This easy shepherd’s pie checks all the boxes for a classic comfort food dinner that goes far beyond St. Patrick’s Day. The base is a simple a mix of ground lamb and vegetables, simmered in a savory sauce. Then, it’s topped with fluffy and creamy mashed potatoes that form a golden crust!

A large pan of shepherd's pie

What Is Shepherd’s Pie?

If you didn’t know, shepherd’s pie came about from Irish women getting creative with leftovers back in the 1800’s. Ground meat, mirepoix vegetables, and mashed potatoes were common ingredients and dishes served. So I’m sure those ladies thought, why not combine them for the ultimate cozy meal?

The basic structure of shepherd’s pie is a savory minced lamb filling topped with a layer of mashed potatoes. And the filling is usually simmered with onions, carrots, celery, and peas.

It’s almost like a take on chicken pot pie, but without a crust. And since Irish people love all things potato (especially mashed potatoes), shepherd’s pie became a winning recipe!

A single scoop serving of Shepherd's pie.

Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients

If you’ve ever had cottage pie, shepherd’s pie is really similar. The only difference is that cottage pie uses beef, and shepherd’s pie uses lamb or mutton. So when you eat a shepherd’s pie in the US that swaps ground beef for lamb, that’s actually a cottage pie, not a Shepherd’s pie. Oh, semantics! But here’s what you’ll need to make this.

  • Ground Lamb: As I mentioned, using ground lamb is traditional, but you can also use ground beef (like in cottage pie) or even ground turkey.
  • Vegetables: I’ve included carrots, celery, frozen peas, and onions. But feel free to always toss in more vegetables.
  • Broth: Chicken broth tastes best with lamb. But if you’re using ground beef, I recommend you use beef broth.
  • Tomato Paste: This helps create thickness and flavor in the sauce (without the use of flour).
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a depth of flavor to the meat filling, because Worcestershire sauce itself is very layered in flavor. If you’re gluten-free, make sure to read my note below!
  • Mashed Potatoes: Deliciously fluffy and whipped spuds on top of the meat filling finish off a classic shepherd’s pie. Just follow my mashed potato recipe – it’s easy!

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

Read The Labels On Your Worcestershire Sauce

Diving into the meat filling, you’ll see that Worcestershire is a key ingredient. This is a vinegar based sauce made from fermented onions and garlic, along with molasses, tamarind, anchovies, spices and more. Yep, you can say this sauce has an intense depth of flavor, making it perfect to add to meats.

But if you’re gluten-free, you’ll need to be mindful of the brands you buy. Worcestershire often includes a wheat-based soy sauce to get that deep dark brown color. So, I recommend purchasing one of the below brands that are gluten-free (always double check labels as ingredients may change).

Sauteeing vegetables in a pan for shepherds pie

How To Make Shepherd’s Pie

The first thing you’ll make is mashed potatoes. You can make this the day of, or you can make it a day before expedite the process. Once that’s done, you’ll move on to the meaty filling and preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

Saute all the veggies and meat together until cooked through. Then, add in all the flavorful herbs and aromatics and let it simmer for just a few minutes, until the sauce thickens a bit. Just remember to leave the frozen peas until the end as those can get mushy fast if they cook for too long! 

Cooking shepherd's pie filling in a pan.

The last step is dolloping and spreading the mashed potatoes on top. Once that’s done, transfer the shepherd’s pie to the oven, and let it cook for about 30 minutes. Keep an eye on it so that the top of the mashed potatoes doesn’t get burnt!

Making Shepherd's pie and dolloping mashed potatoes on top.

Helpful tip: I prefer to use a large oven-safe pan rather than a casserole dish. But you could transfer everything to a casserole dish as well.

Shepherd’s Pie Variations

The great thing about this recipe is that it’s easily modifiable. Here are some other variations to enjoy:

  • Low-Carb/Keto: swap the mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower.
  • Dairy-Free: swap the butter in the mashed potatoes for ghee or a dairy-free spread and use non-dairy milk.
  • Vegan/Vegetarian: swap the lamb for a mix of mushrooms and lentils.
  • Paleo/Whole30: swap the peas for green beans (you can chop them up) and use mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes or even mashed butternut squash.

And if you want a richer shepherd’s pie, feel free to add a generous splash of red wine with the chicken broth and use a little cornstarch or arrowroot powder to thicken it up.

Shepherd's pie on a table next to a napkin

Prep This Ahead Of Time

If you plan to make this ahead of time, store the mashed potatoes and filing in separate containers in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, let the potatoes and filling sit at room temperature to soften before assembling. Then, pop it right into the oven for baking.

When it comes time to freeze leftovers, just place them in freezer safe containers for up to 3 months. This could be a great option if you also plan to meal prep this on a Sunday night. Just bake it, divide it into 6 sections, and freeze it!

Complete Your St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with classic Irish recipes! If you want a festive Irish spread on the table, accompany the Shepherd’s Pie with:

More Easy Comfort Food Ideas

Are you in the mood for more comfort food? These tasty dinner recipes will surely hit the spot.

This easy shepherd’s pie is about as comforting as they come. If you make it, I’d love to know how it turned out in a comment below. Your review helps other in the community!

Taking a serving out of the Shepherd's pie recipe.

Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Author: Lisa Bryan
4.99 from 196 votes
Read 451 Comments
Serves 6 servings
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
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Description

This easy shepherd's pie is a classic comfort food recipe that's hearty, filling, and perfect for the winter season or St. Patrick's Day. Watch the video below to see how I make the recipe!

Video

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

Potato Topping

  • 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • ½ cup milk
  • ¼ cup butter
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Meat Filling

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalk, diced
  • 1½ pounds ground lamb or ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup chicken broth, or if using ground beef use beef broth
  • 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, see notes above
  • 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Instructions 

  • Place the potatoes in a pot on the stove and cover with cold water. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. Cook for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft when pierced with a fork.
  • Drain the potatoes in a colander, then return to the pot. Add the milk, butter, salt and pepper and mash until creamy.
    Mashing potatoes in a bowl.
  • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large oven-safe saute pan, heat the oil on medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute for a minute. Then add the diced carrots, diced celery, and lamb. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the meat is browned. Use your spatula to break up the meat while cooking.
    Sauteing onions, carrots, celery and lamb on the stove in a pan.
  • Drain the fat from the pan and add the broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes, until the sauce is slightly thickened.
  • Add the frozen peas and stir together. Turn off the stove and use the back of your spatula to flatten the meat mixture into a single layer.
    Mixing spices into the Shepherd's pie filling on the stove.
  • Dollop the mashed potatoes on top of the meat and use a spoon or spatula to spread it flat to the edges. If desired, create texture in the potato topping with a spoon or fork.
    Dolloped mashed potatoes on top of the Shepherd's pie filling ingredients.
  • Bake the shepherd's pie until slightly golden, about 25 to 30 minutes. You can broil the top for 1 to 2 minutes as well.
    Finished Shepherd's pie fresh out of the oven.

Lisa’s Tips

  • If you’d like to make this recipe vegetarian or vegan, you can substitute the ground lamb for veggies such as mushrooms and lentils.
  • You can use ghee instead of butter and non-dairy milk for the milk as well. 

Nutrition

Calories: 606kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 758mg | Potassium: 1160mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3928IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 4mg

©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Originally posted December 2019, but updated to include new information.

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

Read More About Me
4.99 from 196 votes (15 ratings without comment)

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451 Comments

  1. Sooooo good! Loved that I could sub out the meat. I used mushrooms and it turned out super delicious! Thanks so much for the recipe, Lisa! Will be keeping this in my meal prep arsenal. 5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Jennifer – This is a great recipe to mix and match the filling ingredients! Glad you enjoyed it with mushrooms :)

      Reply

  2. Delicious and very easy to make! I accidentally put in 2 tablespoons instead of teaspoons of rosemary which over powered some of the flavours but I am very excited to make this again with the correct amount of ingredients! 5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Ashley – Oh no! At least you know for next time now. Otherwise, I’m glad you loved this recipe as is!

      Reply

  3. This is SO good!  I used 1 lb. ground beef and 1/2 lb. diced ham.  We loved it and will make it again!5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Julia – Amazing! It’s definitely a cozy, staple recipe that can be made again and again :)

      Reply

  4. Hi Lisa, I have always made corn beef & cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day but this year, my husband asked if I could make Shepherd’s Pie instead. Decided to try your recipe & I have to say it is awesome. Bad thing about it is, we ate too much HAHAHA. Thank you. thank you, thank you. It’s a keeper.5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Rohanah – Looks like we have a winning recipe! And I know, it’s definitely easy to over indulge in this :)

      Reply

  5. In these trying times with covid19 shutting everything down, lamb was very scarce to find in the supermarket. Is it possible to mix beef and lamb together for the shepherd’s pie? This will be my first time making it.

    Reply

    1. Hi Damone – Absolutely! You can also use all ground beef as well if you can’t come across any lamb :)

      Reply

  6. I’m a serial [recipe] cheater- mainly because I never seem to have all of the ingredients called for.  For this recipe, I cheated and used instant mashed potatoes.  While admittedly not as good as what I’m sure the fresh potatoes would have tasted liked, the real star of this recipe is the meat mixture and the suggestion of adding Worcestershire sauce and the other spices- And Tomato paste.  I didn’t have tomato sauce either, so I added some diced (canned) tomatoes and just a little of the juice and I added a little cheddar cheese to help the meat mixture glue together better as it baked and a bit of cheddar on top.  I have tried several shepherd’s pie recipes and eaten many- including in Ireland.  This meat mixture is tasty and amazing!  Can’t wait to try it with lamb and not take shortcuts.  Thank you Lisa! 5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Kristie – I’m so happy you loved this recipe and always feel free to tweak my recipes to your liking. Can’t wait to hear what you think of it with the lamb next time! :)

      Reply

  7. Omg This is now on the current rotation. We made it with beef and it hit the spot on a comfort food kind of day!5 stars

    Reply

  8. My 10 year old made this recipe tonight for our dinner and it was delicious! He forgot the peas, but it was still all the things comfort food should be. Thank you for such a great share! 5 stars

    Reply

  9. Tried this recipe today and i love the flavour combination of the buttery potatoe mash and the Worcestershire Sauce! Never knew what to do with Worcestershire Sauce so thank you for this amazin recipe :)5 stars

    Reply

  10. I love a good shepherd’s or cottage pie recipe, and this one looks like a winner! An easy, fairly quick dinner for busy nights that my whole family will love … thanks!5 stars

    Reply

      1. Hi Karen – Hope you enjoyed the Shepherd’s Pie! Yes, you can find freezing instructions in the last part of the post :)

  15. I have made this Sheppards Pie probably 4 times since December and I find it to be the best version I’ve ever had. I used Organic ground beef and organic beef bone broth for a richer flavor. Bravo Downshiftology for delivering an easy and delicious recipe!5 stars

    Reply

  17. How would you reheat this? I am making meals and freezing them for my parents. I have divided the recipe into to smaller aluminum tins and plan to freeze them. 

    Reply

    1. Hi Carolyn – If they’re in aluminum tins you could reheat in the oven. I store this recipe in my glass containers, so I usually reheat in the microwave. :)

      Reply

  18. Have been searching for a yummy and easy to prepare Shepherds Pie recipe for ages. Luckily I found your Website.
    Thanx for that wonderful time it created in a very stormy evening.
    Greetings Form Germany5 stars

    Reply

  19. This recipe is amazing!  It is so tasty and really easy to make when you prep ahead.  My family lived it!5 stars

    Reply

  20. You’ve done it again, Lisa! It’s like you just *get* simple, delicious, and healthy cooking. Ugh. Thank you!!!5 stars

    Reply

  21. This is the first time I used lamb in a Shepard’s Pie. WOW! What a game changer! This was so flavorful and delicious! It really is the perfect comfort food for a cold winter night! I didn’t have Worcestershire, so I substituted steak sauce…(similar flavor)…. but otherwise, follow the easy directions and it turns out so yummy!5 stars

    Reply

  22. Love, Love, Love this recipe.  It is so flavorful.  I used ground round for the meat.  This is now one of my main meal recipes.  This will be great to serve for guests, especially if they are gluten free!!!!  A good recipe to share if you bring a meal to someone’s home also.  Thank you again Lisa!!!5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Janet – I’m so glad you loved this recipe! Can’t wait for your friends and family to try this one :)

      Reply

  23. I made this yesterday and it was soooo good! The thick layer of potatoes made it (I made them with almond milk and ghee). Tonight was leftover pie, just heat and serve. Recommend!5 stars

    Reply

  24. My husband and I made this for our Christmas Eve dinner and it was a big hit! Loved how simple the recipe was to follow with minimal ingredients and how delicious it tasted!5 stars

    Reply

  25. First of all I got to say that when I saw this recipe on IG I have no idea of what a shepherd’s pie was, so I google it lol 😄 but just the fact that was one of Lisa recipes I need to try it and let me tell you; I followed each of the steps in this recipe and when I saw the final result I felt like a professional chef. I shared it with some friends and family and they loved it.5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Solanyi – I’m glad I was able to introduce you to a completely new recipes you’ve never tried :)

      Reply

  26. Fantastic recipe Lisa! I made this the week of Christmas and it did not disappoint. I made the recipe as is with the ground lamb… yum!5 stars

    Reply

  29. I absolutely loved this meal! It was so easy to make that I made it for my friend who is a new mama as well. :) Between this recipe and other Shepard’s pie recipes, I will choose this one every time!5 stars

    Reply

  30. Amazing! I made this dish for my family for New Years dinner and it was a hit! We substituted the lamb for beyond beef (I’m Vegan), added in some beer to the sauce and it was delicious. We topped half with mashed sweet potatoes and the other half with russets for a nice mix! Will definitely be making this dish again in the near future – Lisa never disappoints!5 stars

    Reply

  31. Hi Lisa, 

    I am always inspired by everything you make.  Recently, I broke my foot and have limited mobility.  My husband has been a saint waiting on me and assisting me every step of the way.  His favorite dish is Shepherds Pie so I decided to try your recipe.  OMG!!!!  It was absolutely the best recipe I have ever made.  Hands down the best Shepherds Pue we have ever had!  He loved it so much!  Thank you for all you do.  Happy New Year!  ❤️❤️❤️5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Robin – I am so sorry to hear about your foot! I hope it heals soon and you are so sweet to make this for your husband. Happy to hear he loved this recipe so much :) Definitely one to keep on hand for him. Happy New Years to you as well and can’t wait to show you what I have in store in 2020!

      Reply

  32. Thanks Lisa! I made this today and it was so yummy! Next time,  I’ll try lamb as you suggested. This dish is also ideal for meal preps. 
    By the way, I love your serving plates? What brand is that? 5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Jacek – I’m so glad you loved this recipe! You will definitely need to try it with lamb next time :) As for my serving plates, you can find them in my Shop Page on my website!

      Reply

  33. Shepherds Pie has been a stalwart in my cooking repertoire for 60 years but recently I felt my cooking had lacked something.  Having loved everything Lisa has shared I thought I would skip my own memory of a recipe and follow hers step by step.  The result is absolutely delicious, incredibly tasty and flavoursome.  what’s more I found my missing ingredient – I confidently went to my cupboard for the Lea & Perins and was surprised to find it wasn’t there – at sometime I must have run out.  No wonder my own recipe had come up short.  A new ingredient for me was chicken stock which added another layer of flavour.  Another ingredient for you though Lisa is Nutmeg ground on the top of the meat and the potato just before going in the oven – a very old trick, unusual but delightfully warming.  Thanks for bring back all the wonderful memories of eating this dish through the years.5 stars

    Reply

    1. I’m so happy you loved this recipe Catherine! And yes, that worcestershire sauce is definitely key. Love the tip of nutmeg as well, I’ll have to try that next time! :)

      Reply

  35. We will try this recipe with beef and without rosemary. My wife doesn’t like lamb and I don’t like the taste of rosemary.

    Thanks for the recipe, Lisa!

    Reply

  36. I made Lisa’s Shepherd’s Pie this weekend for the first time. My family loved it! It was very easy to swap out a few things to make it adaptable to our diet of no tomatoes or vinegar. I also used ground turkey instead of lamb and it was very tasty. Definitely will be adding this one to our rotation. 5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Athena – Glad to hear you were still able to make this with a few substitutions! Can’t wait for you to whip this up again :)

      Reply

  38. My mom used to make Shepard’s Pie (actually cottage pie) when I was a kid, it was one of my favorites. She used can veggies and veggie soup. I was so excited to try this fresh vegetable version and of course it didn’t disappoint. Like all the recipes I’ve made by downshiftology, it was easy to make, easy to follow the recipe and delicious! I added corn and used ground turkey for the meat (I love that Lisa encourages additions and variations). My family loved it! I will definitely be making this again. 5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Christy – So glad you loved this recipe! I love how you added some corn and used ground turkey instead. This really is a recipe where so many variations can taste delicious :)

      Reply

  40. Made this recipe for dinner tonight! Needed to make a gluten free dinner and this one was a hit. Cold and rainy in Ontario Canada today too.
    Thank you for this recipe!. It’s being added to my tried and keeping recipe binder 😃5 stars

    Reply

  41. Vegans will also want to
    — use a vegan Worcestershire sauce substitute; commercial Worcestershire sauce has anchovies in it. There are vegan varieties available, and recipes online for DIY versions. 

    — either omit the butter entirely From the mashed potatoes, or substitute vegan margarine, another veggie fat or a vegan cheese substitute. 

    Can’t wait to try this I’m new to cooking vegan meals for my partner, and I hadn’t thought of taking on shepherd’s pie!  Thanks!

    Reply

  42. Made this tonight with a mashed cauliflower topping, the pie was super delicious with a great flavor! And very easy to make!5 stars

    Reply

  43. These pies are great for cleaning out the fridge. Out of peas, but have some zucchini? Sure. No celery or carrot? Try some radish and sweet potato. No Thyme or Rosemary? I’ve used dill, Herbs de Provence, Italian seasoning, etc. No onions? Powdered is fine. No broth? Bullion and water is fine. I bet I could make a pretty good pie with a packet of French Onion dip mix.

    I do like a bit of cheddar on or in the potatoes, assuming I haven’t eaten it all.

    I’ve made this with instant mashed potatoes, and I’ve made it with leftover rice. Homemade mash is definitely the best, but this dish is down to go with the flow. There’s no ingredient that can’t be substituted.5 stars

    Reply

  44. This sounds wonderful!  I was thinking of dividing this into individual portions(meal prep), and then freezing before the final bake.  How long do you think it might need to cook, once thawed?

    Reply

    1. Hi Kimberly – I mentioned how you can prep this meal ahead of time towards the bottom of the post :) I suggest to keep the mashed potatoes separate from the meat filling, then assemble once everything has thawed, and pop it right into the oven for the same baking time.

      Reply

  49. I love a good shepherd’s pie, and this recipe is all sorts of deliciousness! Thanks for sharing the different variations on this as well! 5 stars

    Reply

  50. Shepherd’s pie is my absolute favourite comfort food. It’s so moreish that I always end up eating 2 helpings! I also tend to call it shepherd’s pie even when making it with beef, but with lamb is my preferred recipe!5 stars

    Reply

    1. Hi Jacqueline – I also almost finished 2 servings in one sitting! The filling meat can be varied, so I’ve provided a few other suggestions as well 😊

      Reply