Imagine coming home to a warm, hearty meal that fills your kitchen with irresistible aromas and promises pure culinary comfort. Our Slow Cooker Shepherd's Pie is not just a recipe—it's a journey through traditional British cuisine that transforms humble ingredients into a spectacular dish with minimal effort. Whether you're a busy professional, a home cook looking for convenience, or simply craving a soul-warming meal, this recipe will become your new go-to dinner that guarantees smiles around the table and zero kitchen stress!
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 6 hrs
Total Time: 6 hrs 20 mins
Cuisine: British
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground lamb or beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 cups mashed potatoes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the meat base by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground lamb or beef, breaking it into small crumbles, until no pink remains and a deep golden color develops.
- Transfer the browned meat to the slow cooker, leaving behind any excess fat in the skillet.
- In the same skillet, sauté chopped onions and diced carrots until the onions become translucent and slightly softened, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic to the onion and carrot mixture, cooking for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce to the vegetable mixture, stirring to combine and coat the vegetables thoroughly.
- Transfer the vegetable mixture into the slow cooker with the browned meat, stirring to ensure even distribution.
- Season the meat and vegetable mixture with salt and pepper, mixing well to incorporate the seasonings.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the meat to become tender.
- During the last hour of cooking, stir in the frozen peas to prevent overcooking.
- Prepare the mashed potatoes separately, ensuring they are creamy and well-seasoned.
- Once the meat mixture is cooked, carefully spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the top of the meat mixture in the slow cooker.
- Optional: For a golden top, transfer the slow cooker insert to a broiler-safe oven and broil for 3-5 minutes until the potato surface becomes lightly golden and crisp.
- Let the Shepherd's Pie rest for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set and flavors to further develop.
- Serve hot, portioning out generous servings that include both the meat mixture and potato topping.
Tips
- Choose the right meat: While the recipe works with both lamb and beef, ground lamb provides a more authentic flavor profile.
- Brown your meat thoroughly: Taking time to develop a deep golden color when browning adds incredible depth to your dish's overall taste.
- Layer strategically: When adding mashed potatoes, spread them evenly to create a beautiful, consistent topping that covers the entire meat mixture.
- Don't rush the cooking: The low and slow method allows flavors to develop and meat to become incredibly tender.
- For extra richness, consider adding a splash of red wine or beef broth to the meat mixture during cooking.
- Make ahead friendly: This dish tastes even better the next day, so don't hesitate to prepare it in advance and reheat.
- Optional golden top: The broiling step is crucial for achieving that beautiful crispy potato surface that adds textural contrast.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 380kcal
Carbohydrates: 25g
Protein: 22g
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: 85mg
