Irish Shepherd’s Pie with Guiness and Piped Mashed Potatoes (2024)

Irish Shepherd’s Pie is a delicious comforting dish perfect for celebrating the upcoming St Patrick’s Day. Ground meat is cooked with lots of vegetables and Guinness, topped with delicious mashed potatoes and cheese and then baked to create a perfect golden crust. It’s simply delicious and flavorful and a great choice for lunch or dinner.

Shepherd’s Pie is a traditional dish, known since the 18th century, a dish that used to be made with leftovers to avoid waste. The recipe is very similar to Cottage Pie, the main difference is the meat used in preparing the dish. While Shepherd’s Pie uses lamb, Cottage Pie uses beef. So depending on which meat you prefer to use, name your dish accordingly.

I loved the idea of piping the mashed potato on top as it gave a more sophisticated look, but if you are in a hurry, simply spread mashed potatoes on top and bake until golden. We have loved this Irish Shepherd’s Pie dish and hope you will too.

How to make Irish Shepherd’s Pie

Start by preparing the meat filling. In a large frying pan over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until it becomes translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute.

Next, add the diced carrots and celery to the pan and cook for a few minutes until they begin to soften slightly. Once softened, add the ground meat and cook for 10-12 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon as it browns.

Once the meat is browned, pour in the Guinness and use a spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Then, sprinkle in the flour and stir until the meat is coated. Cook for another minute.

Add the tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pan. Stir everything together and simmer for a few more minutes until the liquid has reduced slightly and the vegetables are tender. Finally, stir in the peas and then remove the pan from the heat.

How to prepare the mashed potato topping

While the meat filling is simmering, prepare the mashed potatoes. Start by boiling the potatoes in a large pot of generously salted water until they are tender. Once cooked, drain the potatoes and return them to the pot over low heat to remove any excess moisture.

Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes together with butter until smooth. Then, add the milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cheddar cheese, and mix until well combined.

How to assemble the pie

Transfer the mashed potatoes into a large piping bag fitted with a 1M tip.

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

Transfer the meat filling into a 2-quart (2-liter) baking dish and spread it out evenly with the back of a spoon or spatula. Then, pipe the mashed potatoes on top of the meat filling in an even layer.

Bake the shepherd’s pie in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the mashed potatoes are golden brown on top.

Once baked, let the shepherd’s pie cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Hope you will try this comforting and hearty meal. If you do, don’t forget to tag me onInstagram. I would love to see how it turns out for you. Enjoy!

For more comforting lunch and dinner ideas check our full collection of Main Dish Recipes.

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