This easy Shepherd’s pie is made with ground beef in a savory gravy, layered with tender vegetables, creamy mashed potatoes and topped off with cheddar cheese.
This is my twist on the classic Shepherd’s pie recipe. It does not use ground lamb or the traditional sauce. Instead, the ground beef is mixed with gravy and topped with sharp cheddar cheese. Interesting fact: it’s actually called cottage pie when it’s made with ground beef. However, in America, people commonly refer to it as Shepherd’s pie anyway.
This easy shepherd’s pie is one of my favorite go-to ground beef recipes because it’s budget-friendly, flavorful and makes a great comfort food. I have it at least once a month. It only requires 5 ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to make so it’s perfect for a quick and easy dinner recipe.
Customize Your Shepherd’s Pie
This easy shepherd’s pie is the ultimate comfort food. Meat, cheese, potatoes? What’s not to love with that combo! It is also is easily customizable to your family’s preferences. You can add different vegetables: corn, carrots, frozen peas, green beans, or just a bag of frozen vegetables.
You can use instant mashed potatoes or real mashed potatoes with Yukon potatoes, Russet potatoes, or Sweet Potatoes. When I use instant mashed potatoes, I like to add butter, garlic powder and a glob of sour cream for extra flavor. The gravy can be made from scratch or made with a gravy packet. The choice is up to you. You can even switch up the cheeses. Some good substitutes are Colby jack, mild cheddar, or a mix of different cheeses ….The possibilities are endless!
For a low carb option, you can subtitute with cauliflower mash and use lower carb vegetables like green beans, carrots and onion. If you are looking to make it healither, you can use lean ground beef or ground turkey, mashed sweet potato or cauliflower mash, load it with extra vegetables and omit the cheese or use a smaller amount of low fat cheese.
How to Make Ahead and Freeze
This is one of those leftover recipes where it’s just as good the second time around! This easy Shepherd’s pie can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge or frozen for up to 3 months. Be sure to store it in an airtight container. You can make this recipe ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to bake it.
What to Serve with This Easy Shepherd’s Pie
This casserole is a complete meal, but you can add:
- a side salad
- buttered dinner rolls
- garlic bread
- broccoli
- brussel sprouts
- glazed carrots
- irish soda bread
5 Ingredient Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 10 oz frozen mixed vegetables thawed
- 8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 cups prepared mashed potatoes
- 1 cup brown gravy
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 and spray a 9x13 casserole-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Add ground beef to a medium sized skillet and cook on medium-high heat, breaking up the meat with a spatula as you cook it. Season the meat with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder.
- After it is browned and cooked through, drain any excess grease from the skillet, if there is any.
- Make your mashed potatoes and gravy according to directions.
- Add the gravy to the ground beef and transfer ground beef mixture into a casserole dish.
- Spread the vegetables evenly over the top of the ground beef.
- Add the mashed potatoes on top of the vegetables. Use a spatula to smooth mashed potatoes evenly over the vegetables.
- Top the casserole with the shredded cheese for the final layer.
- Bake, uncovered, for 15 mintues until it is bubbly and the cheese is lightly browned.
150 Best 5-Ingredient Easy Dinner Recipes for Families
Corinne says
Good recipe. Can I use can mixed veggies with the same results? I dont like frozen peas texture. Tia
prudentpennypincher.com says
Yes, you can! 🙂
Donna says
I’m single so I use my air fryer for most everything, I halved the recipe, that gave me two meals. Salad and cornbread perfect meal. I then cook another meal that has two servings. This allows me to only have to cook every four days. This recipe is perfect for my air fryer, by halving the recipe I can use a pan that fits in my air fryer. Hope this give others some different ideas.
prudentpennypincher.com says
Thanks for sharing! That sounds like a great way to make it and I bet it’s much quicker to make in air fryer too. 🙂
Amanda Smith says
You can put casserole dishes in air fryer@!!!!?????
prudentpennypincher.com says
You can use any ovenproof dish or pan in the air fryer as long as it fits inside! 🙂
Janice Whalen says
What flavor of gravy packet can you use if you don’t have beef? I have turkey, chicken or pork.
Thanks.
prudentpennypincher.com says
Hi Janice,
Pork should work fine. You could also make a quick homemade brown gravy if you have flour, butter, beef bouillon cube (or beef broth) and some seasonings.
Hope that helps!
Lynn says
What kind of gravy packet do you use??
I really don’t care to make my gravy. Is it something like a McCormick‘s brown gravy or ah jus packet or what??
Want to make it tomorrow night so appreciate the help and hopefully a prompt response!
prudentpennypincher.com says
Hi Lynn,
Yes, I use McCormick‘s brown gravy for this recipe!
Sandi says
FYI:
Shepard’s Pie is called such when it is made with beef.
Cottage is when it is made with Lamb.
prudentpennypincher.com says
Hi Sandi,
Yes, I am aware. As I stated in the post, “It’s actually called cottage pie when it’s made with ground beef. However, in America, people commonly refer to it as Shepherd’s pie anyway.”
Diane says
I made this recipe tonight for dinner tonight and it was a hit with my family. Will definitely make it again
prudentpennypincher.com says
Hi Diana,
So glad to hear that you and your family enjoyed it! Thank you for taking time to come back and leave a comment 🙂
Beth says
Can I used mixed vegetables in a can? Not a cool but trying. Thanks
prudentpennypincher.com says
Yes, Beth. 🙂 That will be fine. Just be sure to drain them first.
Michelle says
This is now my go to recipe for left over mashed potatoes! I normally have all other ingredients on hand. I don’t use as much cheese, just a sprinkle. Perfect, easy dish, thanks!
Tab says
If I freeze this how long will it need to bake
prudentpennypincher.com says
Hi Tab,
I would suggest freezing it after it has been cooked. After making it, let the pan cool to room temperature, then cover tightly with foil and place in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, reheat the shepherd’s pie (still covered with the foil) for 1 hour in a 350F oven. You could also thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before baking at 400F for 30-35 minutes if you wanted to shorten the cook time.
Kellye says
I have made Shepherds Pie many times using varous recipes and my own tweaks. I never quite liked any of them that much. Tonight I was in a hurry and your recipe grabbed my attention. It was easy and delicious. Thank you!
I can’t wait to try some of your other recipes!
prudentpennypincher.com says
You’re very welcome, Kelly! So glad to hear that you enjoyed it 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to comment and leave a review!
summer says
i’m substituting corn with mixed vegetables, do i have to heat the corn up prior to putting it in the pan or no?
prudentpennypincher.com says
Hi Summer,
It depends on what type of corn you are using. If it’s frozen corn, then you should thaw it (or you can cook it if you prefer), but if it’s canned then you don’t need to heat it up. For fresh corn, I would definitely cook it though.
Hope that helps,
Stephy
Tracie says
Hi. I will be making this on the weekend. Whatcha substitute can I use other than brown gravy? Thank you!
prudentpennypincher.com says
Hi Tracie, You can use an onion, chicken, or a pork gravy or just omit the gravy altogether. 🙂
meli says
Made this recipe tonight. Got 3 meals out of it. One is being cooked tonight and the other two are being frozen for another date, uncooked. Cooking before freezing does NOT work, causing the potatoes and cheese to become soggy. I found it also changes the taste and texture of the dish. when I’m ready to make dinner, I simply take the lid off, cover with foil and cook it at 350 for about 30 minutes, then take foil off and cook another 30 minutes. Let cool for about 10 and serve. Love the recipes, I use peas and carrots canned, gravy for a canned/jar, instant potatoes and a shredded cheese blend. The recipe basics are easily changed up to suit anyone’s food tastes. It’s really a good recipe.
prudentpennypincher.com says
Thank you for the review and for taking the time to leave a comment, Meli! So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe. It is definitely one of those recipes that can be easily altered for personal preference. 🙂
Nancy Price says
This recipe fills a 9×13 ? I am going to take this to a friend and to make sure.
prudentpennypincher.com says
Hi Nancy,
A 9×13 casserole dish will work fine!
Terri Barnes says
This recipe is a very time consuming. My family did not care for this meal much at all.
Theresa says
My son who just turned 19 today was Ted me to make Shepherds Pie for his Birthday. Never made it before so, I’m gonna try this one out!
prudentpennypincher.com says
Hope he enjoyed it!
Sandy says
Made this last night for my mom and dad. They absolutely loved it and the review that said it was no good and time consuming must have not made it right! Thank you for the recipe it was delicious!
prudentpennypincher.com says
So glad to hear they loved it! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and leave a review! 🙂