Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef

The Great Comeback for an Old Recipe

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Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef is a recipe for people who have big families and want to cook a tasty dinner with few ingredients. It can also be served with a salad and pita for a traditional meal or with any other side that you and your family enjoy eating.

Content on this page…

• • Did you Know?
  • About the Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef recipe
  • Facts about Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef Recipe
  • What goes well with shepherd’s pie?
  • Can I freeze or refrigerate the shepherd’s pie?
  • Can I make shepherd’s pie the day before?

About Shepherd’s Pie recipe

As the title says, the original Shepherd’s Pie recipe is made with sheep/lamb meat, and being a shepherd’s delicacy, is made simply with few ingredients. My recipe has one pound of Ground Beef (not with sheep meat), to which we add four Medium Potatoes and one Large Bag of Frozen Corn. As a variation, you can also add one Small Bag of Green Peas.

Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef is a simple recipe and refreshing food, perfect for the cold season. The origin of this recipe is from America’s cuisine and is generally made with beef, lamb, or turkey. I tried it with Ground Beef and it’s excellent. If you do not want to prepare it with ground beef, try with lamb meat.  

Facts about Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef Recipe

There are many variations in the recipe, but the defining ingredients are chopped red meat (“cottage pie” refers to beef filling, and “shepherd’s pie” refers to lamb), cooked in a gravy or sauce with onions and sometimes other vegetables, such as peas, celery or carrots, and overlaid with a layer of mashed potato before baked. The pie is sometimes also topped with grated cheese to create a layer of melted cheese on top.

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Shepherd’s Pie came first to cookers’ attention. Therefore, housewives were on the frugal side back then. Like we do today, they were looking for ways to integrate the leftovers to which men and children would twist their faces. And they have done it. This recipe was born.

While Shepherd’s Pie has definitely emerged as a manner to make excellent use of these leftovers, the experimental results have been delightful. Recipes differ extensively, but their fundamental composition is the same. On top, there is a crust of mashed potatoes. On the bottom layer is the meat (we used ground beef). Trust me, it is simple but… you’ll like it, and how much you will!!

What goes well with shepherd’s pie with ground beef?

There are a lot of dishes with which you can combine shepherd’s pie. Among the variety of combinations, there are some that make this dish tastier. I recommend a simple salad, like coleslaw salad (see recipe here) or just make the greek salad for a Mediterranean taste. If the salads are not for you, combine the shepherd’s pie with some vegetables like mushy peas, buttered cabbage, thyme carrots, broccoli & cauliflower, butternut squash, parsnips, or roasted beets.

Can I freeze or refrigerate the shepherd’s pie with ground beef?

If you want to refrigerate the shepherd’s pie, let the pan cool at room temperature after baking, then cover tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator… it can be kept up to 4-5 days.

To eat it warm, you can reheat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. In case you want to freeze the shepherd’s pie, let the pan cool to room temperature after baking, then cover it tightly with foil and place in the freezer for up to 2 months.

When ready to eat, reheat the shepherd’s pie (still covered with the foil) for 1 hour in a 350ºF oven.

Can I make shepherd’s pie the day before?

Yes, you can make the shepherd’s pie right up to the point before you put it in the oven. Then, let it cool at room temp a while, cover, and refrigerate along with the gravy. It should be ok in the fridge for up to 24 hours. I make it a day before when I know for sure I’ll have the whole family the next day for dinner.