Easy Shepherd’s Pie

This Quick and Easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe takes a comfort food favorite and turns it into a budget family dinner. Made with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry and freezer, this Shepherd’s Pie with ground beef is the ultimate cheap comfort food dinner!

Easy Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie is a comfort food with many different versions, including the traditional Irish Shepherd’s Pie which is made with lamb. It’s one of those recipes I believe that most families have their own version of, as there are so many different variations of the traditional dish.

If you’ve never had it, Shepherd’s Pie (sometimes spelled as Shepard’s Pie) is a casserole with a few distinct layers – the bottom is the meat and vegetable layer and the top is mashed potatoes. It’s a “warm you from the inside out” casserole that’s meant to be tasty and filling. While it’s simple to make, it is a bit of a hands-on recipe and time consuming.

Or, rather, the original version is. This Easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe is simple to make and quick to get on the dinner table.

This classic Shepherd’s Pie with ground beef is not your typical recipe but it captures the essence of what Shepard’s Pie is all about – in a quick, cheap and easy way.

I made this comfort food casserole a few years ago when we were totally broke. I was determined to make a healthy, filling meal out of whatever ingredients I could find in the pantry and freezer. This recipe is the result.

The ingredients are simple – I bet you have most in your pantry and freezer! – and it comes together with little hands-on time.

Since creating it, this Shepherd’s Pie has become one of my go-to recipes that makes the whole family happy.

Since this is a hearty dish, it’s ideal for feeding a big group – or at least a big family. As a family of 6, we typically don’t have leftovers but that 6 does include 2 growing teenagers with huge appetites.

If you have a smaller family to feed, plan on having leftovers! It makes a great lunch the following day.

What is Shepherd’s Pie?

Shepherd’s pie is an Irish dish that is traditionally made with ground lamb, veggies and a crust of mashed potatoes. Sometimes it is topped with a layer of cheese. In some places this recipe is called cottage pie, but it is basically the same thing as the traditional Shepherd’s Pie.

Variations of this Quick and Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

The point of this Shepherd’s Pie casserole is to keep it simple so use what you have on hand! You can easily swap the beef for ground turkey, chicken or lamb. Experiment with different veggies too – I like to use a frozen mix but you could also use three different canned veggies.

While I keep it simple at times with and make shepherd’s pie with instant mashed potatoes, you can also make homemade potatoes if that’s what you have on hand. I like to make homemade mashed potatoes and keep them in the freezer so I can easily thaw them and use them when making this easy shepherd’s pie recipe.

Depending on what I have in the pantry depends on if I use cream of mushroom soup or canned cheddar cheese soup. Two people in my house prefer it with the cheddar soup, the rest like it better with cream of mushroom. You can also use cream of chicken soup or cream of celery soup if you want to.

How to Store Shepherd’s Pie

A great option for quick and easy meal prep. After it has cooled completely, you can divide this casserole into airtight containers that will last in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can also freeze individual portions (or the whole casserole) for up to one month. Just pop out of the freezer and into the oven.

How to Reheat Shepherd’s Pie

There are 2 ways to reheat Shepherd’s Pie. You can reheat a single serving in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or you can place the whole casserole dish in the oven at 350°F for 20 minutes. 

Easy Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients

• 32 ounces Frozen Tater Tots
• 24 ounces frozen mixed veggies
• 10.75 ounces can cream of mushroom soup or cheddar soup
• 1 pound ground beef
• 4 cups mashed potatoes or instant mashed potatoes
• 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

How to Easy Shepherd’s Pie 

Preheat the oven to 425. Spray a glass baking dish with non stick spray. If needed make mashed potatoes or use instant mashed potatoes.

In a pan over medium heat cook the ground beef, and drain the fat. Add the meat back to the pan and add in 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and mix together.

Line bottom of baking pan with frozen Tator tots.

Pour meat/soup mixture on top of tator tots and spread.

Add the frozen veggies on top of meat mixture.

Spread the mashed potatoes on top next.

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Easy Dinners on a Budget

• Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
• Chicken and Potato Casserole
• Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole
• Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
• Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole

21 Weight Watchers SmartPoints per serving.