Shepherd's Pie

This year is already flying by! It’s March, which means St. Patrick’s Day is coming up. What better way to celebrate than with some traditional Irish Shepherd’s Pie that your whole family will drool over! What’s not to love about Shepherd’s Pie? It’s got lamb, mushrooms, onion, corn, peas, and carrots cooked in a delicious gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes baked in the oven! You’ve got your meat, potatoes, and a few veggies thrown in there for good measure. This comfort meal is perfect for any season.

A common misconception about Shepherd’s Pie is that it’s made with beef. However, a Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb, while a Cottage Pie uses ground beef. This recipe is easily interchangeable, so you can use whichever meat you prefer/is easiest for you to buy and remove or add any vegetables to your taste.

Tip: if you have a large enough cast iron pan USE IT! Nothing feels more homey than a meat dish with mashed potatoes in a cast iron pan.

Prep time: 15 min | Cook time: 50 mins | Total time: 65 mins

Ingredients (8-10 servings)

Mashed potatoes
- 3 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- Season with salt and pepper

Filling
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 lbs ground lamb, or ground beef
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme (sub 2 tsp dried thyme)
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary (sub 2 tsp dried rosemary)
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups frozen veggies (peas, carrots, corn)

Steps

Preheat oven to 400° F
Boil the potatoes: Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in a medium-sized pot filled with water. Add salt and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
While potatoes cook, melt 4 tbsp butter in a large pan on medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook until translucent, 6-10 min.
Add ground meat to the pan and cook until browned. Drain excess fat, if necessary—season with salt and pepper. Add your frozen veggies towards the end, as they take very little time to cook.
Add Worcestershire sauce and beef broth to the pan. Bring to a simmer and reduce to low. Cook uncovered for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. Add salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary.
Mash the potatoes. Once the potatoes are mashed, add 4 tbsp of butter, sour cream, and milk. Adjust everything to your liking. I like my mashed potatoes super creamy. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper.
Layer the mashed potatoes on top of the meat mixturecin either an oven-safe pan or a casserole dish.
Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until browned and bubbling. If necessary, broil for the last few minutes to help the surface of the mashed potatoes brown.
ENJOY!