Shepherd's pie
Lamb mince under mashed potato — cottage pie if it is beef, and we will name the difference.
Recipe by I Want Some Food · Reviewed by the editorial kitchen.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Rest
- None
- Total
- 1 hr 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spice
- No chilli
- Cost
- Weeknight budget$8–16 USD · indicative, not a store price
About
Shepherd's pie is cooked lamb mince in a gravy of onion, carrot and a little tomato or Worcestershire, topped with mash and baked until the peaks catch. Beef is cottage pie. Both are leftover logic that became a named tray.
What you'll need
9 ingredients. Tap each one once it's out on the bench.
Ingredients
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Fry onion, carrot and lamb. Tomato paste, water, salt. Simmer 20 minutes until thick.
25 min
Step 2
Boil potato, mash with butter and milk. Top the mince, rake. Bake at 200°C 25 minutes until the peaks brown.
35 min
Nutrition
Per serving · estimate
- Calories
- 661 kcal
- Protein
- 37.5 g
- Carbs
- 47.3 g
- Fat
- 35.5 g
- Saturated fat
- 16.7 g
- Fibre
- 6.8 g
- Sugar
- 6.5 g
- Sodium
- 1018 mg
Calculated from canonical ingredient data (USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables). Estimates only.
Allergens
Informational only. Not a medical guarantee. Cross-contamination happens in real kitchens.
- Milk
- Gluten-free
- Nut-free
Adapt this recipe
The original recipe stays as it is. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are simple maths.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 13 November.
Substitutions
Lamb → Beef mince
Cottage pie. Same tray logic.
Tips
- Worcestershire or a splash of leftover gravy is the usual extra.
- Beef mince: call it cottage pie.
History & culture
British and Irish home cooking. A Thursday tray. Peas on the side if you want a fight.
Cottage pie is attested earlier; shepherd's as lamb is a later distinction people now treat as law.
Traditional
Provenance: Editorial adaptation.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Shepherd's pie take?
1 hr 5 min all in — 25 min prep, 40 min cook. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 4 trays. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Easy.
How spicy is it?
No chilli.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Milk. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Gluten-free, Nut-free.
7 more questionsFewer questions
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Saucepan, Frying pan, Oven.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 1½ tsp.
What can I use instead?
Lamb → Beef mince. Cottage pie. Same tray logic.
Any tips from this recipe?
Worcestershire or a splash of leftover gravy is the usual extra. Beef mince: call it cottage pie.
Can I prepare this ahead?
Worcestershire or a splash of leftover gravy is the usual extra.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.
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