5-Ingredient Easy Shepherd’s Pie

This Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe is seriously one of the easiest, most budget-friendly dinners you could make! Using just a few basic ingredients, it couldn’t be any simpler! It’s also my 15-year-old son’s most requested meal (so that tells you how good it is!).

Recipe created by my sister, Brigette, on the Money Saving Mom team.

If you’re on the lookout for frugal, simple, fill-you-up kinds of recipes, this one is for you!

This is. a great frugal weeknight dinner idea! It’s also versatile and is a great way to clean out your fridge, use up your leftovers, and fill up your family without breaking the bank!

What is Shepherd’s Pie?

Shepherd’s Pie is a British dish consisting of a savory meat filling combined with vegetables such as peas, carrots, beans, and onions, mixed together with gravy, and topped with a layer of mashed potatoes.

Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe Ingredients

NOTE: The measurements are very “loose” for this recipe — use what you have on hand and don’t worry about exact measurements.

• 1-2 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
• 2 cans (10.75 oz. each) condensed tomato soup, undiluted (or homemade condensed tomato soup)
• 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) green beans (or another veggie), drained
• 3 cups prepared mashed potatoes* (here’s an easy mashed potato recipe)
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

*Anytime I make mashed potatoes, I purposefully prepare lots of extras so we have enough to make this recipe the next day.

How to Make Easy Shepherds Pie

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.

2. Spread cooked ground beef in a large baking dish (9″x13″ pan, Dutch oven, cast iron pan, etc.).

3. Pour both cans of soup over meat (you could also use beef gravy).

4. Pour cans of drained veggies over soup and meat.

5. Top with already-prepared or boxed mashed potatoes.

6. Sprinkle grated cheese over potatoes.

7. Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until heated through.

Simple Shepherd’s Pie Substitutions

Shepherd’s Pie is extremely versatile — feel free to customize it to your own preferences or even use up whatever leftovers you have in the house!

Here are some substitution ideas or ways to change up the flavor:

• Add in more veggies (a can of corn, leftover cooked carrots, or steamed veggies) for a little extra flavor and color variety.
• Bulk it up by adding more mashed potatoes to the top — a great way to feed those hungry teens.
• Use brown gravy (preferably beef) in place of the tomato soup for a beefier flavor.
• Add in sautéd or caramelized onions for a big flavor boost.
• Mix up the cheese (fresh parmesan is fantastic!).
• Sprinkle a little parsley or chives (fresh or dried) on top of the potatoes and cheese.

Tips For Making This Easy Shepherds Pie

Don’t be too fussy — the measurements are not exact, so just use what you have in the house and experiment a little bit!

Also, to assure your filling isn’t dry, make sure you have enough liquid (namely the soup in this recipe) to adequately cover all the meat and veggies.

How to Serve This Simple Shepherd’s Pie

The beauty of Shepherd’s Pie is that it has all the components of a well-balanced meal — meat, potatoes, veggies, etc.

We enjoy Shepherd’s pie with delicious homemade bread, applesauce, and some fruit. It’s also great just on its own!

Can You Freeze Shepherd’s Pie?

Yes, this is a great meal to freeze — just make sure you let it cool completely before freezing.

When you’re ready to reheat it, thaw it in the refrigerator for 24 hours and then bake as directed in the recipe.