Shepherd's Pie is a classic and delicious meal idea for those who want to try making pie meals by themselves. They are simple to prepare and packed with flavors and nutrients. They allow you to control the ingredients, leading to a healthier meal. Additionally, preparing Shepherd's Pie dinner can be cost-effective, using affordable ingredients like ground meat and vegetables. Plus, experiment with various fillings and toppings like sweet potatoes and different veggies to make your unique version of this comforting dish.
Shepherd’s Pie Dinner Ideas
The flexibility of these Shepherd’s Pie Dinner Ideas enables you to incorporate leaner meats like chicken or turkey for a lighter option or increase the veggie content with peas, carrots, spinach, or bell peppers. By choosing high-quality, fresh ingredients, reducing the use of processed foods, and adding more vegetables, you can create a meal that is not only delicious but also nutritious. Also, if you wish to make it vegan or vegetarian, you can opt for plant-based proteins like lentils or tempeh, and we'll provide you with amazing ideas to help you in this regard.
Classic Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
MEAT FILLING:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 lb. 90% lean ground beef -or ground lamb
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 garlic cloves -minced
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup frozen mixed peas & carrots*
- ½ cup frozen corn kernels
POTATO TOPPING:
- 1 ½ - 2 lb. russet potatoes -about 2 large potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter -1 stick
- ⅓ cup half & half
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Easy Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 3 large (1 ½ to 2 pounds) potatoes , peeled and quartered
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, divided
- 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 ½ cups)
- 1 to 2 cups mixed vegetables, such as diced carrots, corn, or peas
- 1 ½ pounds ground round beef
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Pepper and/or other seasonings of choice
Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 Garlic Cloves , Minced
- 1 Onion , Finely Chopped
- 1 Carrot , Finely Chopped
- 1 Rib Celery , Finely Chopped
- ¾ teaspoon Each Dried Thyme And Rosemary (Or 2 Sprigs Fresh Thyme + 1 Sprig Rosemary)
- 750g (1.5 Lb) Ground Lamb (Mince) Or Beef
- ¼ Cup (35g) Flour , Plain/all Purpose
- ¼ Cup (55g) Tomato Paste
- 2 Cups (500ml) Beef Stock / Broth
- ½ Cup (125ml) Red Wine (Or Water)
- 1 Beef Bouillon Cube , Crumbled
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 Dried Bay Leaves
- ¾ teaspoon Cooking / Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Cup Frozen Peas
Mashed Potato
- 1.2kg (2.2 Lb) Potatoes, Peeled And Cut Into 2.5cm / 1" Cubes
- ⅔ Cup (165 Ml) Milk (Whole Or Low Fat)
- 2 tablespoon (30g) Butter
Crust
- 2 – 3 tablespoon Grated Parmesan , Optional
- 2 tablespoon (30g) Butter , Melted
- Fresh Thyme Leaves, Optional Garnish
Best Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients
- 2 Lb. Russet Potatoes, Peeled, Sliced ½" Thick
- Kosher Salt
- ⅔ C. Half-and-half
- 4 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter
- 2 Tbsp. Chopped Fresh Parsley, Divided
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Tbsp. Canola Oil
- 2 Lb. Lean Ground Beef
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion, Chopped
- 2 Medium Carrots, Peeled, Chopped
- 3 Cloves Garlic, Chopped
- 2 Tsp. Chopped Fresh Rosemary
- 2 Tsp. Chopped Fresh Thyme
- 3 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
- ½ C. Dry Red Wine, Such As Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1 C. Low-sodium Beef Broth
- 3 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
- Cooking Spray
- 3 Tbsp. All-purpose Flour
- 1 C. Frozen Corn
- 1 C. Frozen Peas
- 3 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan
Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
For the Mashed Potato Topping:
- 1 ½ pounds russet potatoes
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter diced
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup milk or half-and-half
- 1 large egg yolk
For the Meat Filling:
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 pound lean ground beef or ground lamb
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup less sodium beef broth or chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1 (10- to 12-ounce) bag frozen peas and carrots no need to thaw
Authentic British Mushy Peas
INGREDIENTS
- 9 ounces dried marrowfat peas (there is no substitute, marrowfat peas are larger, have a higher starch content, and contribute the right flavor and texture for traditional mushy peas)
- Boiling water
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
The Best Yorkshire Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs (200g; 7 ounces)
- 150g all-purpose flour (5.25 ounces; about 1 cup plus 2 teaspoons)
- 175g whole milk (6 ounces; ¾ cup) (see notes)
- 2g kosher salt (about ½ teaspoon)
- 25g water (0.85 ounces; 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons) (see notes)
- 100ml beef drippings, lard, shortening, or vegetable oil (about ½ cup)
Cranberry Goat Cheese Salad With Walnuts
Ingredients
- 6 cups baby spinach roughly an 8 ounce bag of store bought
- ¼ cup goat cheese crumbled (like chevre)
- ½ cup dried cranberries sweetened
- ½ cup walnuts raw, roughly chopped
- ½ shallot finely minced (about 2 tablespoons)
- ⅛ cup vegetable oil can use grapeseed or other neutral oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- pinch salt and pepper optional
1-hour Soft And Buttery Dinner Rolls
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon active-dry yeast*
- 3 ½ to 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- extra melted butter, for brushing on top
Garlic Sautéed Swiss Chard
INGREDIENTS
- 1 bunch of swiss chard, approximately 6 to 8 stems
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup water
- kosher salt, to taste
Oven Roasted Eggplant
Ingredients
- 700g/ 1.2 lb eggplants (2 medium), aka aubergine
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt (kosher / cooking salt, or ¼ teaspoon table salt)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Garlic Mushrooms
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ an onion chopped (optional)
- 1 pound (500 g) Cremini or button mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons dry white wine* (optional)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Apple Walnut Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 8 cups chopped red leaf lettuce, about 1 large head
- 1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced (I used Gala apple)
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onions
- ¾ cup walnut halves, toasted + roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
Vinaigrette
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp. honey or maple syrup
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
Fluffy Condensed Milk Bread
Ingredients
Bread dough
- 3.5 c cake flour see notes for AP flour substitution
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 c whole milk at room temperature
- ½ c sweetened condensed milk
- 1 medium egg
- 2 oz unsalted butter softened, at room temperature, cut into pieces
Egg wash
- 1 medium egg
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
Condensed milk glaze
- 3 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter softened, at room temperature
Corn Salad
Ingredients
- 4 larger ears fresh corn, shucked (yields about 4 cups, 20 oz corn kernels)
- 1 heaping cup halved grape tomatoes
- 1 cup diced English cucumber
- ⅓ cup diced red onion
- ⅔ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 3 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh basil
Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoon honey
- ½ tsp minced garlic
- ½ tsp each salt and freshly ground black pepper
Glazed Carrots
INGREDIENTS
- Baby Carrots – You can also use larger carrots – peel and cut into coins or chunks. Just make sure the slices are all equal in size.
- Water – This will help cook the carrots and make them tender.
- Brown Sugar – It adds the perfect amount of sweetness, but can be substituted with honey or maple syrup. Reduce brown sugar for less sweet carrots.
- Butter – We use unsalted butter, but salted butter can also be used – lessen the amount of salt added at the end.
- Salt and Black Pepper – You can top with fresh herbs like parsley or thyme. You can squeeze an orange or lemon juice over the top for a bright twist.
