Easy Shepherd’s pie with ground beef & frozen vegetables is here! Ready for comfort food in a bowl? You’ve gotta’ try this with fluffy mashed potatoes.
This Shepherd’s pie with ground beef is so easy to throw together in a pinch! If you like a hearty meal with thick gravy, vegetables and potatoes then this is it! Sponsored by Idaho Beef Council, we’ve got a winner here.
Easy Shepherds Pie Recipe
If you love quick and easy casseroles, I think this Shepherd’s pie recipe falls into that category! I don’t know about your family but if I asked everyone what their favorite meat was, they would all agree it’s hamburger!
It’s just so versatile isn’t it?? You can substitute for a lower fat version like ground turkey or ground chicken too but to us, this is the way to go. I bet you have some in your fridge or freezer right now. Get that out and then we’ll get started…I’ll wait. 😉
Shepherd’s pie recipe
This is all very easy, we will start with a pan on your stovetop so you can get onions soft and ground beef browned. What is great about this type of meat is it’s inexpensive compared to some other cuts, and full of protein.
- Did you know that the Idaho Beef Council is working hard to end hunger in Idaho too??!! They started a campaign 10 years ago to provide Idahoans in need with nutrient-dense beef! Love that.
How long can you keep ground beef in the refrigerator?
You can store it safely inside airtight bags or containers at 35 to 40 degrees F for 1 to 2 days. If you can’t use it within that time, I would recommend freezing it for three to four months. Just mark the date you packaged it up so you can use it within that time period.
Cottage Pie with Ground Beef
If you’re ready for an easy ground beef recipe with tons of flavor your kids will love, we’ve got it here! There are even some “hidden” veggies in there I bet they won’t be able to resist either.
- Now let’s talk about the best mashed potatoes!
- You can either choose Russet, Red or Yellow taters…I usually use what I have on hand. (there’s always a bag in our pantry)
- We load ours with seasonings, sour cream and some butter but that part is up to you.
- You can make Shepherd’s pie with instant mashed potatoes too though
Since you are pairing this popular side dish with vegetables, hamburger and gravy there are a lot of other flavors going on there. SO, you could just go with a bit of butter, salt and pepper instead.
You can make slow cooker mashed potatoes, try them in your Instant Pot, or we’ve even made air fryer mashed potatoes! Too busy? Just grab a bag at the store that you just combine with some milk or water and they are instant made in just minutes.
Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients
Ok so whether we make Crockpot shepherds pie or in a glass baking dish like you see here we use the same basic ingredients. Of course you can tweak the seasonings and/or sprinkle some cheese on top if you are into that as well.
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Salt and pepper
- Beef gravy
- Frozen mixed vegetables
- This is up to you, if you only like frozen peas, just add that
- Mashed potatoes
- We like 1/4 – 1/2 cup parmesan cheese on top
- Casserole dish
- a 9×13″ baking dish is really the best size
- Large skillet to brown the meat mixture
You literally use the same things to make it this way, or faster with our Instant Pot shepherds pie instructions.
How to make Cottage Pie
You’ll want to add the ground beef into a pan with your diced onions and cook over medium high heat. Break up and take off the burner once meat is no longer pink. Then we’ll get to combining ALL THE THINGS!
- Get your mashed potatoes cooked and prepared at this time so they’re ready.
- Stir in your gravy and frozen vegetables with your meat. You can do this right in the pan or in a bowl.
- Pour this mixture into your casserole dish and spread out evenly across the pan.
- I like to taste a bite of it now and see if I want to season with salt a bit more now.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Spoon on prepared mashed potatoes and bake. make sure to smooth it on the top of your beef mixture so it’s the same thickness across the dish.
- Sprinkle parmesan on now if you want to add it.
- Bake for 20 minutes – 30 minutes or until it is heated thru.
- Allow to sit for a good 10 minutes before serving so it can thicken more and solidify a bit.
This is really a complete meal so you don’t need any easy side dishes to serve with it. It’s bake and done which I love! Pair with your favorite drink or cold water and BAM…dinner is served.
Beef Shepherd’s Pie
Now with any of my easy recipes I share here, please add additional seasonings you love. If you can’t have a traditional Shepherds pie without a bit of Worcestershire sauce, then add it into the mix!
They are kinda’ seen as one in the same depending on whom you ask really. Technically though, both consist of a meat base covered in a potato top crust.
The only real difference between the two is that “Shepherd’s pie” originally was made with ground lamb (hence “shepherd”)
Cottage pie is traditionally made with beef.
Nowadays people make their own versions of both, so no matter how you refer to this almost everyone will know what you’re talking about.
I say use what you have, and the flavors you love. If this is something new to you then follow the recipe exactly and then “tweak” the next time once you’ve got the hang of it. 😉
Best Shepherd’s pie
Ready for a great recipe with ground beef? We have a printable recipe card for you below to follow. Let us know what you think!
If you’d like to join Idaho’s farmers and ranchers in fighting hunger by making your secure, tax-deductible donation today…you can do so here.
- That way everyone can have access to ground beef and potatoes to make recipes such as this one and hundreds of others.
- Then make our other ground beef casserole with taters the next night!
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Easy Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 12 oz beef gravy
- 16 oz mixed vegetables frozen
- 4 c mashed potatoes prepared ahead of time
- 1/4 c parmesan cheese optional for the top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onions, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Drain off any excess grease. Then stir in gravy and vegetables. Spread ground beef mixture in the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish.
- Spoon prepared mashed potatoes over top and spread them out evenly. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cheese begins to brown. Let sit for 10 minutes prior to serving so it can thicken up more and solidify.
Video
Carla H
Friday 17th of March 2023
Just wondered if you can tell me about how many pouds of potatoes it takes to make the four cups mashed needed for this recipe?
Will
Thursday 27th of April 2023
@Carla H, It takes about 2 pounds of potatoes to make the 4 cups
Bob
Friday 4th of March 2022
Instead of saying Shepherds Pie with beef, why don't you just say Cottage Pie? Quit perpetuating the myth of Shepherds Pie with beef.
Will
Thursday 27th of April 2023
@Carrol, Shepherds pie is made with lamb, that's why it's called SHEPHERD'S PIE. Beef versions are called either cottage pie or rancher's pie.
Carrol
Saturday 6th of August 2022
@Bob,just eat the pie bob..its delicious either way..
Jenny B
Tuesday 23rd of February 2021
How many potato’s do you need for 4 cups? For the gravy are you just tossing the packet in or making the gravy as listed on the package? For the Parmesan Cheese is it shredded or powder?
Will
Thursday 27th of April 2023
The potatoes being used in the recipe I suspect are instant though about 2 pounds of raw potatoes should make enough for the 4 cups mashed.
Julie
Saturday 6th of March 2021
The recipe says 12 oz so I'm guessing its the pre made canned gravy instead of the packet. I wasnt sure either and saw that when I double checked :)
Not sure if it matters about parmesan cheese, probably just what you prefer.
And potatoes, im not sure. Maybe a dozen medium ones?