Crock pot shepherds pie recipe is something you would definitely want to try. It's the perfect comfort food for the whole family! Making it in the crock pot allows you to go about your day while dinner is cooking.
CAN YOU FREEZE SHEPHERDS PIE?
Most people, including me, make 2 batches of shepherds pie. One you can eat for now and one you can eat for later. Yes… one is not enough. It's that good! Plus, it can save a whole lot of time.
Now, to easily answer that question, yes you can freeze your shepherds pie. In order for your shepherds pie to still taste the best, here are a few tips when freezing:
- Before freezing this savory dish, be sure it is at room temperature.
- You can either cover the whole pie pan in plastic wrap then foil or transfer your meat pie in an airtight container. This will prevent the dish from freezer burn.
- For a cheesy shepherds pie, make sure to add the toppings when it is time to reheat it.
You can store your shepherds pie in the freezer up to 1 month.
NOTE: Mashed potatoes might have a little texture change when frozen. It can have a grainy texture. You can always add your mashed potatoes later and just freeze the meat portion of the pie to avoid this.
HOW DID SHEPHERDS PIE GET ITS NAME?
Before shepherd's pie was known as “shepherd's pie”, it was called cottage pie. This is the term they used in 1791 and only after 6 decades did they use the term shepherd's pie.
The difference between these two pies is that the meat used in a cottage pie is beef and lamb in a shepherd's pie.
HOW DO I REHEAT SHEPHERDS PIE?
Reheating your shepherd's pie can be done in two ways:
- You can cook it directly from frozen. Add your toppings then place it in a preheated oven. Doing this may take longer than the time indicated in the recipe since the pie is frozen.
- You can also thaw your pie if you want. Take out the pie from the freezer then transfer it to your fridge and let it thaw there overnight. And again, to reheat, place it in a preheated oven and bake as indicated in the recipe or until center is cooked through.
HISTORY OF SHEPHERDS PIE
A brief history about this family favorite. Shepherds pie is actually a classic Irish dish. Now you can add it to your list of food to serve on St. Patrick's Day.
Back then, this old recipe was a way to remake leftover meat into a new dish. This was to avoid food going to waste. So basically, you can use different types of meat and just top it with mashed potatoes. Even cauliflower mash can be used with this recipe.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH SHEPHERDS PIE?
Thinking about what you'll serve with shepherd's pie? No worries, I've got you covered! Here are some great dishes that would go perfect with this meal:
This savory pie can be paired with this nutritious side. Its the perfect soft and crunchy combination!
- Roasted Eggplants
Eggplants don't get enough credit. Adding roasted eggplants to this classic recipe is a simple way of including more vegetables to your meal without it feeling like a burden to your stomach.
I mean c'mon, it goes well with almost anything. Plus, it's easy to do. Just pop them in the air fryer and they'll be ready in minutes.
Nothing beats a fresh salad. It's healthy and delicious, what more can you want?
- Dinner Rolls
A classic pairing. You can never go wrong with bread. If you want something to dip in your saucy shepherd's pie, dinner rolls will be an excellent choice.
These are just some ideas, you can always experiment and try different dishes to test whether it goes well with shepherd's pie. Let me know which one you think is the best!
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE CROCK POT SHEPHERDS PIE
To make this delicious shepherds pie recipe, you are going to need the following ingredients:
- Ground Chuck
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- Frozen Peas and Carrots
- Beef Broth
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Tomato Paste
- Thyme Leaves
- Cornstarch
- Mashed Potatoes
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT SHEPHERDS PIE
Now that you have gathered all of your ingredients, it is time to make this yummy recipe. Follow the instructions below for the best results!
STEP ONE: PREPARE CROCK POT
Spray the slow cooker liner with non-stick cooking spray
STEP TWO: SAUTE INGREDIENTS
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and onions. Cook the onions until softened and stir in garlic.
Once the garlic is slightly brown, add in the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the mashed potatoes and cheese. Stir and combine well then transfer the mixture to the slow cooker. Be sure to spread it evenly.
STEP THREE: COOK MIXTURE
Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
STEP FOUR: ADD MASHED POTATOES
Remove the slow cooker lid and add the mashed potatoes, spreading into an even layer. Top with cheese and recover the slow cooker until the cheese has melted.
STEP FIVE: SERVE
Now that the crock pot shepherds pie recipe is done…you can serve it garnished with sliced green onions or just as it is.
CROCK POT SHEPHERDS PIE RECIPE CARD
Now that you know all about shepherds pie it is time to print the recipe or save the recipe. You can print off the complete ingredients and instructions for crock pot shepherds pie recipe via the recipe card below.
If you don’t have time to print it off right now, no worries! Just save the pin to your Pinterest account by clicking the pin button located in the recipe card below.
If you make this recipe and LOVE it…please come back and leave a 5-star rating. It would mean so much to me!
This crock pot shepherds pie recipe is quick and easy. Try out this tasty heartwarming dish!
- 2 pounds ground chuck browned and drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 16 oz. pack frozen peas and carrots
- 1 to 2 cups beef broth depending on how saucy you like your shepherd’s pie
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 4 to 5 cups prepared mashed potatoes
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
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Prepare a slow cooker liner with non-stick cooking spray.
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In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and onions. Cook the onions until softened and stir in garlic.
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To the onions, add all ingredients EXCEPT the mashed potatoes and cheese. Stir together well. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker liner and spread evenly.
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Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
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Remove the slow cooker lid and add the mashed potatoes, spreading into an even layer. Top with cheese and recover the slow cooker until the cheese has melted.
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Serve garnished with sliced green onions or alone.
If you liked this delicious crock pot shepherds pie recipe, be sure to check these other great recipes out:
- Chicken Stew Recipe in the Slow Cooker
- Beef Fajita and Rice Wraps
- Crock Pot Ham and Potato Chowder
- Smoked Sausage and Potato Casserole
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