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

While the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably in the United States, they are actually different dishes. A good rule of thumb is that shepherd’s pie is made using lamb or mutton, while a cottage pie is made using beef. As you may have guessed, the name “shepherd’s pie” comes from the use of lamb mince.

Can I use leftover mashed potatoes?

Of course! This recipe is a great way to use up any leftover mashed potatoes you might have lying around in the fridge. You’ll want to use about 6 cups’ worth of mashed potatoes for this recipe. The first thing to do is warm your potatoes up so they are creamy and easy to spread.

Can I substitute the vegetables?

One of the cool things about this recipe is how flexible it is with substitutions. A lot of great, traditional peasant food is like that. Shepherd’s pie really started out as a way for Irish farmers to get the most out of their leftovers. Times really haven’t changed much since then! You can substitute the vegetables in this recipe for a variety of other chopped and sauteed vegetables. You can use zucchini, mushroom, squash, or any vegetables you have lying around. Avoid using vegetables that are too strongly flavored as they will overpower the taste of the meat.

Easy Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Description

Shepherd’s pie might just be our all time favorite comfort food. It’s deliciously simple, with a great flavor base of ground beef and veggies, simmered in a delicious sauce, and topped with fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

Scale

6 Russet potatoes, about 2 pounds, peeled and quartered
1 whole garlic bulb, roasted
1/4 cup half and half, at room temperature
Salt and pepper, as needed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium red or yellow onion, finely diced
2 rib celery, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced, about 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons curry powder
2 pounds ground lean beef or lamb
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup chicken or beef broth
Salt and pepper
1 3/4 cup frozen mixed vegetables
Fresh thyme for garnish

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Instructions

In a large pot, bring about a gallon of water and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil over high heat. Add the potatoes and bring to the boil. Cook 15-20 minutes or until soft when pierced with a fork.
Drain well and return to the pot. Using a masher, mash hot potatoes until smooth. Add in half & half and roasted garlic (remove the roasted garlic cloves from their skins, mash them with the back of you knife before incorporating to the mashed potatoes). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
As the potatoes cook, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the onions and celery, and sauté for 3 minutes or until the celery is just tender and the onions are translucent. Add the garlic and curry powder and cook further until fragrant, about 40 seconds.
Increase heat to high. Add the ground beef. Break up the lumps and cook until the meat is no longer pink. Drain excess grease.
Reduce heat to medium-high. Sprinkle in the flour and toss to coat. Add the tomato paste, pepper, thyme, paprika, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add the chicken or beef stock and cook, stirring, until the liquid has thickened slightly. Scrape up any bits, using a silicone spatula.
Stir in the vegetables until heated through. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Remove from the heat.
Transfer to a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. Top the meat mixture with mashed potatoes and carefully spread them out over the top.
Use a fork to "rake" lines into the mashed potatoes.
Broil the pie at 550F degrees until the potatoes have begun to brown , about 5 minutes. Watch the pie as it will go from brown to burned quickly. Remove from the oven. Let stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Garnish with fresh thyme.
Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Storage

You can refrigerate shepherd’s pie leftovers pretty easily. The trick is to cover the pie and keep it in an airtight container until ready to eat, then refrigerate until it’s ready to reheat. You can easily reheat a shepherd’s pie in the oven for 30-35 minutes at 400 F.

You can also freeze any leftovers. Once your pie has cooled, cover with foil and freeze. It will keep in the freezer for up to two months. Be sure to let the pie thaw out overnight in the fridge before reheating.

For an easy shortcut, use 5-6 cups of store bought or instant pot mashed potatoes.

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 30 min
Category: Beef recipes
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 468kcal
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 453mg
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Carbohydrates: 51g
Fiber: 6g
Protein: 26g
Cholesterol: 81mg

Keywords: shepherd's pie recipe, ground beef, ground lamb