Description
This Easy Shepherd’s Pie is a classic and comforting British main course dish featuring a savory ground lamb or beef mixture with vegetables, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until golden and bubbling. Perfect for a hearty family dinner, it combines simple ingredients for a delicious and filling meal.
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 lb (450 g) ground lamb (or beef for cottage pie)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Mashed Potato Topping
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil potatoes: Place peeled and cubed potatoes in a large pot, cover with water, and boil until tender when pierced with a fork, about 15-20 minutes. Drain and return to pot.
- Mash potatoes: Add butter, milk, salt, and pepper to the hot potatoes and mash until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the assembled pie.
- Cook onion: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Brown lamb: Add minced garlic and ground lamb to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add seasonings and vegetables: Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, dried thyme, frozen mixed vegetables, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
- Simmer filling: Let the mixture simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes until it thickens slightly and flavors meld.
- Assemble pie: Transfer the meat and vegetable filling to a baking dish and spread evenly. Top with the mashed potatoes, spreading smoothly to cover all the filling.
- Add cheese topping (optional): Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the mashed potatoes if desired.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly.
Notes
- For authentic Shepherd’s Pie, use ground lamb instead of beef.
- Cottage pie uses ground beef as the meat base instead of lamb.
- For a more golden and crispy potato top, broil the pie for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- You can customize the vegetable mix to your preference, such as adding peas, carrots, or corn.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
