Crockpot Shepherd’s Pie
Crockpot Shepherd’s Pie is ground beef and mixed vegetables in savory gravy topped with creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes, all made in your slow cooker. This hands-off cooking method makes this classic comfort food even easier. The crockpot does most of the work while you go about your day. It’s ready in 4-6 hours on low. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you want a hearty meal waiting when you get home.
This is one of my favorite meals ever. Ground beef, vegetables, a rich gravy, and buttery mashed potatoes to soak it all up. Everything I could ask for in one bite!
The best part of this recipe is that the crockpot handles everything. Well, you do have to brown the ground beef first. But, I brown big batches, portion into 1 pound packages, and freeze for later.
Then I just pull one out and toss in the crockpot. It’s wonderful when I can make classic comfort food made even easier. Thank you to whoever invented the slow cooker. You’re a life saver!
More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Bell Pepper Soup – Deconstructed peppers, easier prep
- Chicken and Stuffing – Dump-and-go comfort food classic
- Garlic Steak Bites – Tender beef in herb butter
- Crack Chicken – Addictive bacon and ranch
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclosure policy.
See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef: Lean ground beef, substitute ground turkey or ground lamb.
- Vegetables: I prefer frozen mixed vegetables because they don’t get mushy. Use your favorite combination.
- Mix packets: Use beefy onion soup mix or swap out for brown gravy mix.
- Mashed potatoes: Homemade works or use store bought for easy prep.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese is my favorite but mozzarella works great too.
For more insider tips, tricks, and a behind the scenes look, follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, & X.
How To Make Crockpot Shepherd’s Pie
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown the ground beef and onion. Stir in the garlic powder, thyme, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Spray a crockpot bowl with nonstick spray. Place the mixture in the bottom. Sprinkle in the soup mix, gravy mix, and pour in the broth and mixed veggies. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours hours. An hour before serving, remove the lid and spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the meat mixture. Drizzle with melted butter.
- Sprinkle it with shredded cheese. Cover and cook on low for another hour. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve.
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator. They will keep for 4-6 days in an airtight container.
Reheat it in the microwave or in the oven until warmed all the way through. If the mashed potatoes start to dry out, add a little extra butter.
What’s Shepherd’s Pie vs. Cottage Pie?
Some use these terms interchangeably, but there’s a slight difference:
Shepherd’s Pie = made with ground or minced lamb (shepherds tend sheep!)
Cottage Pie = same recipe but made with ground beef
You’ll notice this distinction more outside of America. Here, the terms pretty much mean the same thing.
Since this recipe uses beef, it’s technically Cottage Pie. But we all call it Shepherd’s Pie anyway!
Variations
Different Toppings:
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Mashed cauliflower (low-carb!)
- Biscuits
- Tater tots
Different Proteins:
- Chuck roast (my favorite substitute)
- Ground chicken
- Ground turkey
- Ground lamb (traditional!)
Gravy Options:
- Brown gravy mix (as written)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- Can of cream of mushroom soup
Check out my skillet shepherd’s pie version that’s ready in roughly 30 minutes!
Meal Prep Strategy
Make life easier with this trick:
- Brown 3-5 pounds ground beef with diced onions
- Portion into 1-pound packages
- Freeze flat in freezer bags
- Pull out when needed for recipes
Why this works: Most recipes call for 1 pound ground beef. Having pre-browned, pre-portioned packages means you can throw together meals like this in minutes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge 4-6 days. Reheat in microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through.
Shepherd’s Pie is traditionally made with ground lamb (shepherds tend sheep). Cottage Pie uses ground beef. In America, most people use the terms for both.
Technically you can cook raw ground beef in crockpot with broth, but I find it easier to brown first. Browning adds more flavor and texture!
You can but I recommend only using them in a pinch. Homemade are best, but instant or store-bought save tons of time and work just as well.
Use mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. They’re an amazing low-carb option.
The ground beef portion freezes great. I wouldn’t freeze with mashed potatoes on top. Leave those off and add them fresh when reheating.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Meal prep strategy: Brown large batches of ground beef and onions, store in 1-pound packages in freezer. Pull them out as needed.
- Potato shortcuts: Homemade mashed potatoes are best but instant or store-bought save time and work well.
- Onion substitute: Use 1 tablespoon onion powder instead of fresh onion.
- Gravy alternatives: Skip brown gravy mix, use 3 tablespoons tomato paste or can of cream of mushroom soup instead.
- Protein swaps: Ground turkey, chicken, lamb, or chuck roast all work. Chuck roast is my favorite after lamb.
- Low-carb option: Use mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes.
- Brown first: browning ground beef adds more flavor and texture than cooking raw in crockpot.
This crock pot shepherd’s pie recipe is great for a busy weeknight and is a meal the whole family will love. Hearty meat and veggies with a cheesy potato topping. YUMMY!
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!
Crock Pot Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 pounds ground beef lean
- 1 small onion diced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1.9 ounces Beefy onion soup mix 1 packet
- 1.1 ounces brown gravy mix 1 packet
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups mixed vegetables frozen
- 4 cups mashed potatoes prepared
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Spray a crockpot bowl with nonstick spray.
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown the ground beef and onion in the olive oil.
- Stir in the garlic powder, thyme, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Place mixture in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Sprinkle in the soup mix, gravy mix, and pour in the broth, and mixed veggies.
- Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
- An hour before serving, remove the lid and spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the meat mixture. Drizzle with melted butter.
- Sprinkle it with shredded cheese.
- Cover and cook on low for another hour.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve.
Notes
- Meal prep strategy: Brown large batches of ground beef and onions, store in 1-pound packages in freezer. Pull them out as needed.
- Potato shortcuts: Homemade mashed potatoes are best but instant or store-bought save time and work well.
- Onion substitute: Use 1 tablespoon onion powder instead of fresh onion.
- Gravy alternatives: Skip brown gravy mix, use 3 tablespoons tomato paste or can of cream of mushroom soup instead.
- Protein swaps: Ground turkey, chicken, lamb, or chuck roast all work. Chuck roast is my favorite after lamb.
- Low-carb option: Use mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes.
- Brown first: browning ground beef adds more flavor and texture than cooking raw in crockpot.
Nutrition
©TakeTwoTapas.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
