Shepherd’s Pie: A rich gravy with ground beef and vegetables, topped with ultra creamy mashed potatoes. The ultimate comfort food!
Shepherd’s Pie Is…
- Comforting: It’s the ultimate feel-good food.
- Delicious: The beef and veggie mix is coated in a flavorful gravy.
- Creamy Potatoes: Potatoes cover the top adding the perfect texture and flavor.
- Customizable: You can change the veggies and meat to your preference.
- Perfect For Making Ahead: It can be prepared ahead of time.
Quick Tip
Shepherd’s Pie, typically uses ground lamb (or Cottage Pie with beef), is a seasoned meat, vegetables, and gravy casserole under a creamy mashed potato crust, baked until golden. In the states, it’s often made with beef due to availability.
Ingredients In Shepherd’s Pie
Base:
- Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the veggies.
- Mirepoix: Veggie base providing flavor and texture.
- Ground Chuck Round: The main base and protein of this pie.
- White Flour: Thickens the gravy.
- Frozen Peas or Corn: Adds sweetness and texture.
- Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Paste: Gives the gravy a richer flavor.
- Beef Stock, Beef Bouillon Cube, Worcestershire Sauce: Provides savory depth.
- 100% Grape Juice: Adds sweetness and complexity.
- Dried Thyme, Bay Leaves: Adds an herbal flavor.
Topping:
- Potatoes (Yukon Gold and Russet): Makes the irresistible creamy topping.
- Heavy Cream, Sour Cream, Unsalted Butter: Adds creaminess and richness to the potatoes.
- Fresh Parsley/Thyme: Optional garnish for freshness and presentation.
How To Make Shepherd’s Pie
- Sauté garlic, onion, carrots, and celery.
- Brown ground chuck and add flour.
- Combine with peas, tomatoes, stock, grape juice, seasonings, and simmer.
- Boil and mash potatoes with cream and butter.
- Layer meat mixture topped with mashed potatoes.
- Bake until golden and bubbly.
- Garnish with herbs if desired. Serve hot.
Storage
Storage And Make Ahead Tips
- Make Ahead: Prepare your shepherd’s pie all together and refrigerate before baking.
- Refrigerating: Store cooked pie covered for 3-5 days.
- Freezing: Freeze tightly covered for up to 2 months; bake frozen pie at 350°F for 1 hour before serving.
Serve Alongside:
Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd’s Pie is the ultimate comfort—savory ground beef and veggies in rich gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Cozy and delicious!
Equipment
- Large, oven-safe pan
- Large pot
- Ricer for potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cups mirepoix mix of carrots, onion, and celery, finely chopped (1 small yellow onion, 1 celery stalk, and 1 carrot to get 2 cups)
- 1.2 pounds ground chuck round
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup frozen sweet peas or frozen corn
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1-3/4 cups reduced-sodium beef stock can use reduced-sodium beef broth
- 1/2 cup 100% grape juice see note 1
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 bay leaves divided
Instructions
- Heat 1 and 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and finely chopped onion, stirring frequently, for about 1 minute. Add finely chopped carrots and celery, cooking another 2–3 minutes until veggies are softened.
- Heat pan to high and add beef. Cook until browned, breaking it apart. Drain any excess grease. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute to remove raw flour taste. Reduce heat to medium-high and add the frozen peas or corn, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef stock, grape juice, beef bouillon cube, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, and bay leaves.
- Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium and let it rapidly simmer. Cook for 25–35 minutes at medium heat, stirring every 5 minutes until gravy thickens. Remove from heat, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake. If making immediately, refrigerate until potatoes are ready. To maintain separate layers while baking, chill the mixture for at least 15–20 minutes. If you didn’t prepare in an oven-safe pan, transfer to a 2-quart oven-safe dish.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Peel and cube potatoes into golf-ball sized pieces. Rinse them under cold water in a strainer until water runs clear. Transfer to a large pot, cover with cold water, add 1 tablespoon fine sea salt and 1 bay leaf, then bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until potatoes are fork-tender, about 15–20 minutes. Drain potatoes in a strainer, ensuring all excess moisture is removed. Let dry for about 3 minutes and discard bay leaf.
- As potatoes dry in strainer, melt heavy cream, sour cream, and butter in the pot on low heat, stirring to combine. While potatoes are still hot, put them through a ricer and add on top of butter/sour cream mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper (about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper). Cover and refrigerate until ready to assemble the pie, or use immediately to top the pie evenly.
- Use a fork to add marks into the surface of potatoes. Drizzle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, or until potatoes are golden brown and edges are bubbling. For crispy tops, broil on high for 1–2 minutes. Remove from heat and garnish with fresh thyme or parsley as desired. Serve hot.
Video
Recipe Notes
Note 1: Traditional Shepherd’s Pie typically includes red wine in the gravy. To do so, substitute 1/2 cup of medium-bodied red wine (like pinot noir) for an equal amount of vegetable broth.
Storage: Store cooked pie covered in the fridge for 3–5 days. You can freeze it tightly covered for up to 2 months; bake frozen pie at 350°F for 1 hour before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 697kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 49.2g | Fat: 37.5g | Cholesterol: 192.9mg | Sodium: 623.1mg | Fiber: 4.9g | Sugar: 13.5g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi Chelsea! I had so much fun cruising around your website/blog. Your recipe for Shepherd’s Pie caught my eye. I had just about everything on hand, except for the grape juice. Grape juice? I couldn’t even imagine that in a Shepherd’s Pie. But .. I trotted on over to our friendly grocery store just a couple blocks away and picked up the grape juice. Amazing! This recipe was absolutely yummy!! Thank you so much for sharing. I’ll be back!
Yay!! I’m soo happy you enjoyed this!! Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂
What is the purpose of the grape juice? And did you use regular or Concord grape juice?
Depth of flavor! 100% concord grape juice. Enjoy!
Making this right now. Can’t wait!
Hope you love it! 🙂
I think I put too much olive oil on top and forgot to crush the bullion cube…oops
How did it turn out?!
Seriously fantastic recipe! Excellent flavor! I substituted sherry for the grape juice. Picky husband couldn’t think of a way to improve it!
Ahh I am sooo happy to hear this! Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂
Followed your recipe to the T. So delicious! Now one of my favorite recipes!
Thank you!!
I am sooo happy to hear this! Thanks so much!! 🙂
I don’t like potatoes very much, but I really like beef, I replaced potatoes with sweet potatoes and the result is great food. My husband is quite fond of this recipe, just a little change to suit my family’s taste.
Thanks for your recipe!
You’re so welcome! Glad you enjoyed this recipe! 🙂
Such a delicious recipe! This is my all time favorite comfort food!
Thanks Steph! 🙂
Perfect comfort food. This recipe looks amazing.
Thanks Laura! 🙂
The weather turned rainy and chilly today so this looks like the perfect dinner. Sounds delicious!
Ahh the perfect rainy day dish! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
This is total comfort food – my family loves shepherds pie!
Thanks!! It really is the best comfort food!
Such a classic! My family will love this Shepherd’s Pie!
Thanks Liz! 🙂