Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Brown meat in a large skillet. While the meat is browning, mix potatoes, cream cheese, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, and garlic until well blended.
Drain meat. Return to skillet; stir in vegetables and gravy. Spoon into a 9-inch square baking dish. Cover with potato mixture and remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 20 minutes.
Recipe Tip
Use instant mashed potatoes. Prepare potatoes as directed on the package, omitting the milk. This way when you add the cream cheese the potatoes stay fluffy.
Healthy Living Variation:
Save 70 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 5 grams of saturated fat per serving by preparing with extra lean ground beef, Philadelphia Neufchatel Cream Cheese, 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese, and Kraft 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese.
Barbecue Shepherd's Pie Variation:
Prepare as directed, omitting the garlic and substituting 3/4 cup Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce mixed with 1/2 teaspoon onion powder for the gravy.
FAQs
This traditional shepherd's pie recipe is made with a mixture of lamb and sirloin, lots of veggies, and a creamy, cheesy mashed potato topping — sure to delight everyone at the table!
Does shepherd's pie have gravy in it? ›
Talk about satisfying. Ground beef, vegetables, and gravy are baked under pillowy mashed potatoes. If it's not yet already, this will soon be a family favorite recipe.
How do you fix watery shepherd's pie? ›
Thicken the Filling – Stir in salt, pepper, and flour. Add beef stock and Worcestershire sauce. Bring the liquid to a simmer and cook until thickened, 4 to 5 minutes.
How to freeze shepherd's pie? ›
Wrap cooled pie in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label with contents and date; place in freezer. For best quality, serve within 2-3 months; however, shepherd's pie will remain safe indefinitely, stored at 0° F. When ready to eat, thaw for about 24-hours in the refrigerator.
Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›
Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.
Does shepherd's pie have cheese in it? ›
Yes, there is an actual debate. If you do put cheese on top, be sure that it is a good strong English Cheddar. Grate it on top of the mashed potato before putting the pie in the oven so that it goes almost crispy.
Why does my potato sink in shepherds pie? ›
How do you keep potatoes from sinking in shepherd's pie? Let the beef layer cool before you top it with the mashed potatoes. This is the number one way to keep your potatoes from sinking. Another tip is to not make your potatoes too runny because firmer mashed potatoes stay more level while baking.
How to keep shepherd's pie from falling apart? ›
How do you keep shepherds pie from falling apart? The eggs in the mashed potatoes help keep the pie together. You should also make sure to spread the potatoes and press down a bit.
How to thicken mash? ›
You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well. Stir in the thickening agent gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, until the potatoes have reached your desired consistency.
Is it better to freeze shepherd's pie, cooked or uncooked? ›
You can freeze shepherd's pie before baking it. This way, you can save time by defrosting your oven-ready shepherd's pie whenever you want to enjoy it.
Freshly baked shepherd's pie will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge; refrigerate covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
Should I cook cottage pie before freezing? ›
FOOLPROOF FREEZING
Always freeze the pie on the day that you make it. Defrost in the fridge overnight, then cook as per the recipe.
What is shepherd's pie made of in England? ›
“Shepherd's pie” and “cottage pie” are used interchangeably, but technically traditional shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb and traditional cottage pie is made with ground beef.
What is the difference between Irish and British shepherd's pie? ›
It's called cottage pie in the U.K. because they use beef and in Ireland since the shepherds tend sheep, it's shepherd's pie. No doubt, the English put out an excellent cottage pie, but in Ireland it used to be a delicacy since the Irish couldn't afford beef they repurposed any unused veggies and meat.
Is shepherd's pie made from beef or lamb? ›
Shepherd's Pie is the sort of food that brings a smile to everyone's face! That saucy, deeply flavourful filling, that creamy potato topping, and that awesome golden cheese crust.… While Shepherd's Pie is traditionally made with lamb, beef is just as tasty in this recipe.
What is traditional cottage pie made of? ›
Ingredients
- 900 Grams Beef Mince.
- 1 Tbsp Plain Rapeseed Oil.
- 2 Medium Onions Chopped.
- 2 carrots Chopped.
- 600 Grams Chopped Tinned Tomatoes.
- 350 Ml Beef Stock.
- 1 Bay Leaf.
- 1 Sprig Fresh Thyme Leaves stripped & finely chopped.
