• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
BeeyondCereal
  • Recipes
  • Summer Recipes
  • Resources
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Summer Recipes
  • Resources
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
    • Resources
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • a wooden spoon scooping into apple pie baked beans.
      Apple Pie Baked Beans
    • spoon holding a scoop of caramel over a jar.
      10 Minute Salted Caramel Sauce
    • strawberry blueberry shortcake with fresh fruit and homemade whipped cream.
      Strawberry Blueberry Shortcake
    • plates topped with strawberry blueberry pancakes, fresh berries, and whipped cream.
      Strawberry Blueberry Pancakes
    • a red bowl filled with apple berry salsa on a plate of cinnamon sugar chips.
      Apple Berry Salsa
    • a strawberry blueberry parfait garnished with a mint leaf.
      Strawberry Blueberry Parfait
    • a bowl of strawberry blueberry fruit salad.
      Strawberry Blueberry Fruit Salad
    • sourdough bagels on a wire cooling rack.
      Sourdough Discard Bagels
    • a spoon holding a bite ot egg drop soup over a bowl.
      Egg Drop Soup
    • two burger buns filled with cabbage tuna salad.
      Tuna Cabbage Salad
    • a fork poking into sliced pieces of spiral ham.
      Honey Baked Spiral Ham
    • a bowl of strawberry blueberry overnight oats.
      Strawberry Blueberry Overnight Oats
    BeeyondCereal » Recipes » Dinner Recipes

    Easy Shepherd's Pie

    Modified: Oct 18, 2023 Published: Dec 26, 2020 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links. 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.91 from 10 votes

    Shepherd's Pie, or Cottage Pie, rather, is a comfort dish made with ground beef, mashed potatoes, and in this case- corn. Combined with a homemade sauce and instant mashed potatoes, this Easy Shepherd's Pie with Instant Mashed Potatoes is filling and delicious.

    Recipe: $14.56 | Per Serving: $1.82 | Servings: 8

    Baking dish corner with Shepherd's pie served, showing meaty corn mixture.

    Shepherd's pie was a dish I discovered after meeting my husband, who described it as "ground beef with corn and mashed potatoes on top." So, that's what I made for the first few years of our marriage—just meat, corn, and potatoes. Surprisingly, he loved it.

    This minimalist version, reminiscent of his frugal childhood meals, always brought back nostalgic memories. As time passed, I felt compelled to enhance the recipe.

    While I usually opt for homemade mashed potatoes, I can't deny the convenience and flavor variety offered by flavored instant packets. However, the rich meaty base of this shepherd's pie is perfectly complemented by my Creamy Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes, if you're inclined to make them from scratch.

    Check out our other dinner favorites like Homemade Hamburger Helper, Chicken Divan Casserole, and Instant Pot Tater Tot Casserole for more delicious options.

    Jump to:
    • 🍯 Why This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions for Easy Shepherd's Pie
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Dinner Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. It's frugal. For about $15, you can get a large baking dish full of dinner. Serve on its own or with a simple green salad on the side, and it's a filling dinner everyone will enjoy.
    2. It's comforting. From the creamy potatoes to the rich meaty filling and crisp sweet corn in every serving, this dish is comfort food that's perfect for any occasion.
    3. It's easy to make. Brown some meat, mix in some ingredients and then layer things together in a baking dish. This recipe is simple and easy to follow, making it perfect for busy nights and even make-ahead meals.

    🥘 Ingredients

    labeled ingredients needed to make Shepherds pie with instant mashed potatoes.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Ground Beef- You will need some ground beef for the base of this recipe. While shepherd's pie is made with lamb, in America, we refer to shepherd's pie as the ground beef variation (also known as cottage pie).

    Ketchup- Adding in a little bit of ketchup will give us a little tomato flavor to the meaty filling as well as a little sweetness to round out the savory salty flavors.

    Worcestershire Sauce- For a great depth of flavor, you'll need some Worcestershire sauce. A little bit goes a long way, but it truly helps to elevate the dish.

    Canned Whole Kernel Corn- You can use canned corn or frozen corn (thawing is not necessary). Make sure the canned is drained before use.

    If you have more canned corn on hand, try them in our Air Fryer Canned Corn and Easy Canned Corn Recipe.

    Instant Mashed Potatoes- Use plain or flavored instant mashed potatoes. Prepare them according to package directions and use as directed in the recipe card below.

    For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    🔪 Instructions for Easy Shepherd's Pie

    Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

    Brown beef, onions. Add garlic, seasoning, salt, pepper, ketchup, Worcestershire. Stir well. add flour.

    Step 2: Add your ground beef and diced onions to a skillet over medium-high heat and cook until browned (Images 1&2).

    Step 3: Drain the excess grease and return to heat.

    Step 4: Add in the minced garlic and stir to combine.

    Step 5: Add in the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce (Image 3). Stir well.

    Step 6: Stir in the flour and mix to coat (Image 4).

    Gradually pour beef broth. Stir until thickened. Spread beef in baking dish.

    Step 7: Slowly add in the beef broth (Image 5).

    Step 8: Stir until the mixture has thickened (Image 6). Remove from heat.

    Step 9: In another pot, make the mashed potatoes, following the instructions for the 8 servings option.

    Step 10: In your baking dish, spread the ground beef over the bottom of the pan (Images 7&8).

    Spread corn over beef. Top with mashed potatoes. bake.

    Step 11: Scatter the drained corn over the top, and spread it into an even layer (Image 9).

    Step 12: Take the mashed potatoes and spread them out over the top of the corn (Images 10&11).

    Step 13: Bake in the oven for 45 minutes (Image 12).

    Step 14: Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

    Serve warm and enjoy!

    a serving missing to reveal ground beef and corn mixture below the mashed potatoes.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    1. Prepare Instant Potatoes- For this shepherd's pie with instant potatoes, you can make the instant mashed potatoes in advance, or at the same time (in a different pot) while browning the ground beef.
    2. Potato Quantity- To top a 9x13 pan of shepherd's pie, follow the instructions on the instant potatoes for the 8 serving quantity, this should yield about 3 cups of cooked potatoes.
    3. Browning Potatoes- Getting the browned potatoes look on top of the cottage pie is optional, but only requires about 3 minutes under a high broiler. Watch carefully because a minute too long will result in burnt potatoes.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    Can shepherd's pie be made in advance?

    Yes. You can make this dish about a day in advance and keep it covered in the fridge until you're ready to bake. Then set it on the counter to come to room temp as the oven preheats and bake as directed.

    Can I freeze shepherd's pie?

    Yes, because the potatoes are already cooked, you can assemble them and freeze them for a later meal or freeze leftovers without issues. Just make sure to keep it well covered and to bake within 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before heating.

    How long is shepherd's pie good for?

    If properly stored in the fridge in a covered container, leftovers can last 3 to 5 days. For best results eat it sooner rather than later.

    Plate with Shepherd's pie serving and more in baking dish behind.

    ❤️ More Delicious Dinner Recipes

    • 4 lazy dinner recipes collaged together.
      20 Lazy Sunday Dinner Ideas
    • sliced meatloaf on a white plate.
      Meatloaf with Oatmeal
    • a pile of cooked instant pot chicken spaghetti on a dinner plate.
      Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
    • tomato soup chili in bowls with cornbread in the background.
      Tomato Soup Chili

    If you tried this Easy Shepherd's Pie with Instant Mashed Potatoes, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    a serving of Shepherds pie missing from the baking dish.
    Print Recipe
    4.91 from 10 votes

    Easy Shepherd's Pie

    Shepherd's Pie, or Cottage Pie, rather, is a comfort dish made with ground beef, mashed potatoes, and in this case- corn. Combined with a homemade sauce and instant mashed potatoes, this meal is filling and delicious.
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Cooling 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 262kcal
    Cost Recipe $14.56 / Serving $1.82
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 9x13 Baking Dish
    • Skillet
    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds ground beef ($9.94)
    • 1 medium onion, chopped ($0.90)
    • 1 clove minced garlic ($0.08)
    • ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning ($0.04)
    • ½ teaspoons salt ($0.01)
    • ¼ teaspoons ground black pepper ($0.02)
    • 2 Tablespoons ketchup ($0.05)
    • 1 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce ($0.02)
    • 1 Tablespoon all purpose flour ($0.01)
    • ½ cup beef broth ($0.13)
    • 1 can whole kernel corn, or 2 cups frozen ($0.54)
    • 3 cups instant mashed potatoes (8 servings), prepared ($2.82)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
    • In a large skillet, brown your ground beef and drain. Cook onions until clear.
    • Add in the minced garlic and stir.
    • Add in the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, ketchup, and Worchestershire sauce. Stir well to combine.
    • Stir in the flour until well coated.
    • Slowly add in the beef broth and stir until thickened. Remove from heat.
    • In another pot make instant mashed potatoes according to box for the 8 servings option.
    • In your baking dish, spread your ground beef over the dish to cover nicely.
    • Scatter the drained corn over the top of the ground beef, trying to make a nice even layer.
    • Take the instant mashed potatoes and spread them out over the top of the corn.
    • Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    • Prepare instant mashed potatoes in advance or simultaneously with browning the ground beef for efficiency.
    • Use the 8-serving quantity instructions on the instant potatoes, yielding about 3 cups of cooked potatoes for a 9x13 pan of shepherd's pie.
    • Browning the top of the pie is optional; broil for about 3 minutes but avoid burning.
    • Make it ahead and refrigerate for up to a day, then bring to room temperature before baking.
    • Freeze assembled or leftover shepherd's pie, ensuring it's well covered, and use within 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
    • Store leftovers in a covered container in the fridge, where they should remain good for 3 to 5 days, with the best quality when consumed sooner.
     

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1scoop | Calories: 262kcal | Carbohydrates: 19.1g | Protein: 27.6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 557.2mg | Potassium: 730.2mg | Fiber: 2.4g | Sugar: 4.6g | Vitamin A: 63IU | Vitamin C: 3.4mg | Calcium: 46.9mg | Iron: 3.3mg
    Author Nicole Durham
    Course dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine American, Irish
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

    More Family Dinner Recipes on a Budget

    • hand holding a pot roast taco above a plate with more on it.
      Mississippi Pot Roast Tacos
    • a plate topped with mashed potatoes and shredded mississippi roast.
      Instant Pot Mississippi Roast
    • 4 cheap family meals collaged together.
      Cheap Family Meals Under $10
    • $140 monthly meal plan for a family of 4.
      $140 Monthly Meal Plan for Family of 4

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      January 08, 2021 at 12:39 am

      5 stars
      Shepherd's pie was actually a cheap dish originally made with any scraps of meat and bulked out with hardy crops such as onion and carrot, sometimes with mushrooms added and of course the mashed potatoes on top.. It never had corn in it which is definitely an American twist. It's a favourite with my husband too.

      Reply
      • NicoleDurham says

        January 08, 2021 at 10:55 am

        My husband introduced it to me with corn and it stuck haha. We love the crisp and sweet contrast to the savory flavors.

        Reply
    2. Katherine says

      January 08, 2021 at 12:10 am

      5 stars
      Great idea to use instant mashed potatoes to make this a super simple comfort food meal!

      Reply
    3. Jeannette says

      January 07, 2021 at 9:22 pm

      5 stars
      So much easier using instant mashed potatoes than regular ones. I always do love a recipe that tackles the busy work life - convenience matters! Great that this Shepherd's Pie also serves so many mouths!

      Reply
    4. Megan says

      January 07, 2021 at 9:07 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect for busy schedules! Can't wait to try this!

      Reply
    5. Jo says

      January 07, 2021 at 7:24 pm

      5 stars
      I tried this Shepherd’s Pie last night and they were super satisfying!

      Reply
    4.91 from 10 votes (5 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Nicole from Beeyond Cereal

    Hey, I'm Nicole

    The proud owner and recipe developer behind BeeyondCereal. Here, I'm passionate about showing people how to navigate the kitchen with frugality in mind, whipping up family-friendly recipes that not only save money but also bring joy to every meal.

    Learn More→

    Summer Recipes

    • two loaves of snickerdoodle zucchini bread on a cutting board with two fresh zucchini.
      Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread
    • strawberry blueberry shortcake with fresh fruit and homemade whipped cream.
      Strawberry Blueberry Shortcake
    • a white bowl filled with orange fluff sald and topped with marshmallows and orange slices.
      Orange Creamsicle Fluff
    • angled view into a glass of ice cold lemonade with sliced lemons on a wooden cutting board and fresh lemons to the side.
      Single Serving Lemonade

    Trending NOW

    • a white bowl filled with cooked canned green beans.
      The Best Canned Green Bean Recipe
    • a bowl of creamy 5 ingredient mac and cheese.
      5 Ingredient Mac and Cheese
    • roasted chicken, carrots and potatoes in a baking dish with a sprig of rosemary on top.
      Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots
    • sliced banana bread on a wooden surface.
      Eggless Banana Bread
    • a sliced beef roast on a cutting board with carving utensils.
      Poor Mans Prime Rib
    • cinnamon rolls with icing on top in an 8x8 baking dish.
      Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls

    As Seen In

    as seen in various articles and websites.

    Footer

    ↑ Back to Top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Public Sharing Policy
    • Pricing Disclosure
    • Accessibility Statement

    Follow

    • Subscribe for FREE eBook
    • Follow on Facebook
    • Follow on Instagram
    • Follow on Pinterest

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Beeyond Cereal --Theme by Feast Design Co.

    promotional graphic for Easy Shepherds Pie with Instant Potatoes

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.