Best Shepherd’s Pie Recipe with Ground Beef

Reasons to Love This Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

• Juicy, affordable ground beef. Sticklers will say that only way to make authentic shepherd’s pie is with lamb, while cottage pie is made from beef. However, the recipes have become pretty interchangeable over the years. As someone who always has ground beef in the freezer, that’s what I use here, and it’s easy to find in our grocery stores.
• Moist and flavorful filling. I love reading the reviews that say this is the best shepherd’s pie they’ve tasted! The filling is even better if you make it ahead of time, and not dry in the slightest, with a rich, savory gravy.
• Quick. This shepherd’s pie recipe needs 10 minutes of prep, and you leave the rest to your oven. It’s a great meal to prep ahead and freeze, too.
• 100% gluten-free. Many shepherd’s pies contain brown gravy thickened with flour. However, this one does not. It’s one of my favorite gluten-free casseroles. I make it every year as part of our gluten-free St. Patrick’s Day menu!

Key Ingredients

These are some notes on the ingredients for this easy, gluten-free shepherd’s pie recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below the post for the printable list with amounts.

• Ground beef – I prefer to use 90% lean ground beef, but use what you like best. To make this really traditional, you can also use ground lamb.
• Onion – Yellow or white onion, chopped.
• Garlic – Finely minced. If you need to, you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder or one full teaspoon of garlic paste in place of each fresh clove.
• Tomato paste – You could also use an equal amount of tomato sauce.
• Worcestershire sauce – Adds that savory, cooked-all-day flavor. Make sure you’re using gluten-free Worcestershire sauce. You can also substitute gluten-free soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos.
• Beef broth – I use the kind from a carton, or you can use homemade stock. Substitute chicken broth or stock if needed.
• Frozen mixed vegetables – Try to find a mix with corn, peas, carrots, and green beans.
• Potatoes – Since we’ll be mashing them, I recommend a starchy variety like Russet, Yukon Gold, or Idaho potatoes.
• Greek yogurt – Or sour cream, to add richness and creaminess to the mashed potatoes.
• Milk – Any kind.
• Cheddar cheese – Freshly shredded and divided. You’ll mix some of the cheese in with the mashed potatoes and add the rest on top of the Shepherd’s Pie. You can swap cheddar for another melty cheese like Gouda, Monterey Jack, or Gruyere.

What Is the Difference Between Cottage Pie and Shepherd’s Pie?

I mentioned it above, but the main difference between a cottage pie and classic shepherd’s pie comes down to the filling. Traditionally, shepherd’s pie is made with lamb (hence the “shepherd” in the name). Technically, what we’re making today is cottage pie, since it’s made with beef. In the US, you’ll find many shepherd’s pie recipes that use ground beef simply because it’s affordable and easy to find.

You can always call this recipe “cottage pie” if you prefer. Or, stick with tradition and make it with ground lamb instead! It’s delicious and just as easy to prepare either way.

• Boil the potatoes. Peel and cut the potatoes into small, 1-inch pieces. Afterward, add the potatoes to a pot of cold water, cover, and bring to a boil. Remove the lid and boil for 10-12 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
• Make the ground beef filling. While the potatoes cook, brown the ground beef in a skillet with the onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Drain any excess grease, then stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Add vegetables, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10-15 minutes or until thickened slightly.

• Mash the potatoes. Meanwhile, drain the cooked potatoes and then return them to the pot. Add Greek yogurt (or sour cream), milk, cheese, and salt, and mash that together with a potato masher until smooth. You can also do this using a hand mixer.

• Assemble the casserole. Now, transfer the meat mixture into a greased casserole dish. Spread the mashed potatoes over the top and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
• Bake. Bake your shepherd’s pie at 350°F for 30-35 minutes until it’s hot throughout and the cheese and potatoes are bubbly and golden.

What’s the Best Casserole Dish to Use?

I use my round and oval bakeware from Corningware all the time, for shepherd’s pie and other casseroles, to even just reheating a rotisserie chicken from Costco. For this recipe, I used the smaller 1.5-quart casserole dish (I placed it on a baking tray to catch any drips). If you don’t mind it not being filled to the top and don’t want it bubbling over a bit, try the 2.5-quart casserole dish.

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Tips and Variations

• Double-check your ingredients. Be sure to use Worcestershire sauce that is gluten-free (Lea & Perrins is gluten-free, if you buy it in the United States), as well as a gluten-free beef broth.
• For a fun twist, pile the ground beef filling into a baked potato instead to make shepherd’s pie loaded baked potatoes. Also, try these shepherd’s pie loaded French fries.
• Make mini shepherd’s pie. Try my individual shepherd’s pies baked in single-serving ramekins.
• Fewer carbs. Make a low-carb, keto shepherd’s pie with cauliflower mash.
• Add herbs. For even more flavor in the shepherd’s pie filling, add fresh or dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, basil, or oregano.

Make It Ahead

There’s more than one way to prepare this homemade shepherd’s pie in advance:

• Prepare the filling. Cook the meat and vegetable mixture, then leave it to cool and store it airtight in the refrigerator up to 48 hours ahead. When you’re ready, just prepare the mashed potatoes, assemble, and bake as directed.
• Make the casserole ahead. Assemble the full shepherd’s pie, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate or freeze it until you are ready to bake. See the section later in the post for tips on how to store and reheat the baked shepherd’s pie.

How to Store and Reheat Shepherd’s Pie

• Refrigerate leftovers. Let your gluten-free shepherd’s pie cool to room temperature, then either cover it with saran wrap or transfer it to airtight containers. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Reheat. When you are ready to reheat, scoop the desired amount onto a microwave-safe plate and warm until heated through. You can also reheat the full shepherd’s pie in the oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes, until it is heated through. The potatoes might give off a bit of extra moisture, but there is no impact on the flavor.
• Freeze. You can freeze shepherd’s pie before or after baking (see above). Spray a large piece of Saran Wrap with baking spray, then place it sprayed side down on top of the casserole. Wrap the whole casserole in a few layers of aluminum foil, not just the top of the casserole dish. Place in the freezer, where it will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, remove the wrapping, and bake or reheat as usual.

Make It a Meal

This hearty, gluten-free shepherd’s pie is a meal by itself. But if you want to serve something with it, try one of these ideas:

• A simple salad with Greek yogurt ranch dressing is a light option for more veggies.
• My Cauliflower colcannon with bacon and Brussels sprouts is a low-carb alternative to the classic Irish mashed potatoes recipe.
• Have a slice of Irish soda bread (you can even make gluten-free Irish soda bread). Or, gluten-free cornbread is another favorite.
• For dessert, you’ll love a mini Bailey’s chocolate mousse pie.

More Ground Beef Dinner Ideas

• Bacon Cheeseburger Crustless Quiche
• Easy Beefaroni
• Homemade Sloppy Joes
• Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Creamy Skillet Beef and Potatoes