The Shepherd’s Pie Recipe is the best hearty and healthy dinner. It’s a flavorful ground beef base topped with mashed sweet potatoes or mashed cauliflower!
Easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe
I didn’t grow up eating shepherd’s pie. But since making this recipe I can’t stop!
This easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe is the perfect dish when you’re craving something hearty and comforting. It’s loaded with egg whites and fall veggies and topped with creamy mashed sweet potatoes or cauliflower.
What is Shepherd’s Pie?
Shepherd’s Pie is a hearty dish consisting of a ground beef and mixed vegetable base, topped with mashed potatoes and baked.
Traditional shepherd’s pie is made with ground lamb, but you’ll often see it made with other meats as well.
What is the difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie?
Shepherd’s pie and cottage pie are essentially the same thing. The only difference is the meat used. Shepherd’s Pie is traditionally made from ground lamb. Cottage pie is traditionally made with ground beef.
So, technically This recipe is a variation of cottage pie. But the terms are often used interchangeably!
What’s in Shepherd’s Pie
This Shepherd’s Pie recipe features an easy ground beef base with two different types of mash: cauliflower and sweet potato! Here’s what you need:
ground beef base
- Olive oil: You need a drizzle of oil to sauté the flavors and veggies.
- aromatics: We create a flavor base with minced garlic and finely diced onions.
- Vegetables: Our vegetarian mix is made with mushrooms, carrots and frozen peas. Feel free to use other vegetables if you like.
- ground beef: Use grass-fed ground beef. I recommend a lean ground beef so it’s not too oily. If you notice too much fat, drain it before assembling the cake.
- Share: You can use beef or chicken broth.
- Spices: I simply season the ground beef with salt and pepper. If you want to spice things up a bit, feel free to add any other spices you like.
mashed sweet potatoes
- Roasted Sweet Potato: To roast the sweet potato, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast at 400ºF until tender. Remove the shell and let it cool before preparing the porridge.
- Milk: I use non-dairy milk, but feel free to use any milk you have on hand.
- Sea-salt: A pinch of salt brings out the flavor of the sweet potato perfectly.
cauliflower puree
- Steamed Cauliflower: Simply steam until tender (about 5-7 minutes) to allow the cauliflower to be easily mashed.
- Garlic: Use fresh garlic for the best flavor.
- Milk: Again, any milk you have on hand will work. I use dairy free.
- Butter: Start with 2 tablespoons of grass-fed butter and add more as you like.
- Salt and pepper: Enhances the flavors in the mash and adds a subtle touch of spiciness.
How to make Shepherd’s Pie
This easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe is made two ways and only takes 15 minutes of prep time!
Scroll down for the full recipe!
- Cook Vegetables: Heat the oil and garlic in a large skillet until fragrant. Add the other vegetables and sauté until the onions and carrots are soft.
- Add beef and broth: Add the ground beef to the pan and fry until browned. Stir in the broth, salt, and pepper, then reduce the heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes.
- Make the mashed sweet potatoes: Place the roasted sweet potato in a mixing bowl or blender. Mix or puree the non-dairy milk and salt until smooth.
- Prepare cauliflower puree: Steam the cauliflower until soft. Combine with the other ingredients in a mixing bowl or blender. Blend until smooth.
- Assemble and bake: Divide the meat mixture evenly between two baking pans. Top one with the mashed sweet potatoes and the other with the mashed cauliflower. Bake for 10 minutes, then fry for 5-8 minutes until golden brown.
tips and hints
- Remove the sweet potato skin. If you leave it on, the porridge won’t be nearly as creamy. It can be easily peeled off after frying. Just be careful. It will be hot!
- Want to make the Cauli porridge paleo-friendly? Use ghee instead of butter.
- Adjust. Feel free to add other veggies or use a different meat if you prefer.
- Make it cheesy. Make it even more comforting by adding a layer of your favorite cheese.
- Use a different pulp. Feel free to swap out the mashed sweet potatoes or cauliflower for your favorite mashed potatoes. Try my Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or my Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes!
- make it vegetarian Feel free to omit the meat and fill in the veggie mix to keep this meal vegetarian.
serving suggestions
Shepherd’s Pie is very hearty and fills you up on its own. BUT also a treat with a few classic side dishes!
Enjoy with:
How to save
Leftover shepherd’s pie will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, if frozen, then cover in the oven until heated through.
More Comfort Food Dinners You’ll Love
Watch the video:
Pin this recipe to save for later!
ground beef base
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Garlic cloves chopped
- 1 big onion finely diced
- 1 Cup Mushroom finely chopped
- 1 Cup carrots rolled
- 1 Cup frozen peas
- 1 Pound grass-fed ground beef
- 1/2 Cup Organic beef or chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon sea-salt more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper more to taste
mashed sweet potatoes
- 2 large sweet potatoes roasted until fork tender and skin removed
- 1/4 Cup non-dairy milk
- 1/4 teaspoon sea-salt more to taste
cauliflower puree
- 1 Head cauliflower roughly chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic crushed
- 1/4 Cup non-dairy milk add more as needed
- 2 tablespoon grass-fed butter more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon sea-salt more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black ground pepper more to taste
-
In a large cast-iron skillet, heat oil and garlic over medium-high heat, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
-
Add onions, mushrooms, carrots and frozen peas. Sauté over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until onions are translucent and carrots are soft.
-
Add the ground beef and cook over medium-high heat until brown and no longer pink. Stir often.
-
Add beef or chicken stock, sea salt, and black pepper. Taste and season to taste.
-
Reduce heat to low and simmer for 8-10 minutes. Remove from stove and set aside.
-
Place roasted sweet potato in a medium mixing bowl or high-speed blender. If using a mixing bowl, mash the sweet potato well before adding the remaining ingredients. If using a high-speed blender, add all the ingredients for the mashed sweet potatoes at the same time and puree until smooth.
-
Sauté cauliflower until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
-
In a medium mixing bowl or high speed blender, place the cauliflower and the remaining ingredients for the cauliflower mash. Blend or puree until smooth. Taste and season to taste.
-
Preheat oven to 350°F.
-
Divide the beef mixture between two equal-sized cast-iron skillets. Line one cast iron skillet with the mashed sweet potatoes and the other with the mashed cauliflower.
-
Bake for 10 minutes, then grill on high for 5-8 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
-
Serve warm!
Use ghee in the cauliflower puree to make it paleo-friendly!
Photos updated August 2017.