🥧 Shepherd’s Pie
A classic comfort dish made with savory meat and vegetables topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
Traditionally made with lamb. If made with beef, it’s technically called cottage pie.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
Meat Filling
- 1 lb ground lamb (or ground beef)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 1 cup peas
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Mashed Potato Topping
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 4 tbsp butter
- ½ cup milk (warm)
- Salt to taste
- Optional: ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Boil Potatoes
Boil in salted water until fork-tender (about 15 minutes). Drain, mash with butter and milk. Season and set aside.
2️⃣ Cook Filling
Heat oil in skillet. Sauté onion and carrots 3–4 minutes.
Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
Add ground lamb and cook until browned.
Stir in tomato paste, broth, Worcestershire, thyme, salt, and pepper.
Simmer 8–10 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in peas last.
3️⃣ Assemble
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Spread meat mixture in a baking dish.
Top evenly with mashed potatoes (use a fork to create texture).
4️⃣ Bake
Bake 20–25 minutes until golden on top.
Broil 2–3 minutes for extra browning (optional).
🧀 Optional Add-Ins
- Corn instead of peas
- Parmesan mixed into potatoes
- A splash of red wine in the filling
- Garlic mashed potatoes for extra flavor
If you’d like, I can give you a slow cooker version, make-ahead freezer instructions, or a low-carb version next.
