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This classic Shepherd’s Pie is comforting, delicious, and cooked on the grill for added flavor. But it’s also easy to modify for your oven. Make this Grilled Shepherd’s Pie if you are craving the comfort of whipped potatoes and meat stew.
When it comes to Irish recipe ideas, Shepherd’s Pie is one of the classics in addition to Smoked Corned Beef Brisket and Irish Stew. You can use ground beef, lamb, or chicken in this recipe, all resulting in amazing flavor. And while technically a beef-based pie is a “Cottage Pie”, you can use the recipes interchangeably. Nobody will be mad that you did!
Table of Contents
Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients + Substitutions
- Ground Meat: Traditional Shepherd’s Pie uses lamb, but you can use beef too, because it’s YOUR meat pie. Or substitute with ground pork, turkey, or chicken.
- Vegetables: think colorful rainbow here. We like the classics of onions, carrots, peas, and corn. But you can go a little crazy and add mushrooms, bell peppers, or whatever your veggie heart desires.
- Liquids: we’re wine people, so we start with a base of wine. I’ve seen people use Guinness too, and guess what, I like how those people think! Next up, some broth (beef or chicken), and Worcestershire sauce (it adds great savory flavor!).
- Thickeners: a little flour to create your gravy, and a little tomato paste for richness and flavor. You can also use 1:1 gluten free flour for a gluten free version.
- Flavor/Seasoning: add some fresh herbs for great depth of flavor. We love fresh rosemary and thyme, and don’t forget to add basic seasonings like salt, pepper, and garlic.
- Mashed Potatoes: For the topping! This wouldn’t be a Shepherd’s pie without the “crust” right? We’re sticking to the classic russet potatoes for our mash. Or for more spice make our Horseradish Mashed Potatoes.
Preparation
The process for making Grilled Shepherd’s Pie starts with pre-chopping and prepping all of your ingredients in advance, or mise en place. If grilling, this makes everything pretty seamless when cooking.
Then make the minced meat filling. Followed by the mashed potatoes.
Then bake it!
How to make Shepherd’s Pie on the Grill
We start this recipe inside, using the stovetop, but if you have outdoor burners, use them! We’re just getting the party started in a large cast iron skillet, then we’re going to transfer everything to the grill or smoker to cook. Make sure to use a sturdy cast iron pan if you’re cooking it on your grill.
- Preheat Grill: Preheat grill or smoker to 375 degrees Fahrenheit using lump charcoal. We recommend setting up for two-zone grilling to control the amount of direct heat. If using a Big Green Egg or Kamado Grill have the conveggtor plate set.
- Make Your Mashed Potatoes: Peel potatoes and cut into a half-inch dice and boil them until tender. Drain. Add cream, butter, seasonings, and mash away until creamy. Set aside.
- Cook Meat: In a preheated large cast iron skillet (at least 12″) brown the meat on the grill over indirect heat. Add a touch of salt and pepper to the browning meat. Once the meat is cooked remove it place in a bowl and set aside (you’ll add it back later)
- Cook Vegetables: In the same skillet, add some olive oil, place back on grill, and cook the vegetables until soft. Then add back the meat and stir together.
- Add Thickeners & Liquids: Add flour and let it cook into the mixture. Next add the wine and let it simmer, then add broth, Worcestershire, and tomato paste. Mix together.
- Add the Remaining Vegetables & Seasonings: add your herbs, seasonings, corn, peas, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Top with Mashed Potatoes: In the same pan, gently top the mixture with the mashed potatoes, and spread it evenly over the top of the pie. We use a fork making S-patterns to get peaks and valleys so the peaks brown while on the grill. It also adds to a pretty presentation when the dish is cooked!
- Grill: Place the cast iron pan over indirect heat on your grill and cook for 35-40 minutes, uncovered, until the top is slightly browned and the filling is slightly bubbly.
Oven Modification
If you want to make this in your oven, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Follow the same directions with a 12-inch cast iron pan on your stove top. Make the mashed potatoes, brown the meat, make the minced filling, and cover with the mashed potatoes. Then bake on the center rack of your oven for 40 minutes until the potatoes have browned and slight bubbling is happening on the edges.
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Wine Pairing For Shepherd’s Pie
We love to pair this Grilled Shepherd’s Pie with the same wine we use in the filling. For us we used an Italian blend, but Zinfandel is another great option.
For something a little bigger look for a Syrah.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Shepherd’s pie is a combination of ground or minced meat (typically lamb or beef), and topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked. You’ll find an eternity of variations on the classic recipe, but most will involve ground meat cooked with vegetables in a savory gravy, and mashed potatoes (with or without meat).
Cottage pie should be served warm and plated with both the minced meat and the mashed potato topping. It has a balance of texture from the firmer potatoes and the rich and savory minced meat. The gravy has rich flavors from tomato paste and the wine, making for a savory flavor profile.
If you have leftovers, place the leftovers in a cast iron or oven-safe dish. Try to keep the minced meat on the base and cover with the leftover mashed potatoes. Make sure the dish is just big enough for how much you have. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees uncovered for 15 minutes until it’s warm.
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Shepherd’s Pie on the Grill
Ingredients
For the Mashed Potatoes Topping
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into a 1/2-inch dice
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt (for the water to cook the potatoes)
- ¾ cup half and half
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon coasrse black pepper
For the Shepherd's Pie Filling
- 1 ½ pounds 80/20 ground beef (or lamb for traditional "Shepherd's Pie)
- 2 teaspoons beef rub
- 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 large carrots, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ¾ cup dry red wine
- ¾ cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary
- ½ tablesoon fresh chopped thyme
- ½ cup frozen peas
- ½ cup sweet corn (frozen or fresh)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
For the Mashed Potatoes
- In a large pot, cover potatoes with water and add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then down to a simmer, and cook until potatoes are soft and tender (14-16 minutes). Drain potatoes and return to pot.
- Add cream, butter, salt and pepper, and mash until creamy. Adjust liquids and seasonings to your preference. Set aside.
For the Shepherd's Pie Filling
- Preheat Grill: Prepare grill or smoker to 375 degrees F using cherry wood.
- Cook Meat: In a 12-inch large cast iron pan over medium heat, add olive oil. Add ground beef or lamb, dust with dry rub, and stir to brown (about 8 minutes). Remove beef and set aside. If the fat from the beef has cooked off, you may need to add 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil before adding the vegetables. Otherwise leave the liquids that remain from the meat.
- Cook Vegetables: In the same cast iron pan, over medium heat, add onions and carrots and sauté about 5-7 minutes until starting to soften. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
- Combine: Add the meat back to the vegetable mixture. Then add the flour and combine until dissolved.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the wine, broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and simmer 2-3 minutes. Mix in the herbs, peas, corn, and seasonings and toss together. Cook about 5 minutes to let everything integrate.
- Top with Mashed Potatoes: Gently coat the mashed potatoes evenly over the filling. Add peaks and valley's using a fork to make S-patterns along the potatoes.
- Grill: Place the cast iron skillet with the Shepherd's Pie in the grill, over indirect heat, for 35-40 minutes, until the potatoes are lightly browned and the filling is bubbly. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
