Shepherd's pie casserole is a comforting and hearty dish that has been enjoyed for centuries. Originating in the United Kingdom, the traditional recipe consists of ground lamb or beef, vegetables, and a mashed potato topping. Over time, it has evolved into a versatile dish that can be customized with different meats, vegetables, and seasonings, making it a popular choice for home cooks worldwide. This article will guide you on creating the best shepherd's pie casserole by providing step-by-step instructions, ingredient suggestions, and tips for achieving a flavorful and satisfying meal. Let's dive into the world of this classic comfort food and explore the many ways to make it your own.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SHEPHERD'S PIE
The epitome of simple, homey comfort food, shepherd's pie is a casserole consisting of creamy mashed potatoes atop a rich and bubbly stew.
Provided by Jennifer Segal
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- Place the beef, baking soda, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 tablespoon of water in a medium bowl. Mash with your hand to combine. Set aside for 20 minutes.
- While the meat tenderizes, place the potatoes in medium saucepan and add just enough cold water to cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the potatoes are soft and fork-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return to the saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and stir the potatoes with a wooden spoon or potato masher until they are dry and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the sour cream, butter, half & half, and the remaining teaspoon of salt. Using a potato masher, stir and mash the potatoes with the other ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Set the mashed potatoes aside.
- Heat a 12-in oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan. Add the onions and carrots to the bacon fat and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and starting to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the wine and increase the heat to high; bring to a boil, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half. Add the flour and stir until dissolved. Add the reserved ground beef mixture, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce; continue cooking on high heat, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth; bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and cook, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the thyme, pepper, peas, and reserved bacon, and cook until the peas are warmed through. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
- Dollop the mashed potatoes evenly over the filling. Use a rubber or offset spatula to spread the potatoes evenly over the stew and all the way to the edges of the skillet. Drag a fork across the top to make ridges. Place the skillet on a baking sheet or large sheet of foil to catch any drips and bake until the filling is hot, the topping is lightly browned, and the edges are bubbly, about 30 minutes. (For more color, turn on the broiler and broil for the last 5 minutes, or until the top is golden.) Sprinkle with chives and serve.
- Note: If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer the meat mixture to a 2.5-qt casserole dish and then spread the mashed potatoes overtop.
- Make-Ahead Instructions: The stew portion of the recipe can be made several days ahead of time and refrigerated. Before assembling the pie, reheat the stew, adding a little broth if necessary if it seems dry. The mashed potatoes should be made right before assembling and baking the pie.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 650, Fat 33 g, Carbohydrate 50 g, Protein 33 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, Sugar 7 g, Fiber 5 g, Sodium 1243 mg, Cholesterol 122 mg
SHEPHERD'S PIE VI
This Shepherd's Pie is a layered casserole of beef, carrots, and potato.
Provided by Jacquie
Categories Main Dish Recipes Savory Pie Recipes Shepherd's Pie Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash. Mix in butter, finely chopped onion and 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add carrots and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, mash and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.)
- Heat oil in a large frying pan. Add onion and cook until clear. Add ground beef and cook until well browned. Pour off excess fat, then stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add ketchup and beef broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Spread the ground beef in an even layer on the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish. Next, spread a layer of mashed carrots. Top with the mashed potato mixture and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 451.8 calories, Carbohydrate 52.5 g, Cholesterol 64.5 mg, Fat 17 g, Fiber 7.3 g, Protein 23.1 g, SaturatedFat 7.3 g, Sodium 294.6 mg, Sugar 5.8 g
SHEPHERD'S PIE CASSEROLE
Meet the Cook: As the second oldest of eight children in a busy farm family, I had plenty of opportunity to practice cooking while I was growing up. Now that our three children are grown, I am cooking just for my husband and me - though few weeks pass without visitors. For "country eaters", this hearty pie is perfect! -Diane Gillingham, Carman, Manitoba
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h25m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large skillet, brown beef, onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the mushrooms. Cook and stir for 3 minutes; drain. Place the tomato paste in a bowl. Gradually whisk in broth until smooth. Stir in horseradish, mustard, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add to meat mixture. Pour into a greased 11x7-in. baking pan; set aside. , In the same skillet, saute the peppers in remaining oil until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and spoon over meat mixture. Cook potatoes in boiling salted water until tender; drain. Mash with milk, cheese and remaining salt. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; gently fold into potatoes. Spoon over pepper layer. Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°; bake 20 minutes longer or until meat layer is bubbly.
Nutrition Facts :
30 MINUTE SHEPHERD'S PIE
Try Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Shepherd's Pie recipe, a layered casserole of mashed potatoes, veggies and beef, from 30 Minute Meals on Food Network.
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl. Combine sour cream, egg yolk and cream. Add the cream mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth.
- While potatoes boil, preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil to hot pan with beef or lamb. Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 minutes. If you are using lamb and the pan is fatty, spoon away some of the drippings. Add chopped carrot and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat 5 minutes, stirring frequently. In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Thicken gravy 1 minute. Add gravy to meat and vegetables. Stir in peas.
- Preheat broiler to high. Fill a small flameproof rectangular casserole with meat and vegetable mixture. Spoon potatoes over meat evenly. Top potatoes with paprika and broil 6 to 8 inches from the heat until potatoes are evenly browned. Top casserole dish with chopped parsley and serve.
GROUND BEEF SHEPHERD'S PIE
Here's a quick, throw together recipe for shepherd's pie. Browned meat smothered in rich mashed potatoes with your favorite vegetables. A quick and easy dinner to make for your family.
Provided by GINGER P
Categories Main Dish Recipes Savory Pie Recipes Shepherd's Pie Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degree F (175 degree C). Coat a 2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion in oil for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the ground beef and basil, and cook and stir for 5 more minutes. Mix in the garlic, green beans, and tomatoes, and simmer for 5 minutes. Transfer beef mixture to prepared dish.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together the mashed potatoes, egg, and water. Spread evenly over meat mixture.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until potatoes start to brown on top. Sprinkle with cheese, and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 404.3 calories, Carbohydrate 25.1 g, Cholesterol 128.3 mg, Fat 21.1 g, Fiber 4.3 g, Protein 28.2 g, SaturatedFat 7.8 g, Sodium 228.7 mg, Sugar 3.6 g
SHEPHERD'S PIE - A BEEF AND MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE
In our household we called this Shepherd's Pie, although I'm not sure that this recipe is truly a "Shepherd's pie" as it is made with ground beef.
Provided by Heather N.
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 50m
Yield 1 casserole, 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In skillet, brown the ground beef and saute with onion.
- Drain beef.
- Stir in tomato sauce, salt, pepper, and celery salt.
- Pour mixture into a 1.5 quart (8x10) dish.
- Spread mashed potatoes over the beef mixture.
- Sprinkle top with cheese.
- Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 523.8, Fat 27.4, SaturatedFat 13, Cholesterol 109.9, Sodium 1026.6, Carbohydrate 36.3, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 6.7, Protein 32.3
QUICK AND EASY SHEPHERD'S PIE CASSEROLE RECIPE
This is one of my "go-to" recipes when I need something quick. With only a few ingredients, it's the perfect weeknight meal.
Provided by Camille Beckstrand
Categories Main Course
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef and drain.
- Add both cans of condensed soups and green beans; season with salt and pepper. Mix together until all ingredients are combined.
- Pour ground beef mixture into large 9x13 casserole dish.
- Top ground beef mixture with mashed potatoes (homemade mashed potatoes are the best, but if you are in a hurry, instant potatoes will work fine! If you are in a BIG hurry, I have even thrown frozen tater tots on top and it works great!).
- Spread cheese on top of potatoes.
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 282 kcal, Carbohydrate 25 g, Protein 14 g, Fat 14 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 47 mg, Sodium 349 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 6 g, ServingSize 1 serving
VELVEETA SHEPHERD'S PIE CASSEROLE
Buttery mashed potatoes, skillet-browned ground beef plus corn make this crowd-pleasing VELVEETA Shepherd's Pie Casserole your new in-house pub favorite.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings, about 1-1/4 cups each
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat oven to 425ºF.
- Brown meat in large skillet; drain. Return meat to skillet; stir in water. Add Vegetables and Seasoning Mix; stir. Bring to boil; cook 1 min. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 min., stirring frequently. Stir in corn. Spoon into 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; cover with Cheese Sauce.
- Microwave Mashed Potatoes, milk and butter in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 3 min.; stir. Spoon over cheese sauce.
- Bake 18 to 20 min. or until filling is heated through and topping is golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 490, Fat 25 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, TransFat 1.5 g, Cholesterol 100 mg, Sodium 1050 mg, Carbohydrate 33 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 11 g, Protein 32 g
Tips:
- Choose high-quality ground beef. Look for a lean ground beef with a fat content of 85% or less. This will help to keep the shepherd's pie from becoming greasy.
- Use fresh vegetables. Fresh vegetables will give your shepherd's pie the best flavor, texture and nutrients. If you don't have fresh vegetables on hand, you can use frozen vegetables in a pinch.
- Season the meat and vegetables well. Don't be afraid to season the meat and vegetables generously with salt, pepper, and other spices. This will help to bring out their flavor.
- Don't overcook the meat. Overcooked meat will be tough and dry. Cook the meat until it is just cooked through, no longer.
- Use a good quality gravy. The gravy is what really makes the shepherd's pie. Use a gravy that is made with fresh ingredients and has a rich, flavorful taste.
- Mashed potatoes are a must. Mashed potatoes are the traditional topping for shepherd's pie. They add a creamy, comforting texture to the dish.
- Shepherd's pie can be made ahead of time. This makes it a great dish for busy weeknights. Simply assemble the casserole and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking.
- Shepherd's pie can also be frozen. If you want to make a big batch of shepherd's pie, you can freeze it for later. Simply bake the casserole according to the directions, then let it cool completely. Wrap the casserole tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Serve with a side of vegetables. Shepherd's pie is a hearty and filling dish, but it can be nice to serve it with a side of vegetables, such as green beans, peas, or carrots.
Conclusion:
Shepherd's pie is a classic comfort food that is enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a relatively easy dish to make, but it can be time-consuming. However, the end result is always worth it. Shepherd's pie is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a cold winter night.
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