Ingredients
Ingredients
- 450 g ground lamb about 1 pound
- 900 g peeled potatoes cut into even chunks
- 13.5 g olive oil 1 tablespoon
- 150 g yellow onion finely diced
- 50 g celery finely diced
- 80 g carrot finely diced
- 3 g fine salt 1/2 teaspoon, divided
- 1 g black pepper 1/2 teaspoon, divided
- 15 ml Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon
- 500 ml unsalted beef stock about 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon
- 60 ml whipping cream (30% fat) 1/4 cup
- 60 g unsalted butter about 4 tablespoons
- 12 g cornstarch about 1 1/2 tablespoons
- 30 ml cold water for the cornstarch slurry
- fresh thyme leaves optional garnish, excluded from estimates
Equipment
- 1 8-inch square 2-quart baking dish
- 1 Large skillet
- 1 Potato pot
- 1 potato masher
- 1 Instant-read thermometer
Instructions
Prepare and cook
- Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) conventional, or 400°F (200°C) fan. Use a roughly 8-inch square, 2-quart baking dish. Place potatoes in a pot of water, bring to a boil and simmer about 15 minutes until tender; drain thoroughly.
- While potatoes cook, heat oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Cook onion, celery and carrot for 5 minutes. Add lamb, half the salt and half the pepper. Break up the mince and cook until browned and at least 160°F (71°C).
- Add Worcestershire and stock. Simmer 5 minutes. Mix cornstarch with the cold water, stir it into the simmering filling and cook until thickened. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the meat and vegetables to the baking dish, adding only enough gravy to keep the filling moist. Reserve remaining gravy separately.
- Mash drained potatoes with cream, butter and the remaining salt and pepper until smooth enough to spread. Spoon over the filling, spread to the edges and roughen the surface with a fork.
- Bake about 20–25 minutes until the top is golden and the center reaches 165°F (74°C). Let stand 5 minutes. Serve four portions with reserved gravy warmed separately. Optional thyme and vegetable sides are excluded from estimates.
Nutrition
Serving: 1portionCalories: 733kcalProtein: 25.3gFiber: 6.5gSugar: 6.5g
Video
Notes
Video: Kitchen Sanctuary, “Guaranteed Clean Plates! My Family Favourite Shepherds Pie,” originally uploaded 2021-03-11. This is a half-size, four-serving adaptation using 30% whipping cream, retaining the separate extra-gravy method and no peas or cheese.
Nutrition is an ingredient-based estimate using ANSES Ciqual 2025, USDA data and the named manufacturer labels where applicable. Based on USDA generic raw ground lamb, with all measured gravy counted even if some is reserved and not eaten. Potato weight is peeled; side vegetables are excluded. Optional garnishes are excluded. Values change with brands and portions.
Cost is an approximate U.S. ingredient estimate using online retail package prices checked October 25, 2026, prorated to the quantities used; it is not a local shopping quote. Pantry portions are counted, not whole packages. Taxes, energy, optional garnishes and sides are excluded. Prices and availability vary.
Refrigerate leftovers promptly in shallow containers and reheat leftovers to 165°F (74°C).
