Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

This homemade shepherd’s pie recipe is the ultimate comfort food! Ground beef and chicken are cooked with mixed vegetables in a savory tomato sauce and topped with creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes.

Welcome back, Cousins! Today, we’re taking a trip to comfort food land to make a delicious, savory shepherd’s pie recipe! A while ago, I asked my YouTube subscribers what kind of recipes they’d like to see, and a lot of people said shepherd’s pie! Now, you probably don’t know that I once, years ago, shared a shepherd’s pie recipe that was pretty basic. These days, y’all want to see more of a traditional shepherd’s pie. 

However, I won’t lie – I wouldn’t call this a traditional recipe. I’m getting a little tired of traditional recipes these days, so I spiced things up by using ground beef and chicken, along with more traditional ingredients like mixed vegetables, tomato sauce, and, of course, creamy mashed potatoes.

Shepherd’s Pie is Pure Irish Comfort Food

Y’all are probably wondering, who the heck came up with the idea of this savory mixture of beef, sauce, and potatoes? Well, that would be the Irish! The history of this dish is actually pretty simple. Meat, vegetables, and potatoes were cheap and widely available in the United Kingdom – especially Ireland. Cooking these ingredients up in a savory gravy was a no-brainer. 

You may have also heard of shepherd’s pie called cottage pie. Well, what the heck is the difference? Traditionally, shepherd’s pie is made with lamb – the type of meat most shepherds had access to. Cottage pie is made with beef (and was made more often by the British since they had more access to beef instead). 

No matter what you call it, and no matter what meat filling you choose – you can’t deny that shepherd’s pie is pure comfort food in a casserole dish! 

Ingredients for Homemade Beef Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Now, this isn’t a classic shepherd’s pie recipe, but it sure is tasty! It’s packed with savory ingredients – meat and vegetables, a hearty tomato sauce, and potatoes. What more could you want? To find the full ingredient list and directions, scroll down to the printable recipe card and take it with you to the grocery store! Here’s everything you need to make an easy shepherd’s pie recipe.

• Ground Beef: I recommend using lean ground beef if you can, so there’s less excess fat to drain. 
• Chicken Breast: I use about 1 pound, or 1 large chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces. 
• Mixed Vegetables: save yourself the hassle and go with a frozen blend! Carrots, peas, corn, and green beans are the perfect combo.
• Onion & Garlic: these aromatics are necessary for flavor.
• Tomato Sauce: the base of the savory sauce for this shepherd’s pie recipe. 
• Seasonings: I tend to keep it pretty simple with black pepper and a classic salt-free seasoning blend like Mrs. Dash. However, the standard salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder combo works perfectly. 

Ingredients for the Mashed Potato Topping: 

• Golden Potatoes: I prefer Yukon gold potatoes – they’re tender and creamy, which is perfect for this recipe. But feel free to use Russet potatoes as well!
• Cheddar Cheese: shredded cheese for the cheesy mashed potatoes!
• Cream Cheese: for extra creamy potatoes. If you want to swap this out, sour cream is a good alternative.

What other kinds of meat can I use to make homemade shepherd’s pie? 

If you want to stick to a traditional shepherd’s pie recipe, you’ll want to use ground beef or ground lamb. But since YOU’RE the cook in YOUR kitchen, you can use whatever you want! Leave out the chicken if you prefer (I promise, I take no offense 😉). Ground turkey is a much leaner meat option if you want healthy. You could even use shredded beef or stew meat if you want heartier chunks in the meat mixture.

How to Make Homemade Shepherd’s Pie (with Video Tutorial)

Now we get to the good part – how to make a tasty, savory shepherd’s pie with ground beef and chicken. Y’all already know I have a helpful video tutorial showing you every step of the recipe, so head on over to my YouTube channel and check it out (subscribe while you’re there!) or watch it below!

Directions for Chicken and Ground Beef Shepherd’s Pie

1. First, get those peeled and diced potatoes going in a large pot of salted boiling water and cook them until fork tender. Drain and transfer cooked potatoes to a large mixing bowl. 
2. Add cream cheese and shredded cheese to the potatoes. Use a hand mixer (or potato masher) to mix everything together until it is creamy and well combined. Set the mashed potatoes aside.
3. Next, get a large Dutch oven or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add your cubed chicken and cook through. Remove and set it aside. 
4. Add your ground beef and cook through. Drain any excess fat, then add your mixed vegetables, onions, and garlic. 
5. Next, add the tomato sauce, seasoning, and chicken back into the pot. Let the chicken and ground beef mixture simmer for about 15 minutes until it thickens slightly. 
6. Transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13″ baking dish and spread it out into an even layer. Top the mixture with the cheesy mashed potatoes and smooth those out. 
7. Bake the shepherd’s pie at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 55-65 minutes. Let it cool for about 20 minutes to let everything set before digging in! 

And there you have it, Cousins – a classic, savory pie! This is one of the best shepherd’s pie recipes I’ve ever tried. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a change from those boring “traditional” dinners, and even better for a special occasion! You can even make this for St. Patrick’s Day to feel really Irish. 

Shepherd’s Pie Recipe Tips and Variations

One quick Google search will tell you there are tons of ways to make shepherd’s pie, from the more classic variations to modern twists with ground meat mixtures and a variety of veggies. However, here are some common variations you can try if you want to add a personal twist to this tasty recipe. 

• You can create a more flavorful sauce by swapping out tomato sauce for tomato paste and beef broth or dry red wine. These two ingredient swaps add a whole bunch of flavor that really kicks this great recipe up a notch. 
• You can also add a dash of Worcestershire sauce for an even more savory flavor.
• In a hurry and don’t have time to make homemade mashed potatoes? I feel you, fam. Take a shortcut by using tater tots as a quick potato topping! Sprinkle with cheddar cheese for that extra cheesy touch. Traditional? Heck nah. But delicious, heck yeah!

Why is my shepherd’s pie soggy?

If the meat filling is too runny, you probably didn’t let it simmer long enough. The sauce needs to reduce a bit to thicken up and prevent a soggy, runny pie. It’s also important to let the shepherd’s pie cool long enough before serving. That will help it set up a bit and avoid a runny mess!

How do you tell when shepherd’s pie is done?

This is an easy one! Since all the ingredients in this chicken and ground beef shepherd’s pie are fully cooked, you don’t have to worry about doneness for safety’s sake. You want to bake the dish until the potato topping is golden brown and bubbly.

How do I prepare shepherd’s pie ahead of time?

This is the perfect make-ahead dinner! Simply prepare the recipe as directed up until it’s time to bake. Let the dish cool completely before wrapping it tightly or covering the casserole dish with a lid. Keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days before baking. Shepherd’s pie is also very freezer-friendly! You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge for a super easy dinner that will taste like luxury on a busy weeknight.

More Savory Dinner Recipes from I Heart Recipes

If you make this tasty, savory beef shepherd’s pie recipe, drop a comment down below and let me know how you liked it! If you’re looking for more easy and delicious dinner ideas, try these next: 

• Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup
• Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
• Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs
• Easy Homemade Beef Pot Pie
• One-Pot Sloppy Joe Pasta
• Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage 

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