Quick and Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (ready in under 40 minutes)

Let’s make a tasty easy shepherd’s pie recipe with less effort, in just 40 minutes! Make quick, easy, non-meat, including vegetarian & non-oven versions.

Whether you want lamb, beef, chicken, or even vegetables this recipe has it all!

What more could you ask for? Let’s start our “newly tasty” pie recipe. Sometimes shepherd’s pie is called cottage pie or French cuisine too.

Follow the instructions so you won’t make mistakes. (which we did while handling and cooking).

Ingredients

For the meat filling:

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced

• 500g ground lamb or beef

• 2 tbsp tomato paste

• 1 cup beef or vegetable broth

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp dried thyme

• 1 tsp rosemary (optional)

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 1 cup frozen peas

For the mashed potato topping:

• 900g (about 4 large) potatoes, peeled and chopped 

• 1/4 cup butter

• 1/3 cup milk (adjust to desired consistency)

• Salt, to taste

• Optional: 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese for topping

Before we start 

• Do the layering of meat and potato evenly for a consistent texture. 

• After the baking, keep it on rest for 5 to 10 minutes. 

• In an oven, be careful about the dish. Glass or ceramic baking dishes work best. 

• You can replace meat with lentils or chopped mushrooms if you want a non-meat shepherd’s pie. 

• Always use oven mitts and place dishes in a safe place.

P.S.: The recipe is not so long. If you follow these instructions, firstly read it carefully then start preparing your dish. The things which we always have to follow: we need to boil potatoes, so until the potatoes are boiling, prepare a filling of meat. 

I’m just giving instructions on how to make this thing or that thing but keep in mind to save your time. Don’t wait until this is cooked, you’re standing. It’ll be a 30-minute dish, not so long!

Instructions

Make the filling

Step 1:

Take a pan and heat it with oil over medium flame. Then add onions, garlic, and carrots. Saute them for 5 minutes or until the aroma comes out.

Step 2:

Now add ground lamb (or beef), and cook until browned. Then, if needed, drain excess fat.

Step 3:

After everything’s done, add tomato paste of tomato, Worcestershire sauce (this is the tangy and salty sauce), thyme, and rosemary (both are herbs). Mix well. It'll give you a strong and fresh flavor.

Step 4:

In this pan add broth (means lamb, beef, or chicken's yakhni or shorba... or simply you can add plain water). Bring it to a simmer or boil. Cook for at least 10 minutes while keeping it uncovered until it slightly thickens.

Step 5:

When we've done with 10 minutes or with this thickened food, we’ll add peas (which can be frozen). Add salt and black pepper, stir it, and taste it. If needed, adjust its seasoning.

Prepare the mashed potatoes.

Step 1:

Take a pot, fill it with water, and add potatoes for boiling (you can peel the potatoes or simply you can add them after washing). Then add a little salt and boil for 15 to 20 minutes (depends on the size of the potatoes. So if you peel and cut in small sizes as it’s going to be mashed, it'll take not more than 15 minutes).

Step 2:

After boiling, drain and transfer into a bowl (we can keep it in the pot too, and move on to another move). Add butter, mash it with it, then pour some milk. Adjust its salt and make it smooth (it doesn’t mean liquid, just with no lumps of potato mash).

Assemble and bake

Step 1:

Preheat the oven to 200C (390 F)

Step 2:

Spread meat filling in a baking dish, then apply mashed potatoes on top evenly (we also can add some cheese here on top). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the pie becomes golden bubbly (if we desire, we can broil for 2 to 3 minutes for a crisp top). Let it rest after baking for minutes, then serve hot!!!

Serve

When our delicious shepherd's pie is baked, give time for rest for 5 to 10 minutes. This makes slicing easier. Serve warmly, don't keep it in the fridge. Use a large spoon or spatula. It is complete, but we can adjust it with some side dishes.

What goes with shepherd’s pie

It is a whole meal that doesn't need any side dish, but some ideas are preferred:

• Green salad (like lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, and light vinaigrette)

• Steamed or roasted vegetables

• Garlic bread or spring rolls

• Pickles or chutney

• Light soup

Recipes related to shepherd’s pie

How to make shepherd's pie with chicken?

Don’t want to use lamb or beef? Use chicken instead. Just boil and shred the chicken or use minced chicken. Cook it with onions, garlic, carrots, tomato paste, some herbs, and broth. Let it thicken a bit. Then top with mashed potatoes and bake it. That’s it. Tastes lighter but still really good.

How to make Vegetarian shepherd's pie?

Skip the meat. Use mixed veggies like mushrooms, carrots, peas, corn, and capsicum. Cook them like the normal filling with tomato paste, herbs, and veggie broth. Let it cook and thicken. Add mashed potatoes on top and bake. It’s healthy and tasty without any meat.

How to make Lentil shepherd’s pie?

This one’s perfect if you want something filling but meat-free. Cook brown or green lentils until soft. In a pan, sauté onions, garlic, carrots, and peas. Add tomato paste, herbs, broth, and then the lentils. Once it thickens, spread mashed potatoes on top and bake. That’s your protein-packed version.

How to make shepherd’s pie without an oven?

No oven? It’s okay. Make the filling as usual. Put it in a pot or deep pan. Add mashed potatoes on top. Cover and cook on low flame for 10 to 15 minutes. It will heat through. If you want the top a bit crispy, you can place a hot tawa on top of the lid for a few minutes.

Conclusion of Shepherd's Pie

Place potatoes into a pot and fill the pot properly with water. Add some salt, and place it on a boil for 15 to 20 minutes until it's done. Take a pan, and place it on another side to cook.

Add oil to the pan, heat it, then add onions, garlic, and carrots. Saute them for 5 minutes, then add meat (can be lamb or beef). Cook it until brownish.

When it’s done, add tomato paste of tomato, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary. Mix everything well.

Then add broth (chicken, lamb, vegetable, or beef any of broth) or add simply plain water, and without covering, let it simmer for 10 minutes until it thickens and the meat is cooked thoroughly.

The potatoes are now done. Drain and mash with a little butter, then pour a few amounts of some milk and a little salt. Give it smooth with no lumps of mash.

After minutes of simmering, add peas (can be fresh or canned) into the pan and add salt and pepper. Adjust according to your taste.

(All things are done now just need to assemble and bake)

In a baking dish or oven, add and spread the meat filling properly. After that, mashed potatoes layer on top (we can sprinkle cheese on top here at this point).

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until it is golden and bubbly (can do a broil process for crispiness).

When it's done, let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. It makes it easier to slice and gives the pie time to firm up.

Also, it can be served along with side dishes. Well, it's a complete meal on its own, but if you'd like, we can serve it along with some good side dishes.

Do enjoy this homemade shepherd's pie recipe!

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3. Tiramisu Recipe (No Eggs & Alcohol)

4. Easy Mac and Cheese Recipe for Everyone (Stovetop + Baked Option)

5. Make Traditional Teas

6. Let’s have the best banana bread recipe at home (So Easy!)

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