Soulfully Made » Main Dish » Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (Cottage Pie)

Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (Cottage Pie)

Nikki Lee
by Nikki Lee Updated: February 5, 2026
4.80 from 10 votes

This Shepherd's Pie Recipe is the ultimate comfort food that's easy to prepare in just 20 minutes before baking. Made with a ground beef filling (lamb is a delicious option too), it's simple to assemble in advance to bake on a busy weeknight or when entertaining a hungry crowd. It'll become a family favorite in no time!

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When March rolls around, my family loves to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this Shepherd’s Pie recipe! But I’ll be the first to admit, it’s wonderfully delicious all year and one of my go-to easy dinner recipes during colder months when I’m craving a comforting meal.

Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We had this shepherd’s pie tonight, which was delicious, and I love the flavors you added to the mash.”
— Jacqueline

A slice of Shepherd's Pie on a dark grey plate.

What I love about this simple dish is it’s something I can assemble in advance (even the day before) to bake when I have no time to get a home-cooked dinner prepared. It’s also a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes, so it’s something we usually end up making that day after a big holiday meal too.

With just 20 minutes of prep, it’s quicker to assemble than ordering takeout, and then the oven does the rest of the “cooking” for you. If you love a casserole, I happen to be known for them, so be sure to also try my Chicken and Rice Casserole and Pizza Pasta Casserole.

Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I made this shepherds pie for dinner last night, and it was amazing! Exactly the comfort food I was craving.”
— Tayler

Why you’ll love this Recipe

Nikki in the kitchen with key lime tarts on the counter.

Here’s what makes it special and delicious to cook any night of the week.

❥ Approachable and Affordable Ingredients: Nothing in this recipe will be tough to find at the store or too expensive; it’s one of those meals that can turn into several servings since the leftovers are also so delicious.

❥ Great Make Ahead Recipe: It’s simple to make this Shepherd’s Pie recipe the day before or the morning of serving. Just bake when you’re ready to enjoy a meal that even picky eaters love.

❥ Meal in One Casserole Dish: While you can serve side dishes with cottage pie, it’s hearty enough to be served as a meal on its own, too!

Nikki

Nikki’s Top Tips Before You Start…

  • If you’re using store-bought or leftover mashed potatoes, let them sit out of the fridge for 15 minutes for easier mixing.
  • Make it a one-skillet meal! If you have a large enough oven-safe skillet, you can build the entire casserole in the same pan. This makes clean up less than 5 minutes.
  • Measure your ground beef ingredients before cooking. This part moves quickly, so it’s a lot easier if you measure your ingredients in advance.

The Difference Between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie

Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie are both British comfort dishes. Shepherd’s Pie, originating from Scotland and Northern England, features minced lamb as its primary ingredient, reflecting its name’s association with shepherds tending to sheep. The Irish began topping it with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes.

Cottage Pie, hailing from England, substitutes ground beef for the lamb, reflecting its historical roots in rural cottage life, where beef was more readily available.

While the terms “Shepherd’s Pie” and “Cottage Pie” are often used interchangeably (especially outside of the UK), purists emphasize the distinction based on the type of meat used. Here in the U.S., we usually call it Shepherd’s Pie even though technically it is Cottage Pie.

Whatever you call it – it sure has become a St. Patrick’s Day Menu staple!

Ingredients Notes

Labeled ingredients for shepherd's pie. L-R: parsley, sour cream, red wine, flour, salt and pepper, butter, rosemary, thyme, ground beef, Worcestershire, carrots, garlic powder, flour, potatoes, garlic, onion, tomato paste, beef broth, milk, peas, and parmesan cheese.

Mashed Potato Layer:

  • Potatoes: Use Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes, washed, peeled, and cubed into 1-inch chunks.
  • Butter: Who makes mashed potatoes without butter?
  • Parmesan Cheese: Make them cheesy good with a bit of parmesan!
  • Milk and Sour Cream: Whole milk and sour cream make the potatoes creamy good.
  • Seasonings: I use salt, pepper, and garlic powder for seasoning this recipe.

Meat Filling:

  • Ground Beef and Fat: Once you brown the ground beef, reserve some of the fat for later use.
  • Onion: I use yellow onion, but white onion will do just as well.
  • Carrots: Wash, peel, and dice the carrots. 
  • Garlic: Whole cloves are minced and added at the end of the sauté for the best flavor. 
  • Wine: Use your favorite red wine or a cooking wine.
  • Flour: Use all-purpose flour or swap for a gluten-free flour blend. I recommend King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Measure for Measure.
  • Tomato Paste:  Add depth of flavor with tomato paste.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Step up the savory taste with Worcestershire.
  • Salt and Pepper: Use them to season the meat to taste.
  • Dried Herbs: Dried parsley, thyme, and rosemary are the perfect flavor combination.
  • Beef Broth: Broth makes the meat gravy come alive.
  • Peas: Use a cup of frozen peas.

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How to Make The Best Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!

Step 1 | Mashed Potatoes

Place the peeled and cubed potatoes in a medium pot, then cover with water. Place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil, then cook until fork-tender.

Once the potatoes are soft, drain the water and return them to the empty pot.

Next, add all the listed mashed potato ingredients and mash with a potato masher until everything is combined and the butter is melted. Mash until smooth. Try to avoid over-mixing, or the potatoes will become like glue. Set aside.

Cut potatoes in a pot covered with water.
Cooked Potatoes with butter, sour cream, cheese and seasonings.

Step 2 | Ground Beef Mixture

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until done, then remove it. Pour 2 tablespoons of the grease into a measuring cup and set it aside.

Then, drain any excess grease from the ground beef on a plate lined with paper towels.

Ground beef cooked in a skillet.

In the same large sauté pan over medium heat, add the reserved beef grease and fresh veggies. Sauté with a wooden spoon until the onion is translucent and the carrots are soft.

Then, add the minced garlic for an additional minute.

  • Carrots and onions added to the dutch oven.
  • Diced onions, carrots and garlic sautéd in oil.

Pour in your red wine and cook until the liquid is reduced by half, stirring occasionally. Then add in the flour and stir until it has dissolved.

A pot with caramelized onions and carrots deglazed with wine and a spoon of flour added to the top.

Now add the cooked ground meat, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, herbs, salt, and pepper, and mix until thoroughly incorporated.

Stir in your beef broth and frozen peas. Allow the mixture to cook until the peas are warm.

  • Ground beef mixture for shepherd's pie in a pot with green peas and beef broth added.
  • Ground beef mixture stirred together to combine.

Step 3 | Layer the Ingredients and Bake

Prepare a 9×13 casserole dish, pour in your meat mixture in an even layer, then top with the mashed potatoes, smoothing everything out with a spoon or rubber spatula. 

A casserole dish filled with ground beef filling and then adding mashed potatoes to the top.
A casserole dish filled with ground beef filling and then adding mashed potatoes smoothed evenly over the top.

Cook uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. The top should be bubbly around the edges, and the potatoes golden brown.

Garnish the top with minced parsley and allow to cool and set before serving

A white casserole dish filled with Shepherd's Pie.

Pro Tips

  • Do not overmix the potatoes; they will become gluey! Just mash and then stir with the other creamy ingredients until just combined.
  • If the mashed potatoes are a little dry, you can add a little more milk to soften them up and make them easier to spread. Potatoes can vary based on the water content of the potato itself.
  • Drain the ground beef after it’s cooked before stirring in the vegetables. This helps to guarantee your beef filling won’t be greasy. You will want to reserve 2 tablespoons to cook the vegetables.
  • Allow the tomato paste to cook for a couple of minutes along with the wine. Letting the tomato paste deepen in color, and the wine reduce by half. This adds depth of flavor to this cottage pie.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Swap the Beef for Turkey or Lamb: Feel free to use ground turkey or ground lamb for this recipe.
  • Use Frozen Veggies for Ease: If you want to cut down on a little bit of prep time, you can omit the fresh carrots. Add in frozen peas and carrots when the peas are called for in the recipe instructions.
  • Add More Veggies: If you want to add other veggies, go right ahead. Green beans, parsnips, sweet potato, diced zucchini, frozen corn, and lima beans are all excellent choices.
  • Use Up Leftover Mashed Potatoes: This is the perfect way to use them, whether the day after a holiday meal or a weeknight dinner. If you want other simple methods for them, try my recipe for Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes. Just be sure to add in the sour cream, seasonings, and cheese to take these potatoes over the top.
    • For a store-bought shortcut, you can also use 2 packages of mashed potatoes from the refrigerator section of your grocery store.
  • Add More Cheese: Add a layer of your favorite cheese to the top before baking!

Gluten-Free Shepherd’s Pie

This cottage pie dish can easily be made gluten-free! Just swap out a couple of ingredients:

A white casserole dish filled with Shepherd's Pie with a scoop removed with a wooden spoon.

Storage

Make Ahead: This is a great make-ahead dish. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to bake it, take it out of the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before you need to bake it to let it come to room temperature.  Uncover it, and bake.

Freezing: Tightly wrap the entire dish in plastic freezer wrap twice or the second layer in foil. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

When ready to reheat, remove from the Shepherd’s pie from the freezer and let thaw in the fridge overnight. Remove the plastic wrap and bake, following the recipe instructions. You can also freeze pre-baked or as leftovers. When freezing leftovers, let the casserole cool completely before freezing.

Storage: Wrap the room-temperature baking dish in plastic wrap or place the leftover Shepherd’s Pie into an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.

What to Serve with Beef Shepherd’s Pie

It pairs well with a side salad, steamed vegetables, crusty bread, or dinner rolls. It’s a hearty dish on its own, but you can also serve it with condiments like ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, or gravy. Here are some other side dishes I’ve served it with in the past:

FAQs

What’s the difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie?

Great question. Shepherd’s Pie is an Irish dish originally made using ground lamb. But seeing is not always easy to come by and is rather expensive. Today, it’s more common to see Shepherd’s Pie made with ground beef, which is also called Cottage Pie.

Can I use instant mashed potatoes instead?

You absolutely can, but fresh homemade mashed potatoes are best. For instant potatoes, follow the steps on the package, adding in the cheese, sour cream, and seasonings.

Can you Make Shepherd’s Pie Without an Oven?

While baking gives Shepherd’s Pie its characteristic golden crust, you can still prepare it without an oven. Cook the meat and vegetable filling on the stovetop and top it with mashed potatoes. If you want those potatoes golden, you can put the dish under the broiler for a few minutes until they are nice and crispy.

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A slice of Shepherd's Pie on a dark gray plate.

Shepherd’s Pie (Ground Beef or Lamb)

Nikki Lee author of Soulfully Made in the kitchen serving cupcakes.Nikki Lee
4.80 from 10 votes

Click Stars To Rate

This Shepherd's Pie Recipe is the ultimate comfort food that's easy to prepare in just 20 minutes before baking. Made with a ground beef filling (lamb is a delicious option too), it's simple to assemble in advance to bake on a busy weeknight or when entertaining a hungry crowd. It'll become a family favorite in no time!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save to Collection
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

Mashed Potatoes
  • 3 pounds russet potatoes - washed, peeled, and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 8 tablespoons salted butter - softened to room temperature
  • ⅔ cup parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup milk - (add a little extra if needed for consitencay)
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or pink Himalayan salt - (or to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Filling
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons reserved ground beef fat
  • 1 large yellow onion - diced
  • 2 -3 large carrots - peeled and cubed (about ½ cup)
  • 4 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons kosher or pink Himalayan salt
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups beef broth
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Instructions 

Make Mashed Potatoes
  1. Place the cubed potatoes in a medium pot and cover them with water. Place on the stove on high heat and allow them to come to a boil and continue to boil them until fork tender, usually around 10-15 minutes.
  2. Once your potatoes are soft, drain the water, return them to the empty pot, and mash them with a potato masher until smooth.
Make Meat Filling
  1. Cook the ground beef in a large skillet on medium-high heat and remove when done. Pouring 2 tablespoons of the grease into a measuring cup and reserve it. Then, drain the excess grease from the ground beef on a plate lined with paper towels.
  2. In the same large sauté pan on medium heat, add the reserved beef fat, onion, and carrots and sauté until the onion is translucent and the carrots are soft, usually 5-7 minutes. Then add in your garlic for an additional minute.
  3. Add in the red wine and cook until the liquid is halved, stirring occasionally. Then add in the flour and stir until it has been dissolved.
  4. Next, add the cooked ground beef, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, herbs, salt, and pepper, and mix until everything is thoroughly incorporated. Then, stir in your broth and frozen peas. Allow the mixture to cook until the peas are warmed and soft, usually 7-10 minutes.
Assemble Casserole
  1. While the mixture is reducing, preheat the oven to 400℉.
  2. In a 9×13 casserole dish, pour in the meat mixture in an even layer, then top with the mashed potatoes, smoothing everything out with a spoon or silicone spatula.
    If, after sitting, the potatoes are a little dry, you can add a little more milk to soften them up and make them easier to spread.
  3. Cook uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. The top should be bubbly around the edges and the potatoes golden brown.
  4. Garnish with minced parsley and allow to cool for 10 minutes, to set, before serving.
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review, letting us know how it was!

Notes

Make-Ahead and Store Instructions:
Make Ahead: This is a great make-ahead dish. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to bake it, take it out of the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before you need to bake it to let it come to room temperature.  Uncover it, and bake.
Freezing: Tightly wrap the entire dish in plastic freezer wrap twice or the second layer in foil. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Remove from the freezer and let thaw in the fridge overnight. Remove the plastic wrap and bake, following the recipe instructions. You can also freeze pre-baked or as leftovers. When freezing leftovers, let the casserole cool completely before freezing.
Storage: Wrap the room-temperature baking dish in plastic wrap or place the leftover Shepherd’s Pie into an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
TIPS:
  • Remember not to over-mix the potatoes; they will become a gluey constituency! You want to keep them fluffy.
  • If the mashed potatoes are a little dry, you can add a little more milk to soften them up and make them easier to spread. Potatoes can vary based on the water content of the potato itself.
  • Ensure the ground beef mixture is drained to avoid a greasy meat mixture. Just reserve 2 tablespoons to sauté the veggies.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 636 kcal | Carbohydrates: 41 g | Protein: 29 g | Fat: 37 g | Saturated Fat: 18 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14 g | Trans Fat: 2 g | Cholesterol: 119 mg | Sodium: 1464 mg | Potassium: 1314 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 5 g | Vitamin A: 2198 IU | Vitamin C: 21 mg | Calcium: 190 mg | Iron: 5 mg

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Let us know how it was!
Nikki Lee author of Soulfully Made in the kitchen serving cupcakes.

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Nikki Lee. Here at Soulfully Made you will find delicious, home-cooked, easy recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

4.80 from 10 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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17 Comments

    1. Thank you so much for the 5-star review! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, and I love that you added shredded cheddar for even more flavor. Such a perfect touch for comfort food!

      Reply

  2. 4 stars
    shepherd
    a person who tends and rears sheep.

    Shepherd’s pie is lamb. Cottage pie is beef.

    Other than that, this makes an awesome Cottage Pie

    Reply

    1. Absolutely! That’s why I gave that information in the post about lamb really being the protein used in “Shepherd’s” Pie. Here in the US it’s pretty common to interchange the names and how you see many recipes. Thanks for giving it a try and saying it was awesome. Awesome is my book is the result I aim for! I so do appreciate that!

      Reply

  3. 5 stars
    We had this shepherd’s pie tonight which was delicious and I love the flavors you added to the mash.

    Reply

  5. 5 stars
    I made this shepherds pie for dinner last night and it was amazing! Exactly the comfort food I was craving.

    Reply

  8. 5 stars
    This Shepherd’s Pie truly is the best Shepherd’s Pie I’ve eaten- and I’ve tried a fair few! The flavor in that meat filling just can’t be beat. My entire family asked for seconds!

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Julia! This is a hearty family favorite at our house too! It’s on our St. Patrick’s Day menu!

      Reply