One of the world’s greatest comfort foods made even easier in your Crock-Pot.
You probably won’t find many dishes with the same illustrious history as shepherd’s pie. It’s been around since the late 1700s when it was a popular dish for the less affluent in Ireland. Plus, it was a delicious way to use leftovers. Centuries later, people of all financial backgrounds enjoy shepherd’s pie. Most people consider it comfort food.
For years, my parents used to go to the same restaurant every Monday because they had a special for shepherd’s pie. However, you don’t have to visit the nearest British pub, not when you own a Crock-Pot. All you have to do is prepare the ingredients, place them in your Crock-Pot, and wait a few hours for them to be ready. Sure, technically, it may not be an actual pie if you cook it in a Crock-Pot. But all of the same ingredients are there, so I promise it tastes just as good.
Is Crock-Pot Shepherd’s Pie Healthy?
From a health standpoint, shepherd’s pie has pros and cons. With the combination of meat and vegetables, this dish has plenty of vitamins and other nutrients. Specifically, this dish contains a decent amount of vitamin A and protein, not to mention plenty of potassium, fiber, iron, and vitamin C. However, it’s a little high in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat. This recipe may not be good for every diet and should perhaps be enjoyed in moderation.
Shepherd’s Pie Your Way
There is always wiggle room to customize a dish like shepherd’s pie. The first decision to make is between beef and lamb. Some people will tell you that this should be called cottage pie if it’s beef, whereas shepherd’s pie is made with lamb. However, you should feel free to choose either type of meat and still call it shepherd’s pie. It’s just semantics, right? All that matters is that it tastes good.
Likewise, you also have some options for the vegetables and potatoes. For instance, I don’t always enjoy eating peas. Instead, I would just load up on carrots and corn. If you don’t like one of those vegetables, feel free to replace it or omit it altogether. You can also prepare the mashed potatoes any way you like. Some like garlic mashed potatoes in their shepherd’s pie. Others might use cauliflower mashed potatoes to help make the recipe a little healthier. As always, the choice is yours.
How to Make Ahead and Store
With Crock-Pot shepherd’s pie, it’s easy to prepare the dish ahead of time and let it simmer in the Crock-Pot until you’re ready to eat. For leftovers, place them in a sealed container. If kept in the fridge, you should have a few days to enjoy the leftovers.
Serving Suggestions
Even though there are vegetables in shepherd’s pie, I would still recommend something green as a side dish. This can be an ordinary garden salad or perhaps a Mediterranean Low-Carb Broccoli Salad. If you want a simple vegetable dish, I would recommend Instant Pot Green Beans or Shaved Brussels Sprouts.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cups mixed frozen vegetables carrots, peas, corn
- 4 cups mashed potatoes
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef with onion, garlic, salt, and pepper until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce into the beef mixture until well combined.
- Transfer the beef mixture to a greased slow cooker and spread it evenly. Layer the frozen vegetables on top of the beef.
- Spread the mashed potatoes over the vegetables, creating a smooth top layer.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours. In the last 15 minutes of cooking, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the mashed potatoes and continue to cook until the cheese is melted.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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