Shepherd's Pie on the Grill

5 from 2 votes

Shepherd's Pie on the Grill

A Classic Shepherd's Pie recipe cooked on any grill or smoker for great smoky flavor. This recipe is easy, healthy, delicious and perfect for your St. Patrick's Day celebrations!

Prep Time20

Cook Time40

Total Time1

Course: Entree

Cuisine: American, English, grilling, holiday, Irish

Servings: -8 servings

Author: Mary Cressler

Cost: $20

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

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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