How Much Ground Beef in Sheherds Pie for Each Person
This is the best Shepherd's Pie recipe made with ground lamb (or beef) and vegetables in a rich gravy topped with creamy mashed potatoes. It's a single serving version of a classic dish.
What Is Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's pie is a comforting casserole that comes to us from the United Kingdom and is traditionally made with lamb or mutton.
Versions of shepherd's pie first appeared in the late 1700s and early 1800s as a way to incorporate leftovers into a meal. Although recipes vary widely they all have the same basic structure. Ground meat cooked and simmered in a gravy of onions, garlic, and other vegetables topped with a layer of mashed potatoes baked in the oven.
The difference between shepherd's pie and cottage pie has to do with the meat. Shepherd's pie is traditionally made with lamb and cottage pie is usually made with ground beef.
In France, you may find a similar dish called, Hachis Parmentier. This dish sandwiches the meat and vegetables between two layers of mashed potatoes. Some vegetarians make a "shepherdless" pie which is made without any meat at all.
Why This Recipe Works
- In the United States, we tend to eat more beef than lamb. Feel free to use ground beef instead of ground lamb in this small shepherd's pie recipe. This recipe works great with either.
- This is a simple recipe for shepherd's pie. This classic pub dish is surprisingly easy to make and incredibly delicious!
- Feel free to customize this dish to include vegetables you already have on hand.
- This recipe yields one mini shepherd's pie but the ingredients can easily be doubled to serve two.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
All of these wonderful ingredients are the key to a really great shepherd's pie for one!
- Mashed potatoes: I use my single serving mashed potato recipe here (recipe below). These mashed potatoes are ultra-creamy and filled with flavor. They're easy to make and incredibly delicious. For convenience, you can use leftover mashed potatoes, instant or ready-made mashed potatoes that can be purchased at your local supermarket.
- For the mashed potatoes:
- 1 medium Yukon Gold potato: this type of potato has a slightly buttery flavor and is the best potato for mashing.
- Milk: I use whole milk, you may use any percentage you prefer but the higher the fat content, the richer the mashed potatoes will be.
- Garlic: One garlic clove adds so much flavor to the mashed potatoes. Definitely don't leave it out.
- Butter and salt: These ingredients add flavor.
- For the mashed potatoes:
- Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil in this easy shepherds pie recipe as well as in every other recipe on One Dish Kitchen that calls for olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed form of olive oil. It is an unrefined oil and the highest-quality olive oil you can buy. Because of the way extra virgin olive oil is made, it retains more true olive taste. It also contains more of the vitamins and minerals found in olives. It's my favorite type of olive oil to use but you may use a lighter olive oil instead.
- Vegetables: We use chopped onions, a clove of garlic, and ¼-cup of vegetables. I like using frozen mixed vegetables because they're convenient and I often have a bag of them in my freezer. Frozen vegetables are ideal for anyone cooking for one because they last longer than fresh vegetables do. Feel free to use the same amount of fresh vegetables. If using fresh vegetables, cut them into small pieces that are roughly the same size so that they cook evenly. You may find that you need to add an additional minute or two of cooking time for the fresh vegetables to soften. No need to add any more time than that since the vegetables will continue to cook in the oven.
- Worcestershire sauce and salt: These ingredients add flavor. If you're trying to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet, I suggest that you don't add salt to the gravy. It would be better for you to taste the shepherd's pie after it has been baked and add salt only if you feel it's necessary.
- Beef broth: I like using low-sodium broth because I can control the sodium amount of this dish better. It's always easier to add additional salt if necessary but harder to remove it once it's there. Use either a low-sodium broth or regular beef broth. You may also use chicken broth instead.
- Parmesan cheese (optional): For topping the shepherd's pie.
See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.
How To Make A Single Serving Shepherd's Pie
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Make the mashed potatoes: Chop the potato into quarters and place them in a small 1-quart saucepan. Add the milk and garlic and stir. Add a little extra milk if the potatoes are not almost completely covered by the milk. Cook for 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
- Strain the potatoes with a fine-mesh strainer over a medium-sized bowl and reserve the milk mixture.
- Return the potatoes to the pan and add ¼-cup of the milk mixture. Mash the potatoes with an immersion blender or potato masher and add additional reserved milk as needed until the potatoes are thick and creamy. Stir in butter and salt and set aside.
- Make the stew: In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil and add the chopped onions and cook, stirring occasionally for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and ground lamb and season with salt and Italian seasoning. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lamb is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and vegetables.
- Add the broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Grease a 10-ounce ramekin with butter or cooking oil spray. Add the beef mixture to the ramekin.
- Top with the mashed potatoes. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy immediately.
Expert Tips
Follow these easy tips for making the best shepherd's pie:
- Although this recipe calls for using ground (minced) lamb, you can use ground beef instead.
- Consider topping your shepherd's pie with a tablespoon or two of grated Parmesan cheese or shredded cheddar cheese before baking.
- Feel free to use leftover mashed potatoes or instant mashed potatoes instead of making them from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Difference Between Shepherd's Pie And Cottage Pie?
Shepherd's Pie is traditionally made with ground lamb and vegetables while Cottage Pie is made with ground beef and vegetables.
You will commonly see lamb swapped with ground beef in the US and still called Shepherd's Pie even though lamb is not used.
Can I Use Ground Turkey In A Shepherd's Pie?
Absolutely! To lighten a shepherd's pie, use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of lamb or beef.
What Size Ramekin Is Best To Use?
For best results, use a 10-ounce ramekin that measures 4-inches in diameter and is approximately 1 ¾-inches tall.
Many ramekins don't have the size printed on them. Because of this, it can be hard to know exactly how large (or small) yours is. The best way to measure the size of your ramekin is to fill it with water and pour the water into a measuring cup.
You can also use mini loaf pans that also hold about 8 to 10-ounces. If you happen to have smaller ramekins, use those and divide the mixture between them.
Can This Recipe Be Doubled?
Yes! Just double the ingredients if you'd like to make extra. Bake in two (10-ounce) ramekins or 1 (5x5-inch) baking dish. Keep the baking time and temperature the same.
These dishes can be found on our bakeware page.
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our "recipes for one", please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
How Should I Store Shepherd's Pie?
Cover the shepherd's pie and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the microwave until heated through.
Serving Suggestions and Variations
- I love to enjoy this mini shepherd's pie with some crusty french bread but you might enjoy a fresh side salad like our Fresh Tomato Salad or our Cucumber Salad.
- If you'd like to make a vegetarian shepherd's pie or a "shepherdless" pie, swap the lamb for a meat-free alternative, mushrooms, or cooked lentils.
- The mashed potato topping can be swapped for sweet potatoes.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe for shepherd's pie, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
- Ground lamb: I purchase ground lamb in the refrigetated meat section of my local grocery store near the ground beef. It's a perfect substitute for ground beef or turkey. Consider using leftover ground lamb in any of these recipes: Hamburger, Meat Sauce, Baked Ziti, Goulash
- Gold potatoes: Scalloped Potatoes, Zuppa Toscana, Potato Soup, Chicken Stew
- Milk: Strawberry Milkshake, Pralines, Biscuits, Cornbread
- Garlic: Frittata, Bruschetta, Tortellini Soup, Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Onions: French Onion Soup, Baked Stuffed Fish, Beef Enchiladas, Guacamole
- Olive oil: Vegetable Casserole, Roasted Cabbage, Baked Pork Chop, Crustless Spinach Quiche
- Worcestershire sauce: Reuben Sandwich, Gumbo, Baked Beans, Meatloaf
- Vegetables: Minestrone Soup, Fried Rice, Creamy Vegetable Soup, Chicken Pot Pie
- Beef broth: Irish Stew, Beef Stroganoff, Salisbury Steak, Swedish Meatballs
If you've tried this single serving shepherd's pie recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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For the mashed potatoes
- 1 medium Yukon Gold potato , scrubbed and quartered (about 7-ounces)
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
For the stew
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 4 ounces ground lamb
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup frozen mixed vegetables
- ¼ cup low-sodium beef broth
- Optional: 1 tablespoon of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
To make mashed potatoes
-
Chop the potato into quarters and place them in a small 1-quart saucepan. Add the milk and garlic and stir. Add a little extra milk if the potatoes are not almost completely covered by the milk. Cook for 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
-
Strain the potatoes with a fine-mesh strainer over a medium-sized bowl and reserve the milk mixture.
-
Return the potatoes to the pan and add ¼-cup of the milk mixture. Mash the potatoes with an immersion blender or potato masher and add additional reserved milk as needed until the potatoes are thick and creamy. Stir in butter and salt and set aside.
To make stew
-
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C).
-
In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil, add the chopped onions and cook, stirring occasionally for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and ground lamb and season with Italian seasoning and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lamb is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and vegetables.
-
Add the broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
-
Grease a 10-ounce ramekin with butter or cooking oil spray. Add the beef mixture to the ramekin.
-
Top with the mashed potatoes and add 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese, if using. Bake for 20 minutes.
-
Remove from the oven and enjoy immediately.
Expert Tips
Follow these easy tips for making the best shepherd's pie:
- Although this recipe calls for using ground (minced) lamb, you can use ground beef instead.
- Consider topping your shepherd's pie with a tablespoon or two of grated Parmesan cheese or shredded cheddar cheese before baking.
- Feel free to use leftover mashed potatoes or instant mashed potatoes instead of making them from scratch.
What Size Ramekin Is Best To Use?
For best results, use a 10-ounce ramekin that measures 4-inches in diameter and is approximately 1 ¾-inches tall.
Many ramekins don't have the size printed on them. Because of this, it can be hard to know exactly how large (or small) yours is. The best way to measure the size of your ramekin is to fill it with water and pour the water into a measuring cup.
You can also use mini loaf pans that also hold about 8 to 10-ounces. If you happen to have smaller ramekins, use those and divide the mixture between them.
Nutrition Facts
Shepherd's Pie For One
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 684 Calories from Fat 423
% Daily Value*
Fat 47g 72%
Saturated Fat 22g 138%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 20g
Cholesterol 125mg 42%
Sodium 967mg 42%
Potassium 1426mg 41%
Carbohydrates 45g 15%
Fiber 6g 25%
Sugar 9g 10%
Protein 29g 58%
Vitamin A 2867IU 57%
Vitamin C 40mg 48%
Calcium 203mg 20%
Iron 4mg 22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.
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