Shepherd’s Pie

 A classic for a reason – cosy, comforting, family-friendly and fuss-free.

Does it really get any better than this classic? Shepherd’s Pie is the ultimate comfort food and a meal I always feel good about serving my family. Just the delicious smell of it cooking away in the oven makes me happy. My version features a rich and flavoursome filling made with minced (ground) lamb, chunky vegetables, garlic, red wine and herbs. It is then topped with creamy, cheese-loaded mashed potato and finished with a crispy parmesan crust.

Shepherd’s Pie has got to be one of the most simple and economical, yet hearty and delicious, winter-warming family meals.

This easy recipe is perfect for weeknights or weekend meal prep. Whether you’re making it with lamb or swapping in minced beef instead (which instantly classifies this as a cottage pie – yes, that’s the only difference between shepherd’s and cottage pie!), this recipe is a family favourite that’s economical and simple to put together. Just 15 minutes of prep, then the oven does the rest of the work.

Even better news is that the pie keeps for up to 3 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer, so I can cook once but feed my family twice. It’s such a relief when I know I can pull this delight out of the freezer to thaw, ready to heat and eat the next day. You can make the pie in one large dish or several small ramekins, and it’s beautiful served with your favourite simple steamed greens.

I love to serve Shepherd’s Pie with simple steamed greens like broccolini (tenderstem broccoli), as pictured, but you can substitute your family’s preferred fresh greens.

What other sides go well with Shepherd’s Pie?

Steamed greens, dressed simply with olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice and salt and cracked black pepper are one of our favourite sides to enjoy with Shepherd’s Pie. We mix the vegetables up between broccolini (tenderstem broccoli) – as pictured – or go with green beans, sugar snap peas, snow peas (mangetout), broccoli or brussel sprouts. We also love a simple Green Leafy Salad or spinach or kale sauteed with garlic – delicious!

Can I make individual servings of Shepherd’s Pie?

Yes! You can make individual portions by assembling the pie in smaller ramekins or oven-safe dishes. You can reduce the cooking time to 15–20 minutes, to make this an even faster dinner option.

There’s nothing like digging in to a delicious homemade Shepherd’s Pie at the end of a long day, especially when the weather is chilly.

How do I avoid a soggy pie?

To prevent the filling from becoming too watery, allow the lamb mixture to simmer and reduce until it thickens to a gravy-like consistency. Also, letting the mixture cool slightly before topping it with the mashed potato helps avoid sogginess.

It’s important to rough the potatoes up to create an uneven surface. This means more delicious crispy bits!

What other vegetables can I add to the filling?

Add vegetables like sliced mushrooms, diced zucchini (courgette), shredded silverbeet (Swiss chard) or kale at the same time as the onion, carrot and celery to make this recipe even more veggie-forward. You could also add a few handfuls of baby spinach at the same time as the peas.

The filling is a simple mixture of minced (lamb), chunky vegetables, garlic, red wine and herbs. You can add extra veggies to the filling if you want.