This dish just screams pure comfort food, full of perfectly seasoned lamb or beef has just the right amount of flavors that makes this casserole off-the-charts delicious.
I really love how it can be put together quickly if you cut some corners and purchase some store-bought mashed potatoes and jarred gravy then you can have it on the table in 25 minutes.
The gravy, of course, is a family favorite and is usually not served with shepherd's pie however we just love the beer brown gravy it just finishes off this dish nicely by pairing it with mashed potatoes.
Well on Italian meatloaf night, he took a slice of meatloaf and topped it with mashed potatoes and mashed corn on top of it.
We have changed out the vegetables from time to time also, if you're not a fan of corn substitute peas or mushrooms.
This is a basic recipe that can be adapted however you're used to having it in your favorite restaurants, we just love using ground lamb instead of beef.
Scroll down to see this delicious style of Shepherd's Pie and give it a try, it's an easy all-in-one pan meal!
Quick Meal Anytime
Originally from modern British English food didn't appear until around 1854, the English version of this dish is referred to as cottage pie and made with a meat layer (like this version) on the bottom.
Authentic style is made with lamb then it became shepherd's pie because hence the lamb used and looked like a sheep apparently!
The pork version of shepherd's pie is made with a ground pork layer used along with cooked rice, a layer of carrots, and chopped cabbage, then mashed potatoes, pork gravy, and cheddar cheese on top, all of these versions are delicious.
The recipes are all easily adaptable for you to build your pie to your family's tastes in meats and vegetables!
Leftovers
One of the best things about this pie is how fast and easy it is.
If you've ever had an abundance of leftover burgers, here's a great way to use them up.
Just take the meat add an egg, some spices, and ketchup for the bottom meat crust, and build everything else the same.
You really can use any leftover meats just pulse them through a food processor and spice it up!
The perfect solution to repurposing leftovers!
Ingredients You Will Need For Italian Shepherd's Pie
- ground lamb, or ground beef
- tomato sauce
- beef broth
- red wine
- flour
- Worcestershire sauce
- minced fresh garlic
- granulated garlic powder
- black pepper and salt to taste
- grated cheese
- Topping:
- Prepared Mashed Potatoes ( leftovers, store-bought or Colcannon mashed)
- corn
- jarred bottle of brown jar gravy or homemade with beer or wine
- granulated garlic
- shredded Dubliner cheese
- Optional Additions:
- minced hot cherry peppers or bell pepper
- sliced mushrooms
- sliced onions
- chopped green bell peppers
- peas
- zucchini
- spinach leaves
- any vegetables you like can be used
Additional Vegetable and Meat Suggestions:
- Onions
- Shredded zucchini
- Shredded carrots
- chopped boiled cabbage
- Meats to use ground beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey
- Chicken gravy, beef gravy, pork gravy
- Chopped peppers hot or sweet any kinds
- Sliced mushrooms
- Peas
- Corn
More Recipes to Try:
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Italian Sauteed Mushrooms
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One Pan Meals
This all-in-one pan meal is just great made the day before and tastes great and reheated the next day.
I usually add the cheese on top just before I pop it in the oven to melt and heat through, it always tastes just like I first made it.
This easy recipe for shepherd's AKA cottage pie is again as I mentioned before pure comfort food and so delicious so don't hesitate to try it.
I hope everyone reading enjoys my version it sure has satisfied my family through the years and is always one of the first meals they ask for when visiting now that the kids are grown.
Shepherd's Pie or Cottage Pie
Yield: 6
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 40 Min
This is a shepherds pie or cottage pie made with lamb, corn, mashed potatoes, and cheese on top then served with brown beer gravy.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground lamb, ground chuck, (or for dietary purposes, you can substitute ground turkey)
- 2 tablespoons tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon of blended Italian herb (thyme, oregano, rosemary, basil)
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 3 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- black pepper and salt to taste
- Topping:
- 2 cups Prepared Mashed Potatoes (leftover or store-bought masked (optional only
- for an authentic recipe for this pie add 1/2 cup of boiled chopped cabbage to the mashed Colcannon potatoes)
- 1/4 cup grated sharp cheddar or Dubliner Irish cheese
- 1 cup corn
- 1 cup of a bottle of brown jar gravy or homemade Guinness brown gravy
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- Note: if using jarred gravy add 1/4 cup of beer or white wine
- 2 cups shredded Dubliner Cheese
- Optional Additions:
- 2 tablespoons minced hot cherry peppers or bell pepper
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
- peas instead of corn or a mix of both
Instructions
- Make your favorite mashed potato recipe you will need around
- In a large frying pan heat, the olive oil, then add the ground meat, salt, pepper, herbs, and spices.
- Saute for around 8 minutes stirring until the pink is gone.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and garlic.
- Saute for 1 minute then add flour and tomato sauce.
- Add the broth, and wine and simmer breaking up the meat until it's reduced to half the liquid about 10 minutes on low heat.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees preheated oven. Drain the fat off ( I soak it up with paper towels.
- Add the meat to a deep casserole baking pan.
- Add the corn on top of the meat then cover with mashed potatoes
- Sprinkle with grated cheese of around 2 tablespoons.
- Add Dubliner shredded cheese on top and bake at 350 until the cheese melts and the heated for around 25 minutes.
- Serve with beer or wine brown gravy.
- Brown Gravy Recipe:
- 2 cups beef broth 1/4 cup of beer or white wine tap here 1 teaspoon of Kitchen bouquet or gravy master 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic powder 1 tablespoon cornstarch or flour
- In a large skillet add around 2 tablespoons of butter and add the cornstarch or flour.
- Mix together until smooth.
- Stir in the flour then add the kitchen bouquet (or gravy master)add salt, pepper to taste, and granulated garlic powder ..
- Add the broth, and the beer or the wine and simmer until it thickens around 3 minutes.
Notes
Additional Vegetable and Meat Suggestions:
- Chopped onions
- Shredded zucchini
- Shredded carrots
- Shredded cabbage
- Meats to use ground beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey
- Chicken gravy, beef gravy, pork gravy
- Chopped peppers hot or sweet any kinds
- Sliced mushrooms
- Peas
- Corn
Nutrition Facts
Calories
370Fat (grams)
22Sat. Fat (grams)
12Carbs (grams)
11Net carbs
9Sugar (grams)
6
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Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2011. It was edited and re-published in 2019.
