Jamielyn Nye
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This easy shepherd’s pie has all the savory taste of the traditional recipe but is simple to prep! Ground beef and vegetables are covered in mashed potatoes, topped with cheese then baked until golden.
Other comforting dinner recipes we love include Tater Tot casserole, baked beef ravioli and Frito pie.
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Table of Contents
- Best Classic Shepherd’s Pie
- Ingredients
- How to Make Easy Shepherd’s Pie
- Make Ahead + Freezing
- Other Comfort Food Recipes
- Shepherd’s Pie Printable Recipe
Best Classic Shepherd’s Pie
When I think of comfort food, I immediately think of an easy shepherd’s pie or homemade pot pie. Both are warm, hearty and full of rich flavors. This recipe is a bit easier to whip up which makes it perfect for when you’re craving something comforting!
Shepherd’s pie is a family favorite! This isn’t your traditional recipe, but I prefer it. I made this meal with my grandma as a little girl. I would always sneak bites of the creamy mashed potatoes. I remember her whispering to me “throw in more butter…throw in some cream.” ;)
Ingredients
- Meat: Ground beef (aka hamburger meat) gives this dish a hearty and delicious flavor. Ground lamb is traditional so use that if preferred!
- Veggies: This recipe calls for chopped onions and canned green beans. Feel free to add in other veggies like peas, corn or chopped carrots. I usually add in whichever veggies I have on hand to bulk it up a little more.
- Sauce: This is the main shortcut! Use a can of tomato soup in place of making a homemade sauce. It’s mixed with creole seasoning for extra flavor and adds the perfect thick consistency. Trust me, no one will know the difference!
- Potatoes: You can make homemade mashed potatoes, or use pre-made for convenience if you’re short on time.
How to Make Easy Shepherd’s Pie
- Cook on skillet. Add ground beef and chopped onions to a large skillet and cook over medium heat until the meat has browned. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in vegetables. Stir in the creole, tomato soup and green beans. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Assemble. Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish and spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the top. Then add a sprinkle of shredded cheese if desired.
- Bake.Bake uncovered in the oven at 350°F until the cheese is bubbly, about 15 minutes.
Make Ahead + Freezing
- To make ahead: You can make this shepherd’s pie 1-2 days in advance if desired. Simply cook ingredients on the skillet (hamburger, onions, creole, tomato sauce, green beans) and pour in a baking dish. Let cool completely, then cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil and place in fridge. When ready to serve, top with mashed potatoes and shredded cheese if desired. Then bake uncovered in the oven until bubbly, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- To freeze: If you are planning on freezing this dish, I’d recommend baking it first prior to freezing. Simply bake uncovered in oven for 15 minutes, then let cool completely. Tightly wrap in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place in the freezer (make sure it’s level and laying flat). The shepherd’s pie can be frozen for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw in the fridge overnight and then bake until bubbly and warmed throughout.
Other Comfort Food Recipes
- EASY Sloppy Joe Recipe
- Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
- Creamy Crockpot Chicken
- Crock Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
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Shepherd’s Pie
5 from 12 votes
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Author: Jamielyn Nye
This easyshepherd's pie is a quick twist on the classic recipe that's hearty, comforting and delicious! Makes a great weeknight dish that will become an instant favorite!
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 45 minutes mins
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 pound hamburger
- ½ cup chopped onions
- salt and pepper , to taste
- ¼ teaspoon creole , or seasoned salt
- 20 ounce can tomato soup , do not add water
- 14 ounce can green beans
- 4 cups cooked mashed potatoes
Optional: 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, add additional vegetables if desired such as diced carrots, corn or peas
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9×9 or 9×13 baking dish and set aside.
Cook the hamburger and onions in a skillet over medium heat. Salt and pepper to taste. Then add in creole, tomato soup and green beans. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
Pour soup mixture into the baking dish. Then spread the mashed potatoes over top. Cover with shredded cheese if desired.
Bake for 15 minutes uncovered, or until bubbly.
Nutrition
Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 335mg | Potassium: 682mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 620IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 3.6mg
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Beef, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
More about Jamielyn Nye
Other recipes to try
- EASY Pot Roast (only 5 ingredients)
- Instant Pot Potato Soup
- Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
- Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe
Add a comment
18 comments
- Bethany Peake
Gonna make it but with a twist: instead of the ground meat mixture this recipe creates, I’m gonna use our leftover chili I made a couple nights ago for the filling!
My oldest doesn’t like chili because it is compared to a soup and he doesn’t like soup, but loves shepherds pie. Why not? Cooking is about trying out what works and what doesn’t. Its an art form ;)
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- I Heart Naptime
That sounds like a great idea! Let me know how it goes :)
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- Sharon Henderson
We are in the middle of a blizzard here and I am so happy I have leftovers! We all loved this!
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- Beth
My son and husband are going to love this recipe! Looks so delicious and tasty! Can’t wait to give this a try!
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- Toni
This is so good! Everyone at my house loved it! Thanks!
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- Becky Hardin
Such a comforting dish!
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- Anna
This was a huge hit at my house! It’s so easy and delicious!
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- Aimee Shugarman
LOVe this quick and easy dinner recipe!
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- Lori
Delicious comfort food! Making this tomorrow.
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- Natasha
Shepherds pie wasn’t introduced to me until my adulthood but now I LOVE IT!! Can’t to try your version – looks delicious!
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- Ashley Bird
Another winner in our book! Everyone had seconds! Love how easy it was! This will be our go to from now on!! I added some corn just because our family likes it!
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- Kayla
Made this tonight and it was wonderful!! Can’t wait for the leftovers :)
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- Maureen
I’m an Irish girl who grew up loving Sheppard’s Pie as well! This looks like a good recipe, can’t wait for some cooler weather to give it a try! Thanks for the memories (my grandma was from Ireland and I loved cooking with her as well!).
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- Karyn Wilbur
That’s a very different version than we’re used to up here in the Northeast. Our version has ground hamburger (usually with cooked onions), then a layer of corn/creamed corn and finally topped with mashed potatoes and perhaps a little shredded cheese, then it’s all baked. Yum! Good ‘ol fashioned comfort food! I’m anxious to try your version too!
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- Ashton
Oh, this looks so delicious! It looks way better than my version (lol, I find the more I focus on desserts, the more inept I’m becoming at “real” food recipes…). Pinning for sure :)
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- Christa Shark
This looks yummy. We’ve tried it with a cream sauce… but the red sauce looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing.
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- Allyson
This looks so good!
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- Navy Wifey Peters
My husband loves shepherds pie! But he’s used to eating it on his submarine, so I’m sure that a homemade recipe would blow his mind! I’ll have to make this for him one day. :-) Thanks for sharing!
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