Best Shepherd’s Pie

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 30 min.

Makes

10 servings

Updated: Mar. 14, 2024
This is the best shepherd's pie recipe I've ever had, and it comes from a friend who was a whiz at pinching pennies without sacrificing hearty flavor. —Valerie Merrill, Topeka, Kansas
Best Shepherd’s Pie Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 2-1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cooked
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 can (10-1/2 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
  • 1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1/2 cup 2% milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • Chopped fresh parsley, optional

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mash potatoes with sour cream. Add salt and pepper; set aside. In a large skillet, cook beef with onion and red pepper, crumbling beef, until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir garlic salt into meat mixture. Stir in soup, corn and milk.
  2. Spread meat mixture into a 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with mashed potatoes; drizzle with the melted butter.
  3. Bake, uncovered, until heated through, 30-35 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.

Best Shepherd's Pie Tips

How do you store shepherd's pie?

Like other meat casserole recipes, you can store this shepherd's pie for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. Here's how long other leftovers last.

Can you make a low-carb version of shepherd's pie?

To make this a low-carb version, swap the mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower. You can also omit the corn to cut down on carbs.

Can you make shepherd's pie ahead of time?

Yes, you can make shepherd's pie ahead of time. For this recipe, prep the mashed potatoes and ground beef the day before.

—Christina Herbst, Taste of Home Assistant Digital Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 389 calories, 20g fat (9g saturated fat), 81mg cholesterol, 625mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 20g protein.