Texas Shepherd’s Pie

My Texas Shepherd’s Pie is a hearty, comforting meal featuring a rich, savory ground beef and vegetable filling, homemade gravy, and a cheesy mashed potato topping that gets beautifully golden brown in the oven. It’s a family favorite and the ultimate cozy dinner for a cozy night in or when you need a meal that feeds a crowd!

If you’re a fan of hearty casseroles, be sure to check out my Spaghetti Casserole, King Ranch Casserole and Party Potato Casserole.

Full disclosure:  Shepherd’s Pie is supposed to be made with ground lamb, and a similar pie with ground beef is called Cottage Pie.  But this dish is just so evocative of the typical rich casserole with the golden brown mashed potato topping that I always refer to my dish as Shepherd’s Pie. 

You can certainly use the traditional ground lamb if you prefer – or even sausage for a unique flavor.  The tomato bouillon in the gravy is optional, but I always use it to give brown gravy a bright note.  Use any mixed vegetables that you prefer also.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Made from Scratch: No canned food—this homemade version is packed with real flavor!
• Cheesy Topping: Because everything tastes so much better with a little sharp cheddar!
• Make Ahead: This tastes even better the next day – great for keeping leftover

Ingredients Needed

• Ground Beef: Ground turkey or chicken can be used as lean alternatives.
• Yellow Onion: White or red onions work.
• Frozen Mixed Vegetables: We like a colorful mix of peas, carrots, and corn. Of course, fresh or canned vegetables can be substituted.
• Butter: Lends flavor to the roux and topping. Margarine can be used if needed.
• Flour: Helps thicken the gravy. Gluten-free flour works as a substitute.
• Garlic Powder: Fresh minced garlic can be used instead.
• Dried Thyme: For that herbal, earthy note. You can use rosemary or Italian seasoning instead.
• Tomato Bouillon: Can be swapped with a teaspoon of tomato paste and a pinch of salt.
• Black Pepper: For a little spice.
• Beef Broth: Our liquid base for the gravy. Vegetable or chicken broth can be substituted.
• Yukon Gold Potatoes: Make the creamiest mashed potatoes, but russets work too.
• Sour Cream: Adds tanginess and creaminess to the topping. Use full fat for best flavor.
• Milk: Thins out the mash. half-and-half makes them even richer.
• Cheddar Cheese: Melts into the potatoes for extra creaminess. Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack can be used instead.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds umami to the topping.

How to Make Texas Shepherd’s Pie

This dish requires quite a few steps but it is so worth the effort. For the full printable recipe, check out the recipe card at the end of this post.

1. In a large skillet, brown ground beef with chopped onions. Drain any excess fat. Add mixed vegetables and cook for 5 minutes. Cover and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 425F.
3. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cool water. Drain water to remove excess starch, then cover with water again. Cook on medium-high heat; bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are fork-tender, about 5 minutes.
4. While potatoes are cooking, prepare beef gravy. In a medium saucepan, heat butter over medium heat until melted. Add flour and stir to make a roux. Continue cooking and stirring until roux is golden brown. Add thyme, garlic powder, tomato bouillon and cayenne pepper. Stir to mix well. Add beef broth and stir well. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and continue to cook until mixture thickens, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir gravy into beef and vegetable mixture.

5. Drain water from potatoes and place them in a large mixing bowl with sour cream, milk and butter. Use a fork, potato masher, or a hand mixer to mash potatoes to desired consistency. Add more milk as needed, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in grated cheddar cheese.
6. Lightly spray a 2-quart casserole or baking dish. Pour beef and gravy mixture into the casserole dish. Spread potatoes evenly over the top of the beef mixture.
7. Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes until potatoes are golden brown. Cool slightly before serving.

Helpful Tips

• You may want to line a baking sheet with foil and place the casserole dish on the baking sheet before placing in the oven. The gravy mixture tends to bubble out on the sides, and this will prevent a mess in your oven.
• Don’t Skip the Tomato Bouillon! It adds an incredible depth of flavor and some color to the gravy.
• Are you a cheese lover? Sprinkle a little shredded cheddar on top before baking.

Storage Information

• Refrigerator: Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can reheat single portions in the microwave or pop the whole casserole dish into the oven for reheating.
• Freezer: Freeze the assembled (but unbaked) casserole for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and bake as per the recipe instructions.
• Make Ahead: Prep the filling and mashed potatoes separately a day ahead, then simply assemble and bake.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with a side of homemade dinner rolls or some baguette.
• For a lighter dinner, pair with a fresh green salad to balance out the richness or this dish.
• You could add a little extra hot sauce to the filling for a Texas-style kick!

Variations

• Tex Mex: Swap out cheddar for Pepper Jack and add a little taco seasoning to the filling instead of the thyme.
• Sweet Potato Twist: Use mashed sweet potatoes instead of Yukon.
• Loaded Shepherd’s Pie: Top the potato layer with some crumbled bacon and chopped green onions for a loaded baked potato version of this dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Comfort Food Classics

• Tuna Noodle Casserole
• Midwest Meets Texas Chili
• Mexican Rice