Freezer Friendly Shepherd's Pie Recipe - About a Mom (2024)

This freezer friendly Shepherd’s Pie recipe is affordable and easy-to-prepare. It’s a great make-ahead freezer meal that the whole family will enjoy. A traditional Irish Shepherd Pie is typically made with lamb but this ground beef version is just as good. You can even make Shepherd’s Pie with leftover pot roast!

Freezer Friendly Shepherd's Pie Recipe - About a Mom (1)

You seriously can’t go wrong with this easy meat and potatoes dish. I have come to rely so heavily on Freezer Meals. A couple of weeks ago my sister came over on a Sunday afternoon, and we made a bunch of freezer-friendly meals for our families. It is so nice to have them on hand during the busy week.

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Related: Check out these 5 Healthy Slow Cooker Freezer Meals. You might also like this Freezer Lasagna recipe or my Baked Spaghetti Freezer Meal.

For this shepherd’s pie, I used my favorite freezer mashed potatoes. The link to that recipe is in the ingredient list below. It makes a little more mashed potatoes than you’ll need for this recipe, but I love having the leftovers for later in the week.

The recipe is enough for 1 9×13 baking dish or 2 8×8 square foil pans. The 8×8 pans will easily feed 4 people.

Pro Tip: If you are using your regular baking pans, line the pans with this pan liner. It makes clean up much easier. I prefer to use disposable pans. That way I do not have to worry about clean up or not having one of my pans available when I want it.

Freezer-Friendly Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Ingredients:
1 recipe Freezer Mashed Potatoes (you’ll have a bit leftover to snack on)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, shredded or finely diced
1.5 pounds lean ground beef
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup beef stock
1 tbsp flour
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup frozen peas

Directions:

Prepare mashed potatoes. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes until onions start to become translucent.

Add the carrots, cooking for an additional 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat.

Add the worcestershire sauce, salt and allspice seasoning into the cooked meat mixture and stir until incorporated.

Sprinkle flour over the top of the mixture and pour in the beef stock. Stir together and allow sauce to bubble and thicken some.

Once the sauce has thicken add the frozen vegetables. Give it a quick stir to combine and remove from the heat.

Spread the meat mixture out evenly along the bottom of a 9×13 or 2 8×8 casserole dishes or foil pans.

Spoon the mashed potatoes over top of the meat. Use enough of the mashed potatoes to make about 1/2 inch layer on top of the meat.

Cook in the oven at 350 degrees F until heated through and the potatoes are golden brown on top, about 20 to 25 minutes. Or, prepare for the freezer by wrapping in aluminum foil and plastic wrap. Store in the freezer for up to one month. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before baking.

Tip: Save yourself some time by using pre-shredded carrots. I always have a bag on hand for salads, and it works perfectly in this recipe.

Tip: Make this dish extra special by sprinkling with 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese before baking.

Freezer Friendly Shepherd's Pie Recipe - About a Mom (8)

Freezer-Friendly Shepherd’s Pie

About a Mom

This freezer-friendly Shepherd's Pie recipe is affordable and easy to prepare. It's a great make-ahead freezer meal that the whole family will enjoy.

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 1 recipe Freezer Mashed Potatoes
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion finely chopped
  • 2 carrots shredded or finely diced
  • 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp allspice seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup beef stock
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas

Instructions

  • Prepare mashed potatoes. Set aside.

  • Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over MEDIUM heat. Add the olive oil and onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions become translucent.

  • Add the carrots and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat.

  • Add the Worcestershire sauce, salt, and allspice seasoning into the cooked meat mixture and stir.

  • Sprinkle flour over the top of the mixture and pour in the beef stock. Stir together and allow sauce to bubble and thicken some. Once the sauce has thickened, add the frozen vegetables. Give it a quick stir to combine and remove from the heat.

  • Spread the meat mixture out evenly along the bottom of a 9×13 or two 8×8 casserole dishes or foil pans. Spoon the mashed potatoes over top of the meat. Use enough of the mashed potatoes to make about a 1/2-inch layer on top of the meat.

  • Cook in the oven at 350°F until heated through and the potatoes are golden brown on top, about 20 to 25 minutes. Or, prepare for the freezer by wrapping in aluminum foil and plastic wrap. Store in the freezer for up to one month. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before baking.

Notes

  • Save yourself some time by using pre-shredded carrots. I always have a bag on hand for salads, and it works perfectly in this recipe.
  • Make this dish extra special by sprinkling 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top before baking.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Enjoy!

Freezer Friendly Shepherd's Pie Recipe - About a Mom (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to freeze shepherds pie cooked or uncooked? ›

You can freeze shepherd's pie before baking it. This way, you can save time by defrosting your oven-ready shepherd's pie whenever you want to enjoy it.

How long does shepherds pie take in the oven from frozen? ›

Seasoned ground beef cooked with onions, topped with a layer of creamed and whole corn and another layer of creamy mashed potatoes sprinkled with paprika. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Remove the lid and bake for 60 to 75 minutes.

How long can you keep homemade cottage pie in the freezer? ›

Once sealed, the assembled and ready to heat cottage pies will keep fresh for 5 days in the fridge or freezer for 3 months. Thaw frozen cottage pies in the fridge overnight before cooking.

Does Ina Garten have a recipe for shepherd's pie? ›

I tried making Ina Garten's recipe for shepherd's pie. The meal was easy to prepare and was large enough to feed a whole family. The pie's filling was flavorful and savory, while the mashed potatoes were perfectly creamy.

What is the best way to freeze shepherd's pie? ›

Wrap cooled pie in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label with contents and date; place in freezer. For best quality, serve within 2-3 months; however, shepherd's pie will remain safe indefinitely, stored at 0° F. When ready to eat, thaw for about 24-hours in the refrigerator.

Can you reheat homemade shepherd's pie from frozen? ›

Freezer Instructions: After baking, let pan cool to room temperature, then cover tightly with foil and place in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, reheat the shepherd's pie (still covered with the foil) for 1 hour in a 350ºF oven.

Can you cook frozen shepherds pie from frozen? ›

Cooking Instructions

Remove lid and cook from frozen at 160c for 60 minutes.

Do mashed potatoes freeze well? ›

Schmidt tells us that, for best results, you can keep mashed potatoes in "a freezer set to 0°F or colder" for "up to one year." At this temperature and for this length of time, frozen mashed potatoes can be thawed and reheated without losing texture or flavor (and without risking the transmission of foodborne bacteria) ...

Should you thaw a frozen pie before baking? ›

When ready to bake pie, heat oven to 450°F. When oven is preheated, remove frozen pie from freezer; cut a few slits in top crust and place in oven. Do not thaw pie because no one wants a soggy pie. Bake 25 minutes.

Does shepherds pie freeze well? ›

You may be concerned about freezing shepherd's pie because potatoes don't always do well in the freezer. Because of the added fat in the mashed potatoes, this casserole freezes really well. Freeze for up to 3 months using the instructions in the link below.

How do you know when shepherd's pie is done? ›

Bake And Serve

After the pie has been assembled, place the skillet on a baking sheet. Now, transfer the pie to the oven to bake for 40 minutes or until it's golden brown on top. Then when the skillet shepherd's pie is done, garnish it with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley and serve it immediately.

How do you keep mash from sinking in shepherd's pie? ›

To stop the mash sinking into the filling, allow the meat to cool before topping with the mashed potato. Freeze in individual ovenproof dishes for an easy meal for one.

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›

Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

What is a shepherds pie called when it is made from beef? ›

The two English terms have been used interchangeably since they came into use in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, although some writers insist that a shepherd's pie should contain lamb or mutton, and a cottage pie, beef.

Is it better to freeze a meat pie before or after baking? ›

It depends on your needs, if you want it to be ready super fast when you want it, cook first and then freeze, reheating will be quicker than cooking from frozen. If it doesn't matter, then go with whatever seems like a better option to you.

How do you freeze and reheat shepherd's pie? ›

How to Reheat Frozen Shepherd's Pie
  1. Allow it to defrost in the fridge overnight.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  3. Cover the shepherd's pie with aluminum foil.
  4. Heat in the oven for 60-90 minutes if it's frozen, or 30-40 minutes if it's thawed.

Is it better to freeze an unbaked pie? ›

Homemade pies are a delicious dessert that can be prepared ahead of time, frozen and then baked when you want a very special dessert. It is much better to freeze pumpkin and fruit pies before baking rather than after. The texture of pies suffers substantially if frozen after baking.

How long can you keep shepherds pie in the fridge before cooking? ›

A Shepherd's Pie is the perfect make-ahead food. In the fridge Cook up to point 11 in the recipe below and you can keep this recipe in the fridge for 2 days. Then bake as normal.

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