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Shepherd’s Pie

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Shepherd's Pie

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Warm up your winter nights with a comforting Shepherd’s Pie, a rich and flavorful stew topped with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes.

Shepherd's Pie in a skillet.

Shepherd’s pie is a comforting dish consisting of creamy mashed potatoes on top of a rich and bubbly stew. It originated in the UK and Ireland and is traditionally made with lamb, but in the U.S. it is more commonly made with beef (and referred to as cottage pie). While the original version is made with leftover lamb stew, modern recipes typically call for ground meat, which cooks quickly and doesn’t require leftovers.

For this version, you begin by whipping up a batch of buttery, sour cream-enriched mashed potatoes, and then you make a flavorful ground beef stew with bacon, vegetables, and wine. You can either spread the mashed potatoes over the stew right in the skillet (for easy clean-up) or assemble the layers in a separate casserole dish for baking.

“This was excellent! So much better than the old school Shepard’s pie from when I was a kid. It was definitely worth the effort!”

Kim

What You’ll Need To Make Shepherd’s Pie

ingredients for shepherd's pie
  • Ground beef: Serves as the for the filling. Using extra-lean beef means there’s no need to drain excess fat.
  • Baking soda: Tenderizes the beef.
  • Russet potatoes: The key ingredient for a fluffy, creamy mashed potato topping.
  • Sour cream, butter, and half & half: These enrich the mashed potatoes, making them creamy and flavorful.
  • Bacon: Adds a smoky depth to the filling.
  • Onions and garlic: These aromatics form the base flavor of the filling.
  • Carrots and peas: Add sweetness, color, and a vegetable component to the dish.
  • Red wine: Adds robust flavor and complexity to the sauce.
  • All-purpose flour: Thickens the filling, ensuring it’s hearty and not too liquidy.
  • Tomato paste: Provides concentrated tomato flavor, adding umami and richness to the filling.
  • Worcestershire sauce: Adds a tangy, meaty depth of flavor.
  • Chicken broth: Adds savory moisture to the filling.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Tenderize the Beef

Before starting with the mashed potatoes, it’s important to tenderize the beef. Place the beef, baking soda, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 tablespoon of water in a medium bowl.

tenderizing the beef for shepherd's pie

Mash with your hand to combine, and set aside for 20 minutes. As it rests, the baking soda raises the pH of the meat, helping to lock in moisture and making the beef tender.

mixed beef mixture

Step 2: Make the Mashed Potatoes

While the meat tenderizes, place the potatoes in medium saucepan and add enough cold water just to cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 8 to 10 minutes. The potatoes should be soft and fork-tender.

boiling the potatoes

Drain the potatoes and return to the saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and stir the potatoes with a wooden spoon or potato masher until they are dry and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

mashing and drying the potatoes

Remove the pan from the heat and add the sour cream, butter, half & half, and the remaining teaspoon of salt.

adding the sour cream, butter, half & half, and salt to the potatoes

Using a potato masher, stir and mash the potatoes with the other ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Set aside.

mashed potatoes for shepherd's pie

Step 3: Make the Stew

Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat and add the bacon. Cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan.

cooking the bacon

Add the onions and carrots to the bacon fat.

adding the onions and carrots to the skillet

Cook, stirring frequently, until softened and starting to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.

cooking the vegetables

Add the wine and increase the heat to high; bring to a boil, scraping any brown bits off the bottom of the pan, until the liquid reduces by about half.

reducing the wine

Add the flour and stir until dissolved.

adding the flour to the skillet

Add the reserved ground beef mixture, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce.

adding the beef and tomato paste to the skillet

Continue cooking over high heat, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.

cooking the beef and vegetables for shepherd's pie

Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, and cook, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until thickened, about 2 minutes.

simmering the shepherd's pie stew

Add the thyme, pepper, peas, and reserved bacon.

adding the peas, thyme and bacon to the stew

Cook to warm the peas, then taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.

beef stew for shepherd's pie

Step 4: Assemble & Bake

Dollop the mashed potatoes evenly over the filling.

dolloping the mashed potatoes over the stew in the skillet

Use a rubber spatula to spread evenly all the way to the edges of the skillet.

spreading the mashed potatoes over the stew

Drag a fork across the top to make ridges.

using a fork to make ridges on the mashed potatoes

Place the skillet on a baking sheet or large sheet of foil to catch any drips. Bake until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes. (For more color, turn on the broiler and broil for the last 5 minutes, or until the top is golden.)

shepherd's pie after baking

Sprinkle the Shepherd’s pie with chives and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Shepherd’s pie be made ahead of time?

You can prepare Shepherd’s pie partially in advance. The stew portion can be made several days ahead and kept refrigerated. Before assembling the pie, simply reheat the stew, adding a bit of broth if needed to adjust the consistency if it seems dry. However, for the best results, the mashed potatoes should be prepared fresh, right before assembling and baking the pie. This approach ensures the topping is creamy and the filling is flavorful and moist.

Can I use a substitute a different type of meat instead of ground beef for Shepherd’s Pie?

Yes, as mentioned above, ground lamb is the traditional choice for Shepherd’s pie and would work beautifully here. For a lighter version, you can substitute ground chicken or turkey. When using meats other than beef, you can omit the step of tenderizing with baking soda.

How long will Shepherd’s pie keep in the fridge?

Shepherd’s pie can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Ensure it’s covered tightly with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, simply reheat it in the oven or microwave until warmed through.

Shepherd\'s Pie in a skillet.

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Shepherd’s Pie Video Tutorial

Shepherd's Pie

Warm up your winter nights with a comforting Shepherd’s Pie, a rich and flavorful stew topped with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes.

Servings: 4 to 6
Prep Time: 60 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour
Total Time: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 1½ pounds 90% lean ground beef
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 2½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1-in chunks
  • ¼ cup half & half
  • 4 oz bacon, diced (about 3 slices thick-cut bacon)
  • 2 medium yellow onions, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1½ cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
  2. Place the beef, baking soda, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 tablespoon of water in a medium bowl. Mash with your hand to combine. Set aside for 20 minutes.
  3. While the meat tenderizes, place the potatoes in medium saucepan and add just enough cold water to cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the potatoes are soft and fork-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return to the saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and stir the potatoes with a wooden spoon or potato masher until they are dry and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the sour cream, butter, half & half, and the remaining teaspoon of salt. Using a potato masher, stir and mash the potatoes with the other ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Set the mashed potatoes aside.
  4. Heat a 12-in oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan. Add the onions and carrots to the bacon fat and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and starting to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the wine and increase the heat to high; bring to a boil, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half. Add the flour and stir until dissolved. Add the reserved ground beef mixture, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce; continue cooking on high heat, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth; bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and cook, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the thyme, pepper, peas, and reserved bacon, and cook until the peas are warmed through. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
  5. Dollop the mashed potatoes evenly over the filling. Use a rubber or offset spatula to spread the potatoes evenly over the stew and all the way to the edges of the skillet. Drag a fork across the top to make ridges. Place the skillet on a baking sheet or large sheet of foil to catch any drips and bake until the filling is hot, the topping is lightly browned, and the edges are bubbly, about 30 minutes. (For more color, turn on the broiler and broil for the last 5 minutes, or until the top is golden.) Sprinkle with chives and serve.
  6. Note: If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer the meat mixture to a 2.5-qt casserole dish and then spread the mashed potatoes overtop.
  7. Make-Ahead Instructions: The stew portion of the recipe can be made several days ahead of time and refrigerated. Before assembling the pie, reheat the stew, adding a little broth if necessary if it seems dry. The mashed potatoes should be made right before assembling and baking the pie.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (6 servings)
  • Calories: 650
  • Fat: 33 g
  • Saturated fat: 15 g
  • Carbohydrates: 50 g
  • Sugar: 7 g
  • Fiber: 5 g
  • Protein: 33 g
  • Sodium: 1243 mg
  • Cholesterol: 122 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • Hi Jenn
    This looks so delicious. I was wondering if you think this would fit into 4 individual
    ramekins instead of one big skillet. Thank you. Love your recipes.

    • — Ida on January 22, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Ida, What size are the ramekins?

      • — Jenn on January 23, 2023
      • Reply
  • I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! I didn’t have any red wine at home because I’m pregnant ? so I substituted beef broth instead. I also didn’t let the stew thicken enough before adding the potatoes and they sank into stew in the oven but it still turned out really good. Great recipe!

    • — Laura on January 21, 2023
    • Reply
  • Would it be ok to use lamb instead of beef? If so, do I need to do any changes? I was wondering how lamb and wine pairing work?

    • — Hazel on January 20, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Hazel, that’s fine and the wine works just fine with the lamb. You can skip the tenderizing step as well as the bacon (lamb is so flavorful that I don’t think the bacon is necessary). Enjoy!

      • — Jenn on January 20, 2023
      • Reply
  • My family loved this. We’ve been eating shepherd’s pie for years and we agreed to use this recipe from now on instead of our old go to. I did omit the wine since I didn’t have any but will for sure to include it sometime. I added shredded cheddar atop the potatoes the last few minutes of baking as that’s the kids favorite part. Thank you!

    • — Kt on January 19, 2023
    • Reply
  • I have shaoxing wine do you think that will work in place of the red wine or no?

    • — Kt on January 18, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Kt, I don’t think that’s the best alternative — If you have white wine, I’d use that. If not, you can just omit the wine. Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on January 24, 2023
      • Reply
  • I made this and thought it was delicious. My husband said it tasted like restaurant quality! If people want to sub lamb then they should just do that!

    • — Rachel on January 17, 2023
    • Reply
  • Shepherd’s pie is made with lamb not beef,
    Chef my arse.

    • — Andy on January 8, 2023
    • Reply
    • What an a-hole comment! Many restaurants, let alone home cooks, make shepherds pie with beef. If you want to use lamb then use lamb; beef works well in the dish.

      • — Sharon on January 12, 2023
      • Reply
    • You clearly didn’t read through the recipe. Jen made the distinction between shepherds & cottage pie in the very beginning. But you couldn’t help resist making an arse of yourself anyway.

      • — Scott on January 21, 2023
      • Reply
    • Such a rude, uninformed comment! As others have pointed out, the CHEF did indeed detail the differences within her write-up.
      Best to read attentively. And to withhold such uncivil verbiage.

      • — iris on January 22, 2023
      • Reply
  • So yummy!! Would leftover freeze well?

    • — Samantha on December 22, 2022
    • Reply
    • Glad you liked it! I don’t think the mashed potatoes will freeze very well, but you could certainly try it instead of letting the leftovers to waste.

      • — Jenn on December 22, 2022
      • Reply
  • Stop being such a-holes please

    If those complaining read the first paragraph of this page, we wouldn’t have to see you pester her with your nonsense.

    Anywho, I’m excited to try this! Thank you so much!

    • — D on December 11, 2022
    • Reply
  • Shepherds pie is made with lamb!
    This is cottage pie as it’s made with beef.
    Doh!

    • — Winni Medd on December 3, 2022
    • Reply
    • Hi Winni, I mention that in the intro of the recipe. Hope you enjoy if you give it a try! 🙂

      • — Jenn on December 5, 2022
      • Reply
      • Dear girl…You are more than gracious. Keep up the good work! Love your site and your cookbooks…Pat

        • — Pat on January 22, 2023
        • Reply
  • Sorry I didn’t cook this recipe, I wanted a recipe for actual Shepherd’s Pie which is with lamb meat.
    This recipe is for Cottage Pie which is with beef.

    • — Dave Jenkins on December 3, 2022
    • Reply
    • You always unpleasant, or is this a special occasion?

      • — Nicole on December 26, 2022
      • Reply
    • Well, you could still cook the recipe just substitute lamb for beef. Seems an easy fix.

      • — Sharon on January 12, 2023
      • Reply
    • You and others who carry on with your nasty comments, remind me of my college days when a handful of students took class time asking ridiculous questions when the answers were stated in the syllabus…

      • — Lisa on June 7, 2023
      • Reply
  • This is a recipe for cottage pie, not Shepherds Pie which is made with lamb.

    • — Mrs G on November 22, 2022
    • Reply
    • Everybody knows this and the gatekeeping is annoying. You know what she means!

      • — LG on December 12, 2022
      • Reply
  • This recipe is delicious! Loved it just as you have it. Thank you!!!

    • — Kristina on November 18, 2022
    • Reply
  • The best Sheppard’s Pie I’ve ever made! The wine made it incredible. Instructions were perfect.

    • — Kate on November 13, 2022
    • Reply
  • Ground lamb is now readily available in the US and has been for many years. So can we stop calling recipes with ground beef Shepard’s Pie? This is so Betty Crocker.

    • — Vin Rom on November 8, 2022
    • Reply
    • You are so Karen

      • — Cathy on January 22, 2023
      • Reply
  • I made this tonight and the only thing I did differently was the way I made the potatoes (I followed J. Kenji Lopez-Alt’s recipe for his fluffy potatoes which requires rinsing the starch off of them before and after boiling and then I put them through a ricer). This was by far the most delicious shepherds pie I’ve ever eaten. My entire family was going nuts over it. So much depth of flavor. The bacon really lends so much to it. Will absolutely be making this again and again.

    • — Jen on November 8, 2022
    • Reply
  • Why add Baking Soda? How does it affect the recipe?!

    • — Drdean on October 30, 2022
    • Reply
    • The baking soda may sound like a strange ingredient, but it raises the pH of the meat, helping to lock in moisture and making the beef tender. Hope that clarifies!

      • — Jenn on October 31, 2022
      • Reply
      • My question was also related to the baking soda, thanks for explaining. One other question on baking soda , would you also recommend adding it to hamburgers to improve the taste of the meat ?

        • — F. McAndrew on January 23, 2023
        • Reply
        • It’s really not necessary to add it to hamburgers; it’s intended for ground beef that will be cooked for longer versus burgers, which cook pretty quickly. Also burgers have other ingredients to tenderize them (like the panade in this recipe) so it’s not necessary from a tenderizing perspective.

          • — Jenn on January 24, 2023
          • Reply
  • So delicious!! The stew always turns out really really moist for me, so I serve it on top of 1/2 of a flakey Buttermilk biscuit. So very tasty!! Thanks for another great recipe, Jenn.

    • — Sonja :) on October 20, 2022
    • Reply
  • The is the best shepherd’s pie I have made. It has a deep savory flavor and you can’t stop eating it. All the ingredients come together perfectly. I hadn’t used the beef tenderizing step before but its effect is very noticable. This dish is something I will most likely make again and again. My wife loved it.

    • — Rodney Carpenter on October 17, 2022
    • Reply
  • Just delicious. I am a stickler for following a recipe EXACTLY the first time I make it and everything was great. Here’s my issue, Jenn…..It’s just my husband and me but we frequently have adult kids stopping by. I almost always make the full recipe. Could I freeze some of the “stew” for the future in case it’s just the 2 of us? Thanks once again for a fool proof recipe.

    • — Lin J Quinn on October 13, 2022
    • Reply
    • Sure, Lin – it should freeze really well. Glad you enjoyed!

      • — Jenn on October 13, 2022
      • Reply
  • Hate to break it to you, but shepherds pie is lamb based haha

    • — dave on September 29, 2022
    • Reply
    • The clue is in the name, SHEPHERDS pie, this is a cottage pie with bacon in, which is bizarre
      A shepherds pie uses minced lamb, not beef, sorry

      • — dave on September 29, 2022
      • Reply
    • I believe this is in the introduction to the recipe. LOL

      • — Sandy M on October 5, 2022
      • Reply
    • Hate to break it to YOU, Dave, but Jenn describes this in her introduction. Ha Ha…..

      • — Lin J Quinn on October 13, 2022
      • Reply
  • I purchased a bottle of Sherry recently to make your Mustard Pork Tenderloin recipe and am looking to use it again….Would it work in place of the Red Wine here? Thank you

    • — Rilla on September 27, 2022
    • Reply
    • I think that should be fine — enjoy!

      • — Jenn on September 28, 2022
      • Reply
  • Love the flavor that the bacon fat released into vegetables and the overall pie! Could you suggest Instant Pot mashed potatoes recipe for the topping?

    • — Robin on September 25, 2022
    • Reply
    • Glad you liked it! I don’t have an instant pot so am not familiar with any recipes for mashed potatoes — sorry!

      • — Jenn on September 26, 2022
      • Reply
      • I can recommend how to use the Instant Pot for the potatoes. You don’t need a separate recipe for mashed potatoes. The only difference is you put the potatoes in a steamer basket and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes, then manual release. That replaces the boiling of the potatoes in Jenn’s recipe. Everything else is the same.

        This is such a great recipe for shepherd’s pie. Never saw the toddler eat so much at a sitting. Adults loved it too – saying it was the best they had ever had. Great meal for when the whole family is hungry and coming and going. Thanks so much.

        • — Ellen Mac on December 9, 2022
        • Reply
        • Hi Ellen, thanks for weighing in on the Instant Pot method (and so glad everyone, including your toddler, enjoyed it)!

          • — Jenn on December 12, 2022
          • Reply
  • Hi Jenn, can I omit the wine and bacon? If so, will I need to make adjustments to the rest of the recipe? Thanks in advance!

    • — Sohnia on September 20, 2022
    • Reply
    • Hi Sohnia, you can just omit both of those with no other modifications. Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on September 20, 2022
      • Reply
      • Thank you! It turned out great!

        • — Sohnia on September 22, 2022
        • Reply
  • Way too salty. I made it by the recipe first and I’m not really sure why it called for salt and baking soda to rest and tenderize the hamburger, but I did–and you couldn’t taste anything else at the end. Second time omitted the salt/soda part, cooked the vegetables less time and all the flavors are there. Turned out very good. thank you

    • — Cass E Hobbs on September 2, 2022
    • Reply
  • Hi Jenn,

    I really want to make this and am hoping you can suggest any alternatives to using bacon and wine?

    • — Noreen on August 6, 2022
    • Reply
    • Hi Noreen, You can leave both out. Enjoy! 🙂

      • — Jenn on August 7, 2022
      • Reply
  • Absolutely delicious! People went back for seconds.

    • — Cassie on June 8, 2022
    • Reply
  • Love this recipe! Made it on St. Patrick’s Day and my husband was impressed! I must say I was too. It was a little time consuming to make but that’s ok since it was delicious! The layered flavor of the bacon, beef and wine had so much depth. Beautiful dish with beautiful flavor. I will be making this one again!

    • — Stacy McGarry on April 2, 2022
    • Reply
  • I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Followed your recipe as written and wouldn’t change a thing! Really enjoyed how the stew came together. Can’t wait to eat leftovers tomorrow. Thanks Jenn❤️

  • Hi Jenn, I have made this multiple times and it is always so yummy ! Love it and thank you for the recipe. It makes a lot and I am only going to use half of the stew and either freeze the other half or use in another way. Do you have any suggestions other than the shepherds pie to use for the stew? Thank you in advance.

    • — Cheryl Skornik
    • Reply
    • Hi Cheryl, so glad you like this! If you want to re-purpose the rest of the stew, some options that come to mind are turning it into sloppy Joe-like sandwiches, serving it over rice or another grain, or putting it in a pie plate, topping it with puff pastry, and turning it into a something resembling a pot pie. Hope that helps!

      • Thank you so much for your kind reply. I will try those things and as the stew is amazing, Im sure these will be too! Love your new cookbook!

        • — Cheryl S on April 1, 2022
        • Reply
  • I made this last night for St Patrick’s Day and wanted to try a new recipe. The bacon sounded like a great twist and the ratings were high so I gave it a try. Maybe my 12 inch pan was more shallow than the one in the photo..but it barely fit everything…so I feel like larger would have worked much better.
    The big problem in the end though I think was the wine. One cup sounded like a lot but I wanted to follow the recipe. I did use a “big” red blend…so perhaps that was it…but it really just tasted too strongly of wine. I reduced by half as the recipe states. I couldn’t taste the bacon in the least or much of anything else. Once everything mixed with the potatoes it mellowed it a bit but my kids and I didn’t care for it. Luckily my husband will eat anything with mashed potato. If I try it again I would skip the wine and use broth only. I’m not sure what wine everyone else was using with the great reviews…but sadly this just didn’t “pan out” for me.

  • Hello- I would love to try this recipe. We do not cook with alcohol in our house. Would it be okay to just substitute the wine with the same amount in broth or do have additional suggestions to make up for the flavor loss?

    • Hi Jen, You can just omit the wine. It will still taste great!

  • Hi Jenn!
    What if I wanted to use ground lamb?! Does this recipe stay the same?
    ThanksMuch
    Gigi B.

    • Sure, Gigi – you can skip the tenderizing step as well as the bacon (lamb is so flavorful that I don’t think the bacon is necessary). Enjoy!

      • Will DO! Thanks much Jenn!!

        • Hi Jenn,
          I DID make this with the ground lamb, tasted great. But the only and main issue I had was it was just soooo greasy!! I’ve made this before and I must’ve drained it before doing the tomato paste etc… I did check your recipe this time to see if you’d suggested it, but you hadn’t. It was so bad that as it cooked it almost covered the mashed potatoes. Just thought I’d tell you…. Still a fantastic recipe though!!

          • Ugh — I’m sorry you had a problem with it Gigi — I guess the lamb had a lot of fat!

            • — Jenn
    • I rate this recipe 1 star for beef and 4 stars for lamb. If you do use ground lamb, you’ll be making authentic Shepherd’s pie. Ground beef means it is a “cottage pie”, and not nearly as wonderful!! I have seen comments where people say it’s the same to use beef or lamb, but it is definitely NOT. Lamb raised in the USA has 3x more omega 3 fatty acids, more protien per ounce, less fat per ounce and less cholesterol per ounce. Also, more zinc and selenium for our brains… a much healthier meat.

      • YAWN…and it doesn’t sound like you even tried the recipe so your rating is based on what, your non existent culinary training?

        • — Ruby on January 22, 2023
        • Reply
      • Chris give it up. The beginning of the recipe states this if you had read it. Everyone knows this there is no need for you to try to show off or be annoying – let things be

        • — Cathy on January 22, 2023
        • Reply
  • The best Shepherds Pie! Luv shepherds pie and have made many – this is the best!!
    Thank you again for another super recipe!

  • I made this when our neighbours came over with their younger, sometimes fussy children and they each had 3 helpings! This was the best Shepherds pie I’ve ever made!

  • It took me 2 solid hours to make this dish, but was super delicious! Only change was I omitted the bacon for health reasons. Still fabulous comfort food at its best!

    • Agree with Tara–this recipe was delicious, but prep time is not 45 minutes. I’d allow at least 90. I know recipe prep time often doesn’t include chopping and peeling, but it’s worth noting that there is a LOT of both before you get started.

      On the plus side, my potatoes were browned after about 15 minutes in the oven, so that cut down the time at least. I couldn’t really taste the bacon but thought the wine flavor was a great addition.

      Wonder if this could be done with a softer type of potato that doesn’t need to be peeled to shave some time off the front end?

      • — Jenny on October 14, 2022
      • Reply
      • Hi Jenny, Glad to hear you enjoyed it but sorry it took you significantly longer to prep than the recipe indicates. I’ve changed the prep time to 60 minutes. And, yes, though I haven’t tried it, I think you could get away with using Yukon Gold potatoes instead of the russets.

        • — Jenn on October 18, 2022
        • Reply
  • First, thank you for a great base recipe! Thank you, also, to the people who took the time to review/comment and say what they did differently (if they did!). I also made some changes, but followed the recipe pretty closely, so I will still give it 5 ⭐️! I used whole milk in place of half and half, cremini mushrooms in for 1/2 the ground beef. I also omitted the bacon (didn’t have on hand). It was STILL amazing. The flavors were incredible and I will absolutely make it again! I ended up making it in a Le Cruset 8 qt dutch oven. Super tasty! And great comfort food for cold nights!

    • — Kelly Langston
    • Reply
  • I’ve made this before and it’s wonderful. This past time, I made it with Yukon Golds. Still good, but next time, I’ll stick with Russets as Jenn wrote. 😉

  • Made this for dinner last night and it was just delicious. I will definitely make it again. Thanks for a great recipe.

  • Absolutely delicious! I used a slow cooked lamb shoulder I cooked the day before with onions, carrots, and some flavorful stock, and chopped it into pieces for the pie the next day after skimming the hardened refrigerated fat off the top. I did not use tomato paste or Worcester sauce as the stock was so tasty I did not want to lose that taste. I added peas and mushrooms and a little chopped spinach too. And a light sprinkle of Parmesan helped brown up the potatoes just a little, and added a nice taste. Served six hearty eaters.

  • Best I have ever had or made

  • Made this for second time last night and it was wonderful! Had a question about tenderizing hamburger. If you are using chuck or a fattier ground beef would you still tenderize? Also would you use this method on grilled hamburgers or meatloaf? Thank you for all your cooking wisdom!

    • So glad you enjoyed it! If you’re using something fattier (i.e, 80%) it’s not necessary (although it won’t hurt). And no need to use this method for hamburgers or meatloaf as they contain other tenderizers (like bread crumbs in meatloaf or a panade in hamburgers such as in this recipe). Hope that helps!

  • People! read what Jenn says at the very beginning and then you won’t have to tell everybody that there’s a difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie.

    • — Pearl McElheran
    • Reply
    • Thank you for saying this! I am so annoyed with people pointing this out and not reading what she stated in the beginning!

  • Sorry that’s not Shepard’s pie, it’s Cottage pie. Shepard’s pie is only made with lamb either from a leftover roast or ground. Not lentils, beef, mushrooms or anything else.

    • Hi Bruce, I mentioned in the recipe intro that the dish originated in sheep country in the UK and Ireland and is traditionally made with lamb. However, in the States, shepherd’s pie is often made with beef (though this version is technically referred to as cottage pie). Hope that clarifies.

  • Hi Jenn,
    You mention in one of your responses that to serve 8 people you would double the recipe. What size pan(s) would you use to do this, one large pan, or two pans that are the same size? Please be as specific as possible with size/brand/type. Thank you so much! Love, love, love ALL of your recipes!

    • Hi Jeanine, So glad you like the recipes! I would make this in two pans. I’m guessing you may not have two 12-inch oven-proof skillets (the one I use in the recipe is an All-Clad stainless skillet) so I’d recommend using two 2.5-quart casserole dishes. (See the note at the bottom of the recipe with more details.) Hope you enjoy!

      • Next time I think I’ll add more thyme, and some Rosemary and a little basil. Using ground turkey requires more flavor. As always, Jenn, directions were spot on! The prep is what takes the time!

  • I made this with goat burger! Delicious!

  • sorry – just added a review but forgot to add the 5 stars!!

    • Thanks Isabelle! I just went back to the comment and added them. 🙂

  • Others may have commented on this, so sorry if repetitive. I am a singleton and typically make all of the beef recipe but half of the potatoes and make a casserole dish with half of the meat (more or less). The leftovers microwave well the next day. But the remainder of the meat stew i then freeze for a future casserole with again half of the potato recipe for on top. Really works well. Also, for me, i use a 1 lb package of grd beef so up the amount of veggies. Again, that is adult friendly, but maybe less so for families/kids? But really yummy – esp in cold winter weather!

  • This is definitely a house favorite here! I’ve made it several times & is something my kids (especially my son) request pretty regularly. The other week I decided to make it with a dark beer instead of red wine since I didn’t have any wine & it was delicious that way, too.

  • I made this for dinner tonight and my husband’s comment was it is absolutely incredible. The only modification I made was to use gluten free flour vs. regular wheat flour. This recipe is a keeper! Thank-you!

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