This Easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe is made with ground beef, brown gravy, and frozen vegetables in less than 30 minutes on the stove top. Broil in the oven for just 5 minutes and dinner is served! Make it with my homemade mashed potato recipe, or use up leftover mashed potatoes!
Be sure to try my Homemade Sloppy Joes recipe next!
Easy Shepherd’s Pie
When it comes to comfort food, Shepherd’s Pie is a classic.
The best part about this recipe is that there is no need to let it simmer extensively on the stove top like most Shepherd’s Pie recipes. Even 30 minutes of simmering can be a bit much during a busy weeknight.
Most recipes also call for up to 2 lbs. of ground beef, which is a bit much if you have a family of four. This one conveniently calls for just 1 lb. of ground beef, frozen vegetables, and some pantry-friendly items to add amazing flavor to the filling!
Shepherd’s Pie vs. Cottage Pie
Shepherd’s Pie originated in 1849 and contained sliced meat as opposed to minced. It’s important to note that the type of meat in the original dish (beef, lamb, etc.) was not specified. It’s signature characteristic was sliced meat topped with mashed potatoes and baked.
The dish has since evolved to include different varieties of minced meat, those varieties depend greatly on the region it’s being prepared in.
Countries outside of the US commonly prepare Shepherds Pie with lamb, while the US often prepares it with ground beef. While Cottage Pie is used to describe this dish as being prepared with ground beef, it’s also common to hear it referred to as Shepherd’s Pie in the US.
Per Wikipedia:
“Shepherd’s pie, cottage pie, or hachis Parmentier is a ground meat pie with a crust or topping of mashed potato of English origin. The recipe has many variations, but the defining ingredients are ground red meat cooked in a gravy or sauce with onions, and topped with a layer of mashed potato before it is baked”
The Broil Method
To keep your filling nice and juicy and the potatoes super creamy, simply broil the potatoes for about 5 minutes prior to serving in order to achieve the classic browned crust we all know and love.
Using Store-Bought or Instant Potatoes
If you’re not up for making homemade mashed potatoes, 3 cups of store bought or instant mashed potatoes may be used for an easy shortcut!
Make-Ahead Method
1-2 Days Ahead: Store in Refrigerator
- When ready to serve, cover and bake in a 350° oven for 35 minutes.
- Remove the cover and broil at 550° for about 5 minutes.
1-2 Months Ahead: Store in Freezer
- Let it cool completely and store in an airtight container.
- When ready to serve, let it thaw overnight, then cover and bake in a 350° oven for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and broil.
- OR, cover and bake the frozen pie at 350° oven for 1 hour. Remove the cover and broil.
Storing Leftovers
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350° oven or in the microwave.
- Leftovers also make a great freezer food.
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Easy Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 rib celery, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb. ground beef, I used 85% lean
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup brown gravy
- Salt/Pepper
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
- 3 cups mashed potatoes
Instructions
Prepare the Potatoes.
- My homemade mashed potato recipe is perfect for this recipe, you’ll make a half batch to end up with 3 cups. While the potatoes boil, prepare the filling.
Prepare the Filling
- Preheat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions and celery. Saute for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Increase heat to high. Add the ground beef. Cook and crumbled until cooked through. Drain all excess grease.
- Reduce heat to medium-high. Sprinkle in the flour and toss to coat. Add the Tomato Paste and thyme. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Deglaze the pan with the Chicken broth. Use a silicone spatula to scrape up any brown bits from the pan, this adds flavor to the filling.
- Add HALF of the brown gravy. Stir in the vegetables until heated through.
- Season with salt/pepper and add more gravy if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove from heat.
Assemble
- Transfer to a lightly greased 9-inch pie pan or 7 x 11 casserole dish. Carefully spread warm mashed potatoes on top.
- Use a fork to “rake” lines into the mashed potatoes.
Broil
- Set the oven rack about 5 inches away from the broiler. Set to a high broil, 550 degrees.
- Broil for about 5 minutes watch it after 2 minutes, it will go from perfectly browned to burned quickly.
- Remove from heat and serve.
Notes
If you prefer to double this recipe, bake in a 9 x 13 casserole dish or use a wide (12-inch), oven safe skillet on the stove and transfer to the oven.
Using Store-Bought or Instant Potatoes If you're not up for making homemade mashed potatoes, 3 cups of store bough or instant mashed potatoes may be used for an easy shortcut!
Nutrition
The easy shepherd pie with hamburger was delicious thank you
Happy to hear that Melissa, thank you!💖
This was excellent thank you!
I’m so happy to hear that Tina!!!
This my go to Shepard’s/Cottage pie! The only change I made was to add a tbsp of Worcestershire. It’s great and easier than A top chef’s recipe. And nothing is lost in the taste!
I’m so happy to hear such great comments Dianna, thanks so much!💖
Great recipe. Had two lbs of ground beef so I doubled everything. Also used ketchup for tomato paste, sprinkled shredded cheddar on top & reduced the heat a little to 480 degrees because of the cheese. Came out great.
I’m so happy that you loved this Irene!! You just made me hungry! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review, thank you!
This was very very good – I have made it 2 times now. With the second one I used a deep dish pie dish with a store bought roll out pie crust. We liked it much better with the pie crust shell. It held together much better. Bottom line – great recipe. Thanks.
You’re very welcome, I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying it. Thanks for taking the time to comment and leave a review!
Thank you for sharing! The whole fam was quick to ask for 2nd’s!
Sounds like you nailed it Sandra, nice work! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖
I made this tonight for dinner for my husband and son. I didn’t have thyme so I left it out. Also I substituted ground turkey for the ground beef. It came out so delicious. Thank you for the great, easy recipe. I highly recommend it for that homey filling dinner!
I’m so happy it was a success, nice work Elaine! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖
Hi! recipe looks great 🙂 Just for clarification- Shepard’s Pie is made with lamb and Cottage Pie is made with beef.
Yes, I talk about this in the first paragraph, check it out above!
This recipe looks great! I like to make my dinners in the morning so they are ready to be baked when I get home from work. Can this be made ahead of time? How long & at what temp would you bake it, if so? Thanks!
Hi Amanda, here is the make ahead method from the blog post, enjoy! (If you can let it sit out at room temp for a little bit before you bake it, even better!)
1-2 Days Ahead: Store in Refrigerator
-When ready to serve, cover and bake in a 350° oven for 35 minutes.
-Remove the cover and broil at 550° for about 5 minutes.
I love how simple this was to make for the first time for me. Thank you
Yayyy! I’m so happy to hear that Mona! Thanks for the great review!💖