchen bake it for us.) We have also baked it ahead of time, and then simply reheated it.
This recipe can be made up to 2 days ahead of time, and refrigerated it until you're ready to bake it. (pspsps: I've made it up to 5 days ahead of time with no issues whatsoever; but the food safety police probably don't want me to tell you that.) It can also safely be frozen for up to a month, and baked directly from the freezer.
What Goes into this Recipe
Filling Ingredients
Filling Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
• Ground beef: We use 85-90% lean ground beef. You can also use ground turkey. (If you use turkey, add an extra tablespoon of Worcestershire.)
• Mushrooms: Crimini mushrooms add just the right meaty, savory flavor. You can also use button mushrooms, or a chopped up portobello.
• Onions: Use yellow onions if you have them: they have more natural sweeteners than sweet onions. You can also use red onions.
• Yams: The yam in this shepherd's pie recipe takes the place of the more traditional peas. Use an orange-fleshed American yam (sweet potato) for this step.
Fun fact: Did you know that almost all yams sold in the US and Canada are technically sweet potatoes? The USDA even requires any label with “yam” to also include “sweet potato."
• Beef broth: Beef broth work best; however, chicken broth and even vegetable broth are good options.
• Red wine: Use a medium-bodied or full bodied red wine for this recipe (i.e., merlot, malbec, cabernet sauvignon, etc.).
If you prefer not to use wine, a natural grape juice (no added sugar) will work just fine.
• Heavy whipping cream: Shepherd's pie is one comfort food that doesn't want anyone trying to lighten it up. (I mean, you can, but why?) If you must, you can use half-and-half, or even a good alternative milk, if that's what you do. It'll work fine.
• Thyme: If you can find it, use fresh thyme. It really does make a difference. If you can't find fresh, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of dried thyme for each tablespoon of fresh.
Topping Ingredients
Topping Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
• Potatoes: Use starchy, mashable potatoes, like russets or Yukon golds.
DO NOT USE waxy potato varieties (e.g., red potatoes, new potatoes, fingerling, etc.) for this recipe.
• Sweet Potatoes: Use a white-fleshed sweet potato for the topping. White sweet potatoes are milder and have less sugar than orange ones.
I've never tried to make the pie topping with an orange sweet potato, but I imagine it would do the same job. It would add a little extra sweetness to the mash. The mash would turn out salmon-colored; but flavor-wise, it should work fine.
• Heavy cream: Once again, if you're looking for a lightened up version, this may not be the best shepherd's pie recipe for you. Anyway, half-and-half, milk, or even a good alternative milk will work for this.
How to Make this Recipe
Make the Filling
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet. When it's done, remove it from the heat and drain the ground beef in a colander, then set it aside.
In the same large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the yams, onions, and carrots. Cover and cook them, lifting the lid and stirring frequently, until everything is fork-tender; about 12-15 minutes.
Add the chopped mushrooms and cook until they soften and release their juices; about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Sprinkle flour over everything. I do this with a little strainer so the flour disperses more evenly. Add the ketchup.
Stir the flour and ketchup into the vegetable mixture until everything is evenly coated.
Return the pan to medium-low heat and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 or 2 minutes.
Add the cream and cook another minute.
Add the beef broth, wine or grape juice, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme.
Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is thick but still saucy; 8-10 minutes.
Add the browned ground beef to the mixture in skillet and stir to combine.
Pour the beef and vegetable mixture into a casserole dish. (This recipe fits perfectly into a 1½ quart casserole, but a 2-quart will work just fine.)
Make the Topping
The topping is basically a rich potato mash.
Put the cubed potatoes and sweet potatoes into a medium saucepan. Add enough water to cover them, and sprinkle in ½ teaspoon salt.
Cover and bring the pan to a low boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to low and simmer until the potatoes are tender; 15-20 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander.
Add the butter and cream to the cooked potatoes. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes to your preference. (My mother liked her potatoes smooth as silk: Mr B and I prefer ours with a little more texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Carefully spread the prepared potatoe mash over the meat and vegetable filling, using a spatula or large spoon to smooth the top.
Egg Wash (optional): In a small bowl, make an egg wash by whisking together 1 tablespoon water with the egg.
Brush the top of the potatoes with egg wash, and then drag a fork across the top to make ridges. (This last bit is purely decorative.)
We've learned over the years that it is advisable to add a good-sized vent to the Shepherd's Pie. Otherwise, you will have a lot of bubbly overflow around the edges as it bakes.
It is also a good idea to line the bottom of your oven with an oven liner or foil, because no matter what you do, you may still have bubbly overflow.
Bake It Up
In all cases, keep in mind that everything in the pie is already cooked: baking it all together simply brings it up to temperature and allows the flavors to meld and marry.
Warm, Right Away
Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 375°F | 190°C.
Put the prepared pie in the oven and bake until the filling is hot and bubbling; about 20-30 minutes.
Turn on the broiler and cook until top is golden brown, 2-4 minutes.
Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
Cold, from the Fridge
Place the prepared pie on the middle rack in a cold oven.
Set the oven temperature to 350°F | 176°C and bake until the center is piping hot; 45-60 minutes after the oven comes up to temperature.
Turn on the broiler and cook until the top is golden brown, 2-4 minutes.
Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
Frozen: from the Freezer
Place the prepared pie on the middle rack in a cold oven.
Set the temperature to 325°F | 160°C and bake until the center is piping hot; about 90 minutes after the oven comes up to temperature.
Turn on the broiler and cook until the top is golden brown, 2-4 minutes.
Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
FAQs & Expert Tips
It's true: peas are the traditional starchy vegetable in this dish. In our recipe, however, the peas have been replaced with diced yams because I do not like peas. (Just one of the perks of being the cook!) If you want to use peas, go for it.
Technically, this is a recipe for Beef Cottage Pie.
The ingredients and directions for making Shepherd's Pie and Cottage Pie (also known as Farmer's Pie) are exactly the same, except for the primary protein.
Shepherd's Pie is traditionally made with lamb. (Hence, the Shepherd.)
Cottage Pie is named for its primary protein: Turkey Cottage Pie, Chicken Cottage Pie, Beef Cottage Pie, etc. You get the idea. The only protein that doesn't go into Cottage Pie is lamb or mutton. (Because that would make it Shepherd's Pie.)
First off, I believe that the delineation between shepherd and cottage and farmer is in great part a regional issue.
In my neck of the woods, if you go into a restaurant and order Shepherd's Pie from the menu, you will almost always be served a beef-based pie. If you invite us to dinner and tell us that you will be serving Shepherd's Pie, we will not be expecting lamb.
More to the point though, I have been making this casserole and calling it Shepherd's Pie for two decades, so I'm sticking with it.
Bottom line: this the best in cozy comfort food, no matter what you call it!
Hope that clears everything up for everyone.
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Best Ever Shepherd's Pie
Equipment
- 1 Enameled Cast Iron Skillet or heavy skillet
- 1 medium saucepan
- 1 Colander
- 1 1½ quart casserole dish or 2-quart
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yam peeled and diced ¼" (~6 ounces)
- 1 large onion finely diced
- 2 medium carrots peeled and diced ¼" (~8 ounces)
- 1 pound mushrooms chopped
- 5 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon ketchup or more if needed
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 ¾ cup beef broth
- ¾ cup red wine or grape juice
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme chopped
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon white pepper or pepper
Topping
- 1 ½ pounds russet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 small sweet potato peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (~6 ounces)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 large egg
Instructions
Make the Filling
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Remove from heat; drain beef in colander and set aside.
- In the same large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add yams, onions, and carrots and cook, stirring frequently until everything is fork-tender; about 12-15 minutes.Add mushrooms and cook until mushrooms soften and release their juices; about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Sprinkle flour over everything, and then squirt in ketchup. Stir mixture to thoroughly coat everything. Return the pan to medium-low heat and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 or 2 minutes. Add the cream and cook another minute.
- Add the beef broth, wine or grape juice, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme.Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is thick but still saucy; 8-10 minutes.
- Add the browned ground beef to the mixture in skillet and stir to combine. Pour the prepared beef vegetable mixture into a 1½- or 2-quart casserole dish.
Make the Topping
- In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, bring potatoes, sweet potatoes, ½ teaspoon salt, and water to cover to boil. Reduce and simmer until tender, 15-20 minutes.Drain potatoes. Add butter and cream to potatoes and mash until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Carefully spread prepared potatoes over meat and vegetable filling, using a spatula or large spoon to smooth the top.
- Egg Wash (optional): In a small bowl, make an egg wash by whisking together 1 tablespoon water with egg. Brush the top of the potatoes with egg wash, and then drag a fork across the top to make ridges. Poke a 1-inch hole in the topping to allow the pie to vent as it cooks.
Bake it!
- Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 375°F | 190°C. Put the prepared pie in the oven and bake until the filling is hot and bubbling; about 20-30 minutes. Turn on the broiler and cook until top is golden brown, 2-4 minutes.Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Originally posted February 14, 2014. Updated February 2018.
Originally posted February 10, 2014; updated February 2018.
Bob says
I wasn't aware that Shepherd's herded cows...
Renée says
You must have missed the whole Cottage Pie versus Shepherd's Pie discussion in the FAQ, Bob! 😄
Relevant point: "Technically, this is a recipe for Beef Cottage Pie."
frugal hausfrau says
🙂 Congrats to you both! What blessing!!
Mollie
frugal hausfrau says
Oh my gosh, you bought tears to my eyes! I love sheperds pie and this one sounds delish! Btw, food historians in Britian say the the first mention of “Cottage” pie to refer to a Shepherd’s pie made with beef was in 1930. I have literally been eating Shepherd’s Pie made with beef since the 1950’s, Guess all the Irish in my small Iowa town never got the memo!! I hope your daughter had a full recovery.
Mollie
Renée ♥ says
Thanks so much for the history lesson. Apparently, the Irish in Oregon didn't get the memo either!
P.S. She had a complete recovery. She's now expecting her first child.
Jim R. says
Although it looks delicious, this is NOT "Shepherd's Pie". This is what is known as a "Cottage Pie". Shepherd's pie is just one of many types of Cottage Pies whose names come from the ingredients, ie. Beef Cottage Pie, Turkey Cottage Pie, Rabbit Cottage Pie, etc.. Shepherd's Pie gets it's name from the fact that it contains "LAMB". No lamb, it is not Shepherd's Pie. 🙂
Renée ♥ says
Thank you for your comment, Jim. I've added a section - "Is this Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage Pie?" - following the recipe card to address this issue and clarify terms.
Kippi says
Yum, I pinned this delicious recipe.
Have a great weekend,
Kippi
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Dear Renee, such a beautiful story about the Shepherd's Pie at the hospital, and the generous, loving hands that made it for you. I too have similar specific food memories after my son Jacob had brain surgery and years later my son Hudson was in the NICU with complications as a newborn, following a surprise diagnosis of Down syndrome. Delicious, nourishing food is so important at times like that, and good food too. Your shepherd's pie is beautiful and filled with love and a whole lot of delicious!
Yvonne King says
I love Shepards Pie and Chicken Pot Pie. I'd take either any day of the year 😉
Adventures in Dressmaking says
I'm a little sentimental about Shepherd's Pie, actually, since I had never had it until last year when I started eating meat again after being raw vegan and it was one of the first things I made. I usually make it with sweet potatoes or pureed cauliflower on top, since I don't tolerate white potatoes well, and I don't use flour to thicken or anything... I love reviving traditional recipes like this one for our modern real food diet! So nourishing, there's a reason people in cold places like the UK developed this kind of recipe! I agree, it means love! =)
Kimberly Carlson says
Sounds (and looks) delicious!
Amanda says
Mmmmm! That looks amazing!
Pech says
Totally true! Shepherd's Pie is loving comfort- it has buttery mashed potatoes and hearty stewy meat too to warm you up from the inside!