Shepherd’s Pie or cottage pie? We call it Shepherd’s Pie but I know many call it cottage pie. It’s one of the staple dishes in our home that my mom would make all the time when I was a kid. My mom loves to make her 30 minute easy Shepherd’s Pie especially during the week when time is limited.
Updated November 2021
This recipe will bake for 30 minutes and the prep time will take about 20 minutes if you choose to boil and make your mashed potatoes from scratch or you could use make shepherd’s pie with instant potatoes to save time.
I have added a handful of affiliate links to our favorite baking dishes below for shopping convenience.
Recipe for Easy Shepherd’s Pie
How to make an easy Shepherd’s Pie with a 30 minute bake time. To save time and cut your prep time in 1/2, you can make instant potatoes if you are in a hurry! My gram loved the Betty Crocker Brand with Butter. Side note – if you need the perfect baking dish, my mom swears by her clear Pyrex baking dishes (buy here). They come in a set of two different sizes which is nice!
Are you looking for other ways to make Shepherd’s Pie?
How about a healthy Shepherd’s pie with mashed cauliflower? You literally cannot taste the difference between mashed potato and mashed cauliflower. It’s so good! You can still add corn too!
Shepherd’s Pie with Corn
Our 30 Minute Bake Easy Shepherd's Pie
Equipment
- baking dish
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- 2 lbs lean beef I used 93% lean ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 can creamed style corn
- 1 bag frozen corn
- 10 boiled potatoes you can use instant potatoes as well to save time
- 1 cup light cream or milk
- 1 stick butter or substitute
- Salt pepper & paprika
Instructions
- Instructions:
- Boil potatoes and mash. Stir in 1 cup light cream and melted stick of butter. Sauté onions in a skillet until brown and then add meat. Cook meat fully and season to taste. Cook frozen corn and set aside.
- In a 9x11 baking dish, spread a layer of meat, then creamed style corn and potato. Repeat this layering process using the cooked frozen corn. Season top layer of potato with salt, pepper and paprika.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
Video
Notes
What goes on the bottom of Shepherd’s Pie?
Shepherd’s pie is all about layering your ingredients starting with instant mashed potatoes (or boiled real potatoes)
- Layer your shepherd’s pie by starting with melted butter on the bottom of the pan and then add a layer or instant or real mashed potato
- Next layer your ground beef
- Layer your canned (or frozen) corn and creamed corn
- Final layer – mashed potato
Shopping tip: These Pyrex measuring cups shown below are the best and come in a set of 4!
NEW RECIPE ADDED: Mom’s Cauliflower mash Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s Pie can be made from sweet potato, instant potato and even whipped cauliflower.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie Ground Turkey
If you are looking for a healthier version, you can also try our Sweet Potato Pie with ground turkey.
Have you ever tried using sweet potato?
It has cheddar cheese across the top and is delicious.
Baking tip: Use these baking crocks to make individual Shepherd’s Pie servings! I have the brown ones but the gray ones linked are pretty too!
We have a few diabetics in our family so sweet potatoes are better vs regular and we also use ground turkey when we make the sweet potato version. It actually tastes delicious and is a nice change from traditional pie.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie with Cheese
We recently shared our cheeseburger shepherd’s pie that was also amazing. This is my favorite when I am looking to cheat on my healthy diet and go all in!
When my gram was alive, she would always say, “Shepherd’s Pie is a staple kind of food.” She said she made it all the time when her kids were little because it was affordable and filled them up.
I kind of agree with her. If you need an inexpensive meal that feeds a lot of people, this is a great recipe.
Be sure to check out my mom’s crockpot chicken & dumplings, corned beef & cabbage , chicken casserole and chicken pot pie.
I would love to hear who has another recipe version of Shepherd’s Pie on hand. Sometimes changing the recipe around is fun and I am always looking for alternative ideas. Leave your recipe ideas in the comment section below!
This post contains affiliate links.
Glory/ Glorious Treats says
OOh, delicious and easy, that can’t be beat!
Jessica Bruno says
Thanks so much!
Christine says
Hi Jessica,
I’ve been a blog follower for quite some time now. I’d love to see your recipes made available in a printer friendly version.
Thanks!
Jessica Bruno says
I totally agree! I actually had a plugin I was using and it kept cutting off the end of my post :(. I am trying to find a better alternative. Soon! 🙂
G. James says
WOW! A great recipe, a great mom who works full time and cooks most of the meals – you are incredibly blessed! Way to go MOM!
Jessica Bruno says
We sure are blessed! She loves her crockpot and dishes that she can prepare ahead of time. That’s always been her “thing” 🙂
Jonni Shannon says
Can I make this ahead & freeze 1/2 of it for the following week?
Jessica Bruno says
I have never tried that. Google it and see but I don’t see why not. Good luck 🙂
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
Yummm! I’m loving all of these recipe posts lately!
Kristen says
Making this meal tonight and my 16 year old daughter is going to love it!
Brenda says
I’ve never had shepherd’s pie before, but it looks good! I love potatoes so anything with potatoes sounds good to me! I like that you also have a healthier version with sweet potatoes – I like those too!
Claudine A. Shoulders says
I love the plaid drinking glasses you have in the White & Gold table decorations picture. Do you remember where you bought them?
Laurie says
My mom would add a can of tomato soup to the beef and onion mixture, then add a can of green beans, and top with mashed potatoes.
Jessica Bruno says
oh that is a great idea !! I will try that
Jessica Bruno says
Oh that’s a good idea!
Sarah Carpenter says
If you do mashed potatoes, how much should I make? Thx!!
Jennifer says
I am usually pressed for time so I make min with ground beef, 1 can of chunky ground sirloin veggies soup with either corn , carrots, sweet green peas or all 3 with Chedder, munster, and Harvarti cheeses, it’s delicious…
Jessica Bruno says
That’s a great idea! I am always pressed for time too and love tips like that!
Shawna says
You could also add a thin layer of cornbread mix on bottom to hold it all together and add a little different flavor
Jessica Bruno says
shawna that sounds delicious! I never thought of that. I make a yummy cornbread casserole for Thanksgiving that calls for the Jiffy cornbread mix and it’s soooooo good! 🙂