Description
This Easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe features a hearty layer of savory ground lamb or beef cooked with aromatic vegetables and herbs, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked to golden perfection. Ideal for a comforting family meal, it combines simple ingredients with classic techniques for a delicious, homestyle dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Mashed Potatoes
- 2 pounds russet potatoes (peeled and quartered)
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup butter
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Meat and Vegetable Filling
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 large onion (diced)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 large carrots (peeled and diced)
- 2 celery stalks (diced)
- 1½ pounds ground lamb or ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth (or beef broth if using ground beef)
- 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (finely chopped)
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Boil Potatoes: Place peeled and quartered potatoes in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 13 to 15 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork.
- Mash Potatoes: Drain the cooked potatoes and return them to the pot. Add milk, butter, salt, and pepper, then mash until creamy and smooth.
- Prepare Filling: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Heat oil in a large oven-safe sauté pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, sauté for 1 minute. Add diced carrots, celery, and ground meat; cook for 8 to 10 minutes until meat is browned, breaking it up with a spatula.
- Simmer Sauce: Drain excess fat from the pan. Add broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add Peas & Flatten Mixture: Stir in frozen peas, mix well, then turn off heat. Press the meat mixture evenly into the pan to form a flat layer.
- Assemble Pie: Spoon mashed potatoes over the meat mixture, spreading evenly to the edges. Create texture on the potato surface using a fork or spoon if desired.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the top is slightly golden. Optionally, broil for 1 to 2 minutes to achieve a crispier top.
Notes
- Ground lamb adds a traditional flavor while ground beef is a great alternative.
- Use chicken broth with lamb and beef broth with ground beef for best flavor pairing.
- Broiling the top at the end adds a delightful crispy finish.
- For a richer mash, you can substitute cream for milk.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: Shepherd's Pie, Ground Lamb, Mashed Potato, Comfort Food, British Recipe, One Pan Dinner, Classic Dinner
