Shepherd's Pie is a classic recipe that combines incredible flavor, easy preparation, and wholesome ingredients. It's a dish that will bring joy to your table and warmth to your heart.
This Shepherds Pie recipe is so easy to make, even if you're not a master chef! With simple, wholesome ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, you'll be able to create this incredible dish with confidence.
Not only does this Shepherd's Pie taste incredible but it's also packed with hearty nutrition from the protein-rich meat and colorful veggies. You can easily customize it to your liking by adding your favorite herbs, spices, or extra vegetables.
Once you try this recipe, it'll become a regular in your comfort food rotation.
Why You Will Love This Shepherd’s Pie
Here are some reasons why you will absolutely love this unique and delicious shepards pie dish:
Incredible flavor: The combination of browned ground meat (lamb or beef), and aromatic vegetables like onions, carrots, and garlic, creates an incredibly rich, savory, and deeply flavored filling.
Comfort food: The meaty filling topped with creamy, buttery mashed potatoes and baked until golden brown hits all the right notes of nostalgia and satisfaction.
Easy to customize: You can easily adapt it to your tastes by adding vegetables like peas, corn, or mushrooms, using different herbs, cheeses in the potatoes, etc. It's a flexible dish.
Crowd-pleasing: With its familiar flavors and ingredients, Shepherd's Pie tends to be a crowd-pleaser, even for picky eaters.
INGREDIENTS
Here’s what you need for this irresistible dish:
- Ground Turkey: The lean protein base that gives this shepherd's pie its hearty, meaty texture.
- Onions & Garlic: Aromatic alliums that provide a savory depth of flavor.
- Carrots: Diced carrots add natural sweetness, color, and nutrition.
- Flour: Used to thicken the gravy and bind the filling together.
- Tomato Paste: Lends a rich, umami tomato flavor to the meat mixture.
- Beef Broth: The flavorful liquid that creates the gravy base.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a punch of savory, tangy flavor.
- Dried Herbs: Oregano and thyme contribute earthy, robust notes.
- Frozen Peas & Corn: Vibrant pops of color and texture.
- Cheddar Cheese: Melty, gooey cheese takes this comfort food over the top.
- Baked Potatoes: The fluffy, creamy vessel holds the delicious filling.
How To Make This Shepherd’s Pie
This recipe is so easy, it’s hard to mess it up, but these steps make it truly shine!
1. Prepare the potatoes: Peel and cut the potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Boil the potatoes in a large pot of water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and mash them with butter, milk, sour cream, and seasonings until creamy.
2. Cook the meat filling: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery and sauté until softened. Add the ground lamb or beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spatula. Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in garlic, tomato paste, flour, and seasonings. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add liquids and simmer: Pour in red wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened about 10 minutes. Stir in frozen peas near the end of cooking.
4. Assemble the shepherd's pie: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Transfer the meat mixture to a large baking dish or casserole. Carefully spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the top. Use a fork to create texture on the surface of the potatoes. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired.
5. Bake until bubbly: Place the dish on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the filling is bubbling and the top is golden brown. For extra browning, broil for the last 3-5 minutes.
6. Rest and serve: Let the shepherd's pie cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves or chopped chives.
Tips For The Best Shepherd’s Pie
With these top tips, you'll be serving up a mouthwatering masterpiece
- Use a combination of potatoes: like Russets and Yukon Golds for the best-mashed potato texture. Make the mashed potatoes on the creamier side so they are easier to spread.
- Add flavor to the mashed potatoes: With ingredients like garlic, Parmesan cheese, and herbs. Drizzle the top with a bit of melted butter before baking for a golden crust.
- Use fresh vegetables: Like carrots, celery, onions, and garlic in the filling instead of frozen veggies for better flavor and texture. Finely dice them so they become tender.
- Deglaze the pan with red wine: After browning the meat and vegetables add depth of flavor to the sauce. Scrape up all the flavorful browned bits.
How To Store
Follow these steps to store leftover Shepherd’s Pie so you can enjoy it again!
To Store: Store leftovers covered tightly or in an airtight container in the fridge. Refrigerated shepherd's pie will last 3-5 days.
To Freeze: Let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and foil or place it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: To reheat directly from frozen, bake covered at 350°F (180°C) for 1 hour, then uncover and continue baking until browned and bubbly, up to 30 minutes more.
Shepherd’s Pie
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Ingredients
- 450 g 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 225 g 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
- 2 garlic cloves
- 4.5 g 1 teaspoon salt
- 2.3 g ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 30 g ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 30 ml 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 590 ml 2 ½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- 10 ml 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1.2 ml ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1.2 ml ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 120 g ½ cup frozen peas
- 120 g ½ cup frozen corn
- 480 g 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 large baked potatoes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F) and bake 6-8 potatoes for 1 hour until tender. Alternatively, scrub potatoes, wrap them in foil, poke holes, and bake. Instant pot or slow cooker methods can also be used.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook turkey, onions, carrots, garlic, salt, and pepper until turkey is cooked through and carrots are tender-crisp about 5-7 minutes. Break up turkey into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess liquid if needed.
- Sprinkle flour over the meat mixture and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, oregano and thyme. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20-25 minutes until thickened.
- Stir in frozen peas and corn and simmer for 5 more minutes to heat through.
- Cut open baked potatoes and gently squeeze ends to create a bowl shape. Sprinkle with cheese, top with the desired amount of meat filling, and add more cheese on top.
Notes
- For extra richness, add a pat of butter to the warm potato before filling.
- Baby carrots work well as they are pre-cut and don't require peeling.
- Use fresh minced/pressed garlic, jarred chopped garlic, or garlic paste.
- Let the filling simmer while the potatoes bake for maximum flavor development, adjusting the heat as needed.
- The filling can be made ahead and reheated gently in a slow cooker.
- Russet potatoes are ideal for baking.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use ground beef instead of turkey?
Yes, absolutely! Ground beef is the traditional protein for shepherd's pie. Use your preferred ratio of beef to suit your tastes.
How can I make this recipe vegetarian/vegan?
Omit the meat and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. Add extra veggies like mushrooms, lentils, or beans for protein.
Can I make shepherd's pie ahead of time?
Yes, the filling can be made 1-2 days in advance and reheated gently before stuffing the potatoes. Bake the potatoes fresh for the best texture
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