This Crock Pot Shepherd’s Pie is made in your slow cooker and is an easy way to enjoy a classic comfort food casserole. Ground beef is slow-cooked with a tomato paste sauce, mushrooms, peas, and carrots topped with cheesy mashed potatoes.
Why I love this recipe
Cooking in a slow cooker is easy, energy efficient, and doesn’t heat up the kitchen. This easy Shepherd’s Pie is some of the better comfort food you can make.
Try this recipe with a refreshing glass of this Peach Sangria. Need a dessert to go with it? Try this Fruity Brownie Pizza or this Strawberry Cobbler.
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Ingredients
(amounts are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post)
ground beef
jarred minced garlic
canned sliced mushrooms
beef broth
tomato paste
Worcestershire sauce
dried oregano
garlic powder
onion powder
russet potato
milk
butter
cheddar cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
all-purpose flour
frozen peas and carrots
Substitutions
You can use ground turkey, ground lamb, ground chicken, or cubed chuck roast in this recipe.
Instead of making homemade mashed potatoes, you can make stovetop instant potatoes.
Equipment used for this recipe
potato masher or mixer
How to make Crock Pot Shepherd’s Pie (or cottage pie)
Step 1 – Place the raw ground beef in an even layer in the bottom of a 4-quart slow cooker crock pot.
Step 2 – Top the beef with the minced garlic and mushrooms.
Step 3 – In a medium bowl, whisk together the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Step 4 – Pour the broth mixture over the contents of the slow cooker and stir to combine.
Step 5 – Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-4 hours, until the beef is cooked through.
For the Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Step 1 – 15 minutes before the slow cooker finishes, make the mashed potatoes. Peel and cut them into 2-inch pieces.
Step 2 – Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover them with 2 inches of water and a sprinkle of salt. Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for about 15 minutes until fork tender.
Step 3 – Drain the potatoes and place them in a bowl.
Step 4 – Add the milk, butter, salt, and pepper to taste.
Step 5 – Gently mash the potatoes with a handheld potato masher or mixer until just combined.
Step 6 – Mix the cheddar into the mashed potatoes. Set aside.
To finish
Step 1 – Mix the flour and water until smooth in a small bowl.
Step 2 – Slowly stir the flour mixture into the slow cooker.
Step 3 – Stir in the peas and carrots.
Step 4 – Then spread the potatoes in an even layer on top of the beef and vegetables.
Step 5 – Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 30 more minutes, until the gravy has thickened and the mashed potatoes are heated through.
Pro Tips
Shepherd’s pie can be stored for five days in the fridge or a couple of months in the freezer. Reheat in the oven or microwave. Shepherd’s pie can be stored in a Tupperware container, a sealable plastic bag, or an airtight, freezer-safe container.
Shepherd’s pie should only contain lamb and cottage pie usually applies to one made with beef. So this recipe should probably be named cottage pie since it does not contain lamb.
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Crock Pot Shepherd’s Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic
- 4 ounce can sliced mushrooms (drained)
- ¼ cup beef broth
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
For the Mashed Potatoes
- 1 large russet potato
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 Tablespoons butter (melted)
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (mild or sharp cheddar)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
To finish
- 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoon water
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)
Instructions
- Place the uncooked ground meat in an even layer in the bottom of a 4-quart slow cooker.
- Top with the minced garlic and mushrooms.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Pour the broth mixture over the contents of the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-4 hours, until the beef is cooked through.
For the Mashed Potato topping
- Make the mashed potatoes about 15 minutes before the slow cooker time ends. Peel and cut the potatoes into 2-inch cubes.
- Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover them with 2 inches of water and a sprinkle of salt. Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium-high heat for about 15 minutes until fork tender.
- Drain the potatoes and place them in a bowl.
- Add the milk, butter, salt and pepper to taste.
- Gently mash the potatoes with a handheld potato masher or mixer until just combined.
- Mix the cheddar into the mashed potatoes and set aside.
To Finish
- Mix the flour and water until smooth in a small bowl, then slowly stir the mixture into the slow cooker.
- Add the peas and carrots.
- Spread the mashed potatoes in an even layer on top of the meat mixture.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 30 more minutes, until the gravy has thickened and the mashed potatoes are heated through.
Video
Notes
- You can use ground turkey, ground lamb, ground chicken, or cubed chuck roast in this recipe.
- Instead of making homemade mashed potatoes, you can make stovetop instant potatoes.
- Shepherd's pie can be stored for five days in the fridge or a couple of months in the freezer. Reheat in the oven or microwave. Shepherd’s pie can be stored in a Tupperware container, a sealable plastic bag, or an airtight, freezer-safe container.
Nutrition
Hi and welcome. I’m Zona and I have a passion for recipes. I share recipes, tips, tricks, and resources to help you cook for two. Eat, drink, and enjoy!
Barbara
Tuesday 8th of November 2022
Can this be made on the stovetop or oven?
Zona
Tuesday 8th of November 2022
Hi Barbara, to make it on the stove and oven I would...
1) Add the oil to a large skillet and place it over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 2) Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the minced garlic, stir well. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until the meat is browned, stirring occasionally. 3) In a medium bowl, whisk together the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder. 4) Pour the broth mixture into the ground beef mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute. 5) In a small bowl, mix the flour and water until smooth, then slowly stir the mixture into the ground beef. 6) Add the frozen peas and carrots. Bring the liquid to a boil then reduce to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 7) Set the meat mixture aside and preheat oven to 400 degrees F. For the Mashed Potatoes: 1) Peel and cut the potatoes into 2-inch cubes. 2) Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover them with 2 inches of water and a sprinkle of salt. Bring the potatoes to a boil over high heat for about 15 minutes until fork tender. 3) Drain the potatoes and place them in a bowl. 4) Add the milk, butter, salt and pepper to taste. 5) Gently mash the potatoes with a handheld potato masher or mixer. 6) Mix the cheddar into the mashed potatoes and Set aside. To Finish: 1) Pour meat mixture into an 8x8 inch (or larger if necessary) baking dish. Spread it out into an even layer. Spoon the mashed potatoes on top of the meat. Carefully spread into an even layer. 2) If the baking dish looks very full, place it on a rimmed baking sheet so that the filling doesn’t bubble over into your oven. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes. 3) Cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Sunshine
Sunday 22nd of August 2021
Can this recipe be doubled? Can instant mashed potatoes be used instead?
Zona
Monday 23rd of August 2021
Hi Sunshine, you can double this recipe. I would recommend changing the cooking times. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. I have not tried using instant potatoes in this recipe but I think it should work fine. Thanks for your questions and enjoy!
Tammy
Sunday 16th of July 2017
This looks good! I have all the ingredients on hand, too!
Zona
Sunday 16th of July 2017
Thanks Tammy! Let me know if you liked it.
pm
Saturday 15th of July 2017
Do you brown the ground beef before adding to the crock?
Gina
Wednesday 6th of September 2023
@Alma Davis, You can use 1/2 tsp garlic powder in place of the minced garlic. I'd add it to ground beef.
Alma Davis
Saturday 2nd of May 2020
I saw that in the ingredients it called for minced garlic in jar but it didn't say when to add-just garlic powder. Also , if I cant eat mushrooms is there something I should do different like add more paste etc? Thank you.
Zona
Saturday 15th of July 2017
Hi pm, no I don't. It turns out great. Thanks for asking :)