Irish-Style Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (2024)

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When you ask someone to list the best comfort foods of their childhood, those Sunday night dinners that still make their mouth water, shepherd’s pie will almost always make an appearance. It’s a savory, homey meal that is fairly budget-friendly, simple to prepare, and fills up even picky eaters.

Irish-Style Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (1)

It’s no wonder our parents loved to serve us! One of the mainstays of shepherd’s pie is the mashed potato topping. Remember – white potatoes are completely fine for Paleo eaters.

However, if you really prefer to keep these out of your diet, you can choose to use sweet potatoes instead. Just know this will change the flavor palette of the dish quite a bit – instead of a savory dish, it’ll be a lighter, savory-sweet taste.

The ingredients list for this dish might seem a little overwhelming at first, but this casserole is a complete meal – you don’t need to add sides to this for a full plate. We love how much of a timesaver this can be – instead of prepping another dish, you can relax and anticipate how awesome your dinner will be while the casserole bakes.

One of our favorite techniques for hectic weeknights is prepping in the morning and baking in the evening – get everything cooked and in your baking dish early in the day, refrigerate, and pop it in the oven when you get home. This can actually help the flavors in this dish because it gives them some time to mingle together before baking.

If you really want to add something else to your plate, try prepping a simple salad while your shepherd’s pie bakes – the lightness of a salad can definitely help balance the heavier main course.

Irish-Style Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Serves: 6 Prep: 25 min Cook: 45 min

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lb. ground beef
  • 2 lb. russet or sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
  • ½ onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp. tomato paste
  • ¼ cup dry red wine (optional)
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 2 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 2 fresh bay leaves
  • Fresh parsley
  • ¼ cup ghee
  • Cooking fat
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Irish-Style Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Add the potatoes to a large pot and fill it with water.
  2. Bring to a boil and allow to cook until the potatoes are soft (about 20 minutes).
  3. Drain the potatoes and put them back in the pot. Add the ghee, season to taste with salt and pepper, and mash until smooth.
  4. Preheat oven to 375 F.
  5. In a large skillet, melt cooking fat over medium-high heat.
  6. Brown the ground beef until no longer pink, then add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic.
  7. Add the tomato paste, dry red wine, beef stock, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves; season with salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Cook over medium heat until everything is cooked and the vegetables are soft (10 to 12 minutes).
  9. Remove the thyme and bay leaves from the skillet.
  10. Place the ground beef-vegetable mixture at the bottom of a baking pan and top with mashed potatoes.
  11. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and bake in the oven for 25 minutes.

📖 Recipe

Irish-Style Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (3)

Irish-Style Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

This casserole dish requires some work, but the pay-off is an awesome, savory, complete meal for any night of the week.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Irish

Servings 6 people

Calories 513 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the potatoes to a large pot and fill it with water.

    2 lb. russet or sweet potatoes

  • Bring to a boil and allow to cook until the potatoes are soft (about 20 minutes).

  • Drain the potatoes and put them back in the pot. Add the ghee, season to taste with salt and pepper, and mash until smooth.

    ¼ cup ghee, Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • Preheat oven to 375 F.

  • In a large skillet, melt cooking fat over medium-high heat.

    Cooking fat

  • Brown the ground beef until no longer pink, then add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic.

    1 ½ lb. ground beef, ½ onion, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 2 garlic cloves

  • Add the tomato paste, dry red wine, beef stock, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves; season with salt and pepper to taste.

    2 tbsp. tomato paste, ¼ cup dry red wine, 2 cups beef stock, 2 fresh thyme sprigs, 2 fresh bay leaves, Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • Cook over medium heat until everything is cooked and the vegetables are soft (10 to 12 minutes).

  • Remove the thyme and bay leaves from the skillet.

  • Place the ground beef-vegetable mixture at the bottom of a baking pan and top with mashed potatoes.

  • Sprinkle with fresh parsley and bake in the oven for 25 minutes.

    Fresh parsley

Nutrition

Calories: 513kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 24gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 361mgPotassium: 1045mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 22009IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 81mgIron: 4mg

Keyword irish style, shepherd's pie

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Irish-Style Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Irish and British shepherd's pie? ›

It's called cottage pie in the U.K. because they use beef and in Ireland since the shepherds tend sheep, it's shepherd's pie. No doubt, the English put out an excellent cottage pie, but in Ireland it used to be a delicacy since the Irish couldn't afford beef they repurposed any unused veggies and meat.

What ingredients does shepherd's pie a traditional Irish dish contain? ›

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  • 1 tablespoon butter.
  • 2 pounds lean ground lamb.
  • 1 onion, diced.
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour.
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced.
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup.
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary.
Mar 7, 2024

Is shepherds pie german or irish? ›

Many people believe that the peasant housewives invented the pie as an easy way to repackage leftovers from their Sunday roast. The Shepherd Pie is thought to originate from Ireland and the northern parts of England.

What is traditional shepherd's pie made of? ›

Classic Shepherd's Pie is a comforting casserole that consists of ground lamb, carrots, and peas simmered with Guinness, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs and topped with a cheesy mashed potato layer that's baked until golden and crisp.

Why do Irish people eat shepherd's pie? ›

"Shepherd's Pie is one the most traditional Irish dishes I know of," she said. Culhane said the meal became popular in Ireland for a simple reason: It's easy to make, it makes a lot and it's cheap. Although there are many variations, most Shepherd's Pies are made with ground meat, potatoes, carrots, peas and onions.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

Does shepherd's pie have gravy in it? ›

Shepherd's pie is a classic British dish that has been around for centuries. Traditionally, it is made with mashed potatoes, ground beef, carrots, peas, and onions, all topped with a thick gravy. It is a hearty, comforting dish that is enjoyed by people all over the world.

What are 5 common ingredients in Irish cuisine? ›

Dining at the Irish table: your guide to Irish flavours
  • Pork, beef and lamb. Pork-based products have long had a special place in the Irish diet, from the classic bacon and cabbage to the great breakfast fry. ...
  • Cheese and dairy. ...
  • Irish bread and baked treats. ...
  • Seaweed.

What country invented shepherds pie? ›

The dish originates from the British Isles, but some might argue that it is an Irish dish by origin. The name "Shepherd's Pie" was first recorded in an 1877 cookbook. In this same cookbook, it was noted that the dish was of Scottish origin. During the period between the 18th and 19th centuries, money was very tight.

Is shepherds pie and cottage pie the same? ›

The only significant and steady difference between shepherd's pie and cottage pie is the type of meat used. Shepherd's pie traditionally features ground lamb; cottage pie recipes call for ground beef.

What is a shepherds pie called when it is made from beef? ›

The two English terms have been used interchangeably since they came into use in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, although some writers insist that a shepherd's pie should contain lamb or mutton, and a cottage pie, beef.

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›

Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

Why is flour used in shepherds pie? ›

This shepherd's pie recipe uses 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the gravy but if you feel like the meat mixture is too watery, add in another tablespoon and stir to combine. You may also try simmering the mince mixture for longer so that the stock reduces down and thickens.

Does Ina Garten have a recipe for shepherd's pie? ›

This Shepherd's Pie is the real deal. It is full of flavor and utterly delicious. A great filling and an even better topping make this truly a stand-out. Bacon, onions and ground beef are cooked along with carrots and peas in a flavorful gravy composed of Guinness Beer, beef broth and spices.

What is the difference between American pie and British pie? ›

American pie is a sweet tradition — apple, pumpkin, chocolate. But in Britain, pie is baked up savory — pork, duck, chicken, pigeon, sausage, pork.

What is the difference between American and British pie? ›

British pies are often meat pies or pasties. Most American pies are fruit, pecan or pumpkin. A more comparable comparison would be to American pot pies which have meat in them but also a gravy.

What is the difference between British and American pie? ›

The difference comes down to the seasoning — and the apples

While Brits sometimes put cinnamon in apple pie, Hollywood told us it's not a mandatory ingredient over there like it is in the U.S.: "I don't think my mum put it in; my mum just used a little bit of sugar and apple. I don't remember at all having cinnamon."

What is shepherd's pie made of in England? ›

The usual meats are beef or lamb. The two English terms have been used interchangeably since they came into use in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, although some writers insist that a shepherd's pie should contain lamb or mutton, and a cottage pie, beef.

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