Tater Tot Shepherd’s Pie

You’re probably familiar with shepherd’s pie, also called a cottage pie, a classic casserole recipe made from ground beef or lamb (hence the “shepherd” in its name) that’s cooked in gravy with veggies, then topped with mashed potatoes. Well, this tater tot shepherd’s pie is an easy ground beef casserole recipe that puts a new spin on a classic!

This recipe combines all the beloved flavors of my family’s Best Shepherd’s Pie with the convenience of my Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole using basic, easy-to-come-by ingredients (is it just me or is it a total mom thing to have at least one package of tater tots and several bags of frozen veggies in my freezer at all times?). If you love shepherd’s pie, prepare to be obsessed with this fun twist that’s meaty, cheesy, and the kids can’t get enough – a total win in my books!

Tater Tot Shepherd’s Pie is the Best Comfort Food Shortcut

So, why make a shepherd’s pie tater tot casserole? Here’s what makes this recipe the pinnacle of comfort food:

• A shortcut to shepherd’s pie. As much as I love mashed potatoes, some nights I also love having dinner on the table in a hurry. This recipe has all the flavor of traditional shepherd’s pie made with tater tots for the perfect shortcut that tastes great and cuts the prep time in half.
• Cheesy and delicious. A layer of melty cheddar cheese kicks the flavors of this homemade shepherd’s pie up a notch. Not to mention, it makes this recipe even more kid-friendly!
• Gluten-free. This recipe uses easy gluten-free ingredients. Of course, always check the labels on the tater tots you’re using, to make sure they’re 100% gluten-free.
• Freezer-friendly. Tater tot shepherd’s pie is easy to make in advance and freeze for longer-term storage. Don’t forget to check out the make-ahead directions later on!

Recipe Ingredients

• Ground Beef: I like to use lean ground beef, as it has a high enough fat content to make the filling flavorful, without being overly greasy.
• Onion and Garlic: Chopped onion and fresh minced garlic are essential aromatics.
• Tomato Paste: Adding a bit of tangy tomato paste gives the filling a nice hint of acidity.
• Worcestershire Sauce: To bring out the beefy flavors.
• Beef Broth: Or stock. I recommend the low-sodium kind so that you can adjust the filling’s seasoning to taste.
• Mixed Vegetables: I’ll pick up a couple of packages of my favorite frozen vegetable medley from the freezer aisle. I like the mix with diced carrots, peas, green beans, and sweet corn.
• Tater Tots: You’ll need enough tater tots to cover the top of your shepherd’s pie. About half a package of frozen tots should do it.
• Cheddar Cheese: I melt a layer of shredded cheddar over the whole casserole. So delicious!
• Salt and Pepper

Are Tater Tots Gluten-Free?

Even though tater tots are made from potatoes, not all brands of tater tots are gluten-free. Make sure that the tater tots you’re using are labeled as gluten-free, such as Ore-Ida (at the time of writing this post). Learn more in my article Are Tater Tots Gluten Free?

Tips for Success

Try these easy tips when making this hearty shepherd’s pie tater tot casserole recipe:

• Use the right size dish. I use my Corningware French White Round and Oval Bakeware all the time. For this recipe, I used the smaller 1.5-quart casserole dish shown here, and keep it on a sheet pan 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.
• Not a fan of onions? No problem. Skip the diced onions and flavor the filling with onion powder instead. This hack is especially handy if you have little ones who are onion-opposed.
• Make it in a skillet. Use an oven-safe cast-iron skillet if you have one. This way you can prepare the beef filling on the stove, lay the tater tots over top, and then bake the casserole all in one pan.
• Drain the grease. Remember to drain any excess grease after browning your ground beef, so that the filling doesn’t come out oily.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Refrigerator – Store your leftover tater tot shepherd’s pie refrigerated airtight for up to 3 days.
• Freezer – This shepherd’s pie with tater tots freezes well, so make it ahead to have on hand for easy thawing and baking/reheating. Wrap the casserole airtight in a freezer-safe casserole dish, and keep it frozen for up to 3 months. Tater tot shepherd’s pie can be baked straight from the freezer, just add about 15 minutes to the baking time.
• Reheat – I’ve found that it’s best to reheat this casserole in the oven (compared to the microwave), to really get the tots crisped up again. Reheat the shepherd’s pie in an oven-safe dish, at 350ºF for about 15-20 minutes, until warmed through.

Can I Make This Ahead of Time?

The ground beef shepherd’s pie filling can be prepared up to 2-3 days in advance and stored airtight in the fridge. You can also assemble the unbaked casserole up to 1 day ahead, then bake it as directed. Note that you may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you’re baking the casserole straight from the fridge.

To freeze the unbaked casserole, assemble the shepherd’s pie in a freezer-safe casserole dish and then wrap it or cover it airtight. Freeze your tater tot shepherd’s pie for up to 3 months. Whenever you’re ready, bake the casserole right from frozen, increasing the baking time by 15-20 minutes. See below for more casserole storage and freezing tips!

Shepherd’s Pie Variations

Shepherd’s pie is an easy casserole to make your own with different add-ins and variations. Here are some ways that you can customize this recipe to suit your family’s needs:

• Different Protein: Substitute ground beef with ground chicken or ground turkey, or use a combination.
• Sweet Potato: Trade regular tater tots for sweet potato tater tots for a lower-carb option.
• More Veggies: Stir in chopped mushrooms, diced zucchini, butternut squash cubes, bell peppers, or edamame beans. You can really use any leftover veggies you have in the fridge!
• Skip the Cheese: If you’re making this a dairy-free casserole, omit the shredded cheese or replace it with your choice of vegan or dairy-free cheese.
• Vegetarian: To make this into a vegetarian shepherd’s pie, substitute ground beef with more veggies, lentils, or chickpeas.

You can also double the filling and save half of it for later to make one of these other versions of the classic dish.

• Spoon it into baked potatoes (or even baked sweet potatoes) to make Shepherd’s Pie Loaded Potatoes.
• Top it with mashed sweet potatoes for Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie with its irresistible savory-sweet combo.
• Combine it with another vintage recipe and Shepherd’s Pie Stuffed Peppers will be a new family favorite.
• If you are out of tots, then use frozen French fries and make Shepherd’s Pie Loaded Fries.