Nana’s Easy Classic Shepherd’s Pie

Nana’s Easy Classic Shepherd’s Pie is as classic and comforting as recipes come. Simple yet so delicious. Ground beef, mashed potatoes and corn make for a perfect family pleasing dinner.

When we’re talking about comfort food, Shepherd’s Pie is definitely one of the first dishes that comes to mind. This was always one of my absolute favorite things that my Nana would make. There would be nothing better than sitting down at the dinner table on a freezing cold New England day and enjoying a delicious, piping hot serving of her Shepherd’s Pie.

I’m not a picky eater in the slightest. However, I can get a pinch picky about what foods I like to eat that are leftover from the night before. Nana’s Easy Classic Shepherd’s Pie is one dish that I love leftover. The way that the mashed potatoes heat up with the ground beef and cream style corn in the microwave make it taste exactly as it did fresh out of the oven.

This recipe has always been a favorite of Aidan’s and my stepfather Kevin loves my Shepherd’s Pie as well. As with all recipes that I grew up eating, I have recreated them in my adult life with my own style or spin on them. Unfortunately, the women that cooked for me growing up are no longer with us so I’ve had to kind of fill in the blanks the best I can when trying to recreate the magic that they made in their kitchens.

My Nana had a lot of great recipes and I learned so much from her. To this day, her signature “Better Than Sex” Cake is still a birthday tradition among my family and requested several times a year. That cake is a perfect example of taking something that I grew up with and making it my own. As is, her yellow cake with a cream cheese and Cool Whip frosting and topped with pineapple and maraschino cherries is perfection. I have made a few different variations of my own over the years that my family has loved. I’ve used different boxed cake mixes and made slight alterations to toppings and the frosting in my own creations. Check out my posts for Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Reese’s Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting.

My Nana also introduced me to the deliciousness that is seasoned salt when I was a kid. She always used that seasoning on her pork chops and I have kept that tradition alive in my Crispy Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops. And she loved using this seasoning on a lot of different potato side dishes. So I also include this spice in my Breakfast Potatoes, Smashed Potatoes, Spicy Potato Wedges and Roasted Baby Potatoes.

It’s so amazing the things that make a lasting impression on you when you’re a kid that last into adulthood. My Nana was born and raised in Holland. She learned to make Shepherd’s Pie here. I wish I could ask her for specifics. But she made this delicious dish for her children and then her grandchildren. And now I get to pass on the recipe and make it for my own kids and hopefully, they will make it for theirs.

What kind of ground beef should I use for this recipe?

My personal preference is using 85%. This means the beef is 85% lean and 15% fat. I feel that this ground beef offers the perfect amount of beefy flavor without getting too dry. Any ground beef will be delicious in this recipe so use what you like. Even if you were to use the 93% package of ground beef, the mashed potatoes and the canned cream style corn add so much moisture that you wouldn’t know the difference.

Substitutions for Nana’s Easy Classic Shepherd’s Pie

Though this is a very simple and basic recipe, there are several different options that you can swap out to change the dish up. Technically, “Shepherd’s Pie” is traditionally made with ground lamb and “Cottage Pie” is made with the ground beef. There are a few other differences between the two regarding the sauces in them and the way the potatoes are prepared. These days, a lot of people make their “Shepherd’s Pie” with ground beef. Tip: In a time crunch, you can substitute your own homemade mashed potatoes for leftover mashed potatoes you have in your fridge. Or pouches of instant potatoes. I actually really like the Idahoan Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and have used these for my Shepherd’s Pies in the past. Try some of these substitution ideas below.

Instead of ground beef, try:

• Ground pork
• Ground turkey
• Ground lamb
• Ground chicken

Instead of canned cream style corn, try:

• Canned sweet corn (My Nana used this instead of the cream style corn)
• Fresh corn
• Carrots
• Peas
• Frozen mixed vegetables

To cheese, or not to cheese, that is the question

One of the most wonderful aspects of being a part of this day and age is that you have Google to referee all of your domestic disagreements. A very long time ago, when I first made Shepherd’s Pie for my now husband, he took a hungry yet slightly confused look at my prepared dish about to enter the oven. He said, “It looks great but where’s the cheddar cheese on top?” I said, “What are you talking about? Why would I put cheddar cheese on the top of a Shepherd’s Pie?” He claimed that everyone melts cheddar cheese over the top and I disagreed. I grew up eating this dish with a light sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese over the top and that’s it.

Well, according to Google, we were both correct. That was a slight disappointment. Typically, I count on my friend Google to confirm that I am correct. Alright, I guess that’s only really true about 60% of the time but still… So there you have it, folks. You can sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese over the top layer of your mashed potatoes if your lovely heart desires. I’ve still never had it that way but I’m a big believer in “everything is better with cheddar” so it gets my stamp of approval.

Instructions

Peel and rinse off the russet potatoes. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and then cut each half into thirds. The potatoes should be about 2-inch chunks. Add to a large pot of well salted water. Over high heat, bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, lower heat to medium low and allow to cook for 30 minutes until tender. Drain the water from the pot when done and return the potatoes to the pot.

Add 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder, dried parsley, whole milk and butter to the pot of potatoes. Hand mash or use an electric mixer until potatoes are mashed and smooth. Take care not to overmix.

While the potatoes are boiling, begin browning the ground beef. In a large pan sprayed skillet over medium heat, add ground beef, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Allow the meat to brown for about 5 minutes and then break it apart and continue cooking. Stir about every minute and cook an additional 6 minutes or until cooked through. If needed, drain the ground beef.

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a pan sprayed 13×9 baking pan, add half of the mashed potatoes and spread evenly to cover the bottom of the pan. Next, cover the potatoes with an even layer of the canned cream style corn.

Cover the corn with a layer of cooked ground beef. Cover the ground beef with the remaining half of the mashed potatoes.

Take a fork and lightly press into the mashed potatoes in rows and all over the top to add ridges for design (optional). Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese very lightly over the top of the mashed potatoes. Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown. Pro Tip: Place a cookie sheet under the baking pan so that any excess liquid doesn’t spill into your oven.

Ground Beef Favorites

• Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole: If you’re looking for a way to shake up the traditional Nana’s Easy Classic Shepherd’s Pie recipe, then this is the recipe for you. It is the perfect weeknight meal. This comes together with only 10 minutes of prep. The ground beef, cream of mushroom, frozen veggies and the tater tots will have you making this “hotdish” again and again.
• Taco Rigatoni & Cheese: Enjoy this creamy, dreamy and tasty pasta. This will save your time and money all while feeding a crowd. A special topping of Dorito Nacho Cheese chips is the special ingredient. This dish has all of the flavor and texture you want in a perfect pasta dinner.
• American Chop Suey (New England Style): This is a comforting, classic hug on a plate that makes me remember my Nana fondly with every bite. This is a dinner that comes together in just 30 minutes. It’s the perfect meal to enjoy on a cold winter day. The tomato based sauce is so light because it is made with tomato juice instead of a tomato sauce. The ground beef, green pepper and Worcestershire sauce compliment this macaroni dish perfectly.
• Delicious 5-Alarm Chili: Warm your soul with this amazing chili. The hearty, spicy and meaty flavors of this dish are what a great chili is all about. The layers and depth of flavor will have you making this recipe again and again. This recipe delivers on all of the heartiness of a good chili with ground beef and kielbasa. Onion, green pepper, garlic and Worcestershire sauce send this chili over the top.
• Speedy Pepperoni Pizza Pasta: A dinner that comes together in a flash for a quick weeknight meal. This delicious meal is the love child of pepperoni pizza and pasta so an instant kid-friendly favorite. Ground beef adds the perfect delicious meaty flavor.

Let me know in the comments below how you grew up eating your Shepherd’s Pie. Was it close to my Nana’s Easy Classic Shepherd’s Pie? I love hearing from you guys. As always, thank you so much for supporting Spice and Sugar Mama and I appreciate you visiting my blog very much!