Easy Shepherd's Pie

a deep dish shepherd's pie in a pie pan with a slice taken out and placed on a white plate beside the rest of the pie.

Filled with sauteed meat, onions, carrots, and peas, then topped with creamy mashed potatoes, this easy shepherd’s pie recipe is simply perfect. This version is our go-to when we want something satisfying without fuss. You can bake it as a traditional double‑crust version or skip the top crust and go straight with the mashed potatoes. Either way, it’s a winner!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Irish

Keyword Easy Shepherd's Pie, Homemade Shepherd's Pie Recipe, Shepherd's Pie

Prep Time 35

Cook Time 15

Total Time 50

Servings servings

Calories 485kcal

Ingredients

1 lb ground meat (we use beef, lamb is traditional)
3 lbs potatoes, cubed
1/2 cup butter
1 cup milk
1 onion, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
1 cup green peas
salt, pepper, garlic
2 pie crusts

Instructions

Boil potatoes until tender. Mash potatoes with butter and milk. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Meanwhile, brown the meat and onions. Salt, pepper, and garlic to taste. Add carrots once the meat is browned and cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring often. Add peas once carrots are softened.
Grab your favorite pie crust recipe (for 2 crusts). We go back and forth between my great-grandmother’s pie crust recipe and my new sourdough pie crust recipe. Place the bottom crust in a deep pie pan or casserole dish.
Spread meat into an 8×8 casserole dish or deep dish pie pan. layer in the meat and veggies mix, then add a thick layer of mashed potatoes on top. Don’t be afraid to really pile it on, making the pie really mounded up!
Finish with a second layer of crust on top. Fold the edges down and crimp with a fork to seal.
At this point, I like to freeze the whole pie for about 15 minutes before baking. This helps keep the crust as flaky as possible. But this is optional, so if you are in a hurry, skip this step! Bake for 15 minutes at 425° or until crust is golden brown.
Serve with a side of crusty bread, a side salad, and a drizzle of homemade ranch dressing for a delicious dinner any time!

Notes

You can freeze this dish in various portion sizes in two different ways. Note, you will likely want to double or triple the recipe as the single recipe only makes 8 servings.

Individual Serving Sizes – Instead of making a large pie, you can also make individual serving sizes by making the pies in small metal containers. I like to buy these 2-cup aluminum containers for individual portions that come with paper lids. They are easy to label and stack nicely.
Family Size Portions – You can use a pie dish with a domed lid, or you could buy larger family and potluck-size containers as well. Just note that the heating time for larger portions will be longer than for a smaller individual frozen portion.
Reheating – Generally, an individual portion heats fully at 375° for 30-40 minutes, where a family-size or potluck portion (think lasagna tray-sized) might take 55-90 minutes depending on the size.

Nutrition