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Easy Shepherd’s Pie with Leftover Pot Roast

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I don’t think there is a more family friendly comfort food than this easy shepherd’s pie made with leftover pot roast. Since it’s made with beef rather than lamb it’s technically a cottage pie but you call it what you want. I call it really, really good! The cooked, leftover beef is covered with a layer of green beans, cheese, and mashed potatoes then baked to cheesy, bubbly perfection. This recipe has been updated from the January 2015 version for better reader experience.

For this recipe you’ll need: left over pot roast or roast beef, carrots, potatoes, green beans, butter, milk, flour, Cheddar cheese

Shepherd's pie being served onto a white plate.

 

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One thing I like to do is make a large pot roast in the slow cooker on Sunday or early in the week. I’d spend time looking up leftover pot roast recipes because I got kind of tired of leftover pot roast sandwiches. Finally one day I decided to try it in place of the ground beef in my shepherd’s pie recipe and BINGO! I know most recipes call for ground beef but I promise you once you try it with leftover roast? You’ll be hooked.

What is it about shepherd’s pie anyway? There is the meat layer, then a carrot layer, then a green bean layer. I add creamy gravy over that and then top with mashed potatoes and cheese. It seems like simple enough ingredients but when it’s baked it turns into something so incredible it’s crazy!

It’s really funny. My family is starting to get smaller. We are down to 4 kids at home now and they do not have the appetites of some of the kids who have moved out. It’s been much harder to learn to cook smaller portions again than it was to learn to cook huge amounts. I am at that in-between stage where I frustrate myself by having to throw out way too much food. I miss the big family chaos, a lot. I am not sure I will ever get used to it — and it’s one of those things that was a season that is now passed — no going back. I am grateful that I was able to be a stay at home mom, to homeschool, and to spend all the time with them that I did. I can’t think of a better way to have invested my life.

Shepherd’s Pie Recipe FAQs

  • Do you cover shepherd’s pie when baking?

Not usually because you want that top to develop a thin, golden crust. If the top starts to brown too much or too quickly you can tent a piece of foil over it.

  • What are the layers of shepherd’s pie?

That’s really up to you. Since it is basically made of leftovers you could put in whatever leftover vegetables you have. Green beans and sliced or mashed carrots are common. So the first layer is the meat, followed by the green beans and/or carrots. Add any cooked vegetable you like. Next you’ll pour the gravy over the whole thing, add a layer of potatoes, and then I like to add a layer of cheese even though it’s not traditional.

  • Do you put cheese on top of shepherd’s pie?

Traditionally speaking there isn’t normally cheese in or on shepherd’s pie. However, personally I love cheese on top. Cheddar, smoked Gouda… any cheese that melts well will work.

  • How do you make shepherd’s pie sauce?

Again, this tends to be a matter of preference. Some people make a savory tomato and Worcestershire sauce while others (me!) prefer a cream gravy type of sauce. Try both and see which you like.

  • Is shepherd’s pie made with lamb or beef?

Well, technically shepherd’s pie is made with lamb and cottage pie (exactly the same except the meat) is made with beef.

I hope that clears a few questions up for you!

closeup of easy shepherd's pie in a casserole dish ready to be served.

Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

At church we are doing a series on reclaiming mealtimes — putting away all electronics and concentrating on each other at three meals a week. It’s always a good reminder what’s important, you know? This is the kind of food that makes dinner one of those memorable times.

Once you try this easy shepherd’s pie with leftover pot roast you’ll be hooked. It’s so quick and easy that it makes a great weeknight dinner– and you can even put it together a day or so ahead of time and bake it when you’re ready to eat. If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!

4.3 from 24 votes
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Easy Shepherd's Pie with Leftover Pot Roast
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 
Comfort food for a cold, rainy day - this shepherd's pie is made with leftover pot roast and plenty of mashed potatoes for an easy dinner the whole family will love.
Course: Casserole
Cuisine: Great Britain/Ireland
Servings: 8
Calories: 533 kcal
Author: Marye Audet
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 pounds cooked beef chuck , shredded and then chopped coarsely
  • 2 cups sliced , cooked carrots
  • 2 cups green beans
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 1/2 pounds of potatoes (about 3 to 4 large potatoes)
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
  2. Grease a baking dish and add the beef in an even layer.
  3. Cover with the carrots, then the green beans.
  4. Set aside.
  5. Melt the 1/4 cup butter in a heavy frying pan.
  6. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly until it is a golden color, about 2 minutes.
  7. Whisk in the milk and simmer until the gravy is smooth and thick.
  8. Pour over the meat and vegetables.
  9. Set aside.
  10. Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks.
  11. Boil them in salted water until they are very tender.
  12. Mash them with the 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup butter.
  13. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  14. Spoon over the meat and vegetables and sprinkle the cheddar over the top.
  15. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the cheese it bubbly and the dish is heated all the way through.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Shepherd's Pie with Leftover Pot Roast
Amount Per Serving
Calories 533 Calories from Fat 288
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g 49%
Saturated Fat 16g 80%
Cholesterol 131mg 44%
Sodium 391mg 16%
Potassium 1090mg 31%
Total Carbohydrates 27g 9%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Sugars 5g
Protein 33g 66%
Vitamin A 16.4%
Vitamin C 23.7%
Calcium 27%
Iron 42%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Comments

  3. Omg. This was the best shepherds pie I have ever had! I used left over pot roast meat ground up in a food processor with the left over cooked onions. I also used a whole can of veggies. I was a little worried about the gravy because it didn’t look like it would add much flavor but it made the meat so creamy tasting. My 3 year absolutely loved it as well. Definitley a keeper!

    Reply

  4. I don’t care for mashed potatoes, so I made Shepard pie with left over roast beef that I shereded the meat in my food processor mixed it up with onion, carrots gravy then put a baking powder biscuit topping on it. It was great.

    Reply

  6. I love Shepard’s Pie. However my mom used to take her left over roast of beef and put it through the meet grinder with an onion and would add a bit of left over gravy. She would then add mashed potatoes to the top and bake until heated through. If she had left over vegies she would add this to the top of the meat mixture before adding the mashed potatoes. She would then take it out of the oven and add shredded cheese on top and return to the oven until it is melted. To Die For!!!

    Reply

  7. I know what you mean about cooking smaller meals. We raised three very active sons. I never had leftovers! Now that it’s just my husband and myself, I have leftover leftovers. My neighbors know that they can stop by any time and they will leave with filled containers of food. I never made a Shepherd’s Pie with a milk based gravy. I can’t wait to try it and can’t wait to visit your website again.

    Reply

  15. I don’t usually make comments. My husband I enjoyed this so much that I had to let you know! It is hard to come up with what to do with that little bit of leftover roast beef. This is just simple comfort food. Hubbie said it is a KEEPER! Thank you for Sharing., I have Shared it too.

    Reply

  17. What a great way to use up leftovers! I love it. And I love the idea of reclaiming mealtime – we are guilty of eating with the TV on and our cellphones nearby. It would be nice to eat together and talk to each other – I remember meal times when I was a kid and there weren’t cellphones yet. It was nice. 🙂

    Reply

  18. I know. When I was homeschooling and a SAHM we eat 3 meals together daily (except the ex) once the divorce happened I had to put them in school ..we do get a majority of dinners together unless my current husband is working late. 🙂

    Reply

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