Shepherd’s Pie: Easy & Delicious Comfort Food Recipe
When I think of what defines a comfort food, several things come to mind. First of all it should be delicious. It should bring people together and be something that most people really enjoy. Comfort foods usually have a lot of variations – each family has their own “perfect” way of making it. There is often a story that goes along with the recipe. This easy shepherd’s pie recipe hits all of these traits and is absolutely delicious too!
What you’ll love about this recipe:
The Best Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
About a year and a half ago, my father-in-law passed away. Those are always difficult times. Although there wasn’t much I could do to help with arrangements and logistics, one thing I knew I could do was to feed the family. I decided to make shepherd’s pie with ground beef, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, creamed corn, and cheddar cheese.
The family is spread around the country now, but they’re originally from New England. This New England shepherd’s pie recipe may differ slightly than some you have seen before. It does not use a gravy or worcestershire sauce in the meat mixture. Also, we don’t bake it in the oven. Instead, we use a large skillet, which makes it super easy.
I learned this easy recipe from my husband’s brother. As I began preparing the dish, each one of his other siblings had a slightly different take on the recipe. We discussed and debated who had the best shepherd’s pie! This meal brought about quite a lively conversation and provided everyone with a welcome distraction and a bit of comic relief during a time when it was needed. The very definition of comfort.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Here is the recipe the way my family enjoys it. Just know that there are a lot of options and changes you can make, depending on you and your family’s preferences. I’ll note some of the options for ingredients underneath the recipe.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 1 can Peas
- 1 can Whole kernel corn
- 2 cans Creamed corn
- 5 cups Mashed potatoes
- Seasoned salt
- Pepper
- .5 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown meat in an electric skillet at about 375°. Drain if needed.
- Season the meat as it's cooking with seasoning salt and pepper (to taste).
- After your meat is browned and seasoned – add kernel corn and peas. (Don't add cream corn yet.)
- Mix vegetables and meat so it's evenly distributed.
- Add a layer of mashed potatoes. Smooth potatoes evenly in the skillet. I like to think of it as frosting a cake.
- Add creamed corn to the top of the mashed potatoes and spread evenly.
- Lower skillet to 300° – 325°, cover, and let that sit about 30 minutes.
- Time to enjoy! Our family likes to add a bit of shredded cheddar cheese at this point.
Nutrition
Shepherd’s Pie Meat Options
Traditionally, shepherd’s pie comes to us from the UK, where they often use lamb or mutton as their protein. They would say that a cottage pie is made with beef, while a shepherd’s pie is made with lamb. In the US we typically call this dish a shepherd’s pie no matter which meat is used.
In fact, we’ve used quite a few different proteins and have had great results with each. Here are some of the options you can try, depending on what you have on hand or even what’s on sale.
They’ve all been delicious, and really it just depends on what you have available. Ground turkey will be the healthiest choice of meat.
If you prefer a meatier dish, you can absolutely use two pounds of protein instead of one. The rest of the recipe would remain the same.
Vegetables in Shepherd’s Pie
We use peas and corn as the vegetables in our homemade shepherd’s pie. We’ve also used lima beans, which were also good, but we like it best with just peas and corn. Others stir in carrots, onions, and other mixed vegetables. You really can’t go wrong!
As for the mashed potatoes, we’ve tried several different options there as well. We’ve used homemade mashed russet potatoes, instant mashed potatoes, and our current favorite choice, pre-made mashed potatoes. If you find them with butter and garlic it’s absolutely delightful. All you need to do is warm them following the instructions and then add it to your shepherd’s pie according to the recipe above.
Serving Options
This shepherd’s pie is best served in a bowl, making it easy to scoop. We like to put shredded cheddar cheese on top while it’s hot. It gets nice and gooey and the sharpness of the cheddar compliments it very well. Add a bit of pepper if you prefer and feel free to garnish with a little parsley.
Can You Save Leftover Shepherd’s Pie?
One of the things that makes this the best shepherd’s pie is that it saves exceptionally well. Just put the leftovers in the refrigerator. When you’re ready for another serving it warms up perfectly in the microwave.
Frequently Asked Questions
