How to Make Traditional Shepherd’s Pie for St. Patrick’s Day

This traditional Shepherd's Pie recipe is a classic comfort food dish, perfect for St. Patrick's Day. It has a rich meat filling, topped with creamy mashed potatoes, and is so easy to make. There are lots of shortcuts in this recipe, but there are absolutely no shortcuts when it comes to flavor!

Traditional (Easy) Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Why you'll love this Classic Shepherd's Pie recipe:

• It's easy to make
• It freezes well
• It can be made ahead
• No chopping and no potato masher needed!!!
• It's a deliciously hearty crowd-pleaser

Shepherd's Pie Ingredients

Mashed Potato Topping

• 2 packages (4 oz) of instant mashed potatoes
• 4 cups water or chicken broth*
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon white pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese

*Notes: If using chicken broth, mashed potatoes may not be as white as they are when using just water. Use chicken broth for the maximum amount of flavor. However, by seasoning the water with garlic and pepper, these spuds will have a big flavor punch.

Mashed potatoes made with chicken broth.

Mashed potatoes made with seasoned water.

Shepherd's Pie Easy Filling

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1  medium onion, chopped
• 2 lbs. 90% lean ground meat (ground lamb and/or ground beef)
• 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt (½ teaspoon if using fine table salt)
• ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley leaves
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, minced (1 teaspoon if dried)
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons Cup4Cup gluten-free flour (regular all-purpose flour if you are not GF)
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables: peas, carrots, green beans, corn
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• ½ cup fresh chopped parsley, garnish

Equipment

• Baking dish: 9 x 9 casserole dish, iron skillet, pie dish, or large muffin tin
• Large skillet
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Tongs
• Paper towels

How to make a classic Shepherd's Pie (Step-by-step instructions)

Shepherd's Pie Creamy Mashed Potato Topping

1. Bring the water or chicken broth to a boil.
2. Whisk in the garlic powder, white pepper, and butter.
3. Add instant potatoes to seasoned liquid and stir.
4. Set aside.

Shepherd's Pie Filling

1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a skillet and add the chopped onion. Cook until the onion has softened but not browned.
3. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the ground meat. Season with salt, pepper, rosemary, parsley, thyme, Worcestershire sauce. Stir infrequently allowing the meat to brown, about 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Drain the excess fat from the pan with tongs and paper towels.
5. Stir in the garlic, Cup4Cup gluten-free flour, and tomato paste. Cook for another 5 minutes allowing the flavors to meld and the meat mixture to thicken.
6. Stir in the cheddar cheese and mixed vegetables.
7. Top with the creamy mashed potatoes.
8. Dot the mashed potatoes with butter and/or shredded cheddar cheese.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 375F.
10. Let rest for 10 minutes.
11. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve.

Cook onions until soft and translucent.

Brown ground beef and/or lamb and cook with spices, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and gluten-free flour.

Stir in cheese.

Stir in veggies.

Top with mashed potatoes and bake for 30 minutes at 375F.

Shepherd's Pie Recipe Tips

Meal Prep Tips

Use foil lined large muffin tins for quick individual servings. After baking, wrap them in foil. You can freeze them for up to 2 months. If you prefer, refrigerate them for 5 to 7 days in an airtight container.

To freeze a larger portion for a family dinner or easy leftovers, make the shepherd's pie in a pie tin or casserole dish. Let it cool completely before wrapping it in foil. Then freeze it for up to 2 months.

Reheat frozen smaller portions in an air-fryer or toaster oven. Reheat the larger frozen dishes in a 350F oven until the center is hot, about 45 minutes.

What to serve with Shepherd's Pie for a St. Patrick's Day meal

Try some of these St. Patrick's Day favorites to go with your Shepherd's Pie!

Honey-glazed carrots

Creamy peas

Breadsticks

Shortbread cookies

Troubleshooting

Why is my Shepherd's Pie not sticking together?

Or as some people ask, "Why is my Shepard's Pie sloppy?"

Here are 3 suggestions that may help firm up a soupy Shepherd's Pie:

• After it comes out of the oven, let the dish rest for 10 minutes to set.
• When making the filling, make sure to drain the excess grease from the meat.
• Add a little extra flour when cooking the ground meat on the stove.

How do I thicken my gluten-free shepherd's pie without flour?

Saddly, not all gluten-free flours are created equal. I prefer cooking with gluten-free Cup4Cup flour because it performs so well. The cornstarch and xantham gum mimic the thickening properties of gluten very well.

If you are not using Cup4Cup, try making a cornstarch slurry (¼ cup cold water with 2 teaspoons cornstarch). Stir this into the meat mixture as it's cooking.

Common Questions about Shepherd's Pie

What's the difference between Shepherd's Pie and Cottage Pie?

Shepherd's Pie traditionally uses ground lamb as the filling. Cottage Pie diferenciates itself by using ground beef. The recipe above (and below) uses a mixture of both in order to cut any gaminess the lamb may have.

How did Shepherd's Pie get its name?

This humble yet richly satisfying dish dates back to the late 18th century. Irish shepherds are known for their bountiful and beautiful sheep that forever dot the lush Irish pastures.

Orginally this dish was a means to use leftover lamb or mutton, vegetables, and potatoes. Because it's incredibly tasty, it has remains a household stable both in Ireland, the States, and many other countries as well.

Love this recipe? Here's more you'll enjoy!

Oven Baked Corned Beef

Coconut Cake

While Shepherd's Pie is a classic comfort dish any time of year, it's especially popular around St. Patrick's Day. If you're looking for other traditional Irish-American fare for the holiday, be sure to check out our recipe for St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef Brisket.