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? ›

PREP, FREEZE AND BAKE:

Place prepared, unbaked pie in the refrigerator until completely cooled. 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.

Can shepherds pie be cooked from frozen? ›

The pie can now be chilled and frozen for up to a month. Bake for 20-25 mins until the top is starting to colour and the mince is bubbling through at the edges. (To bake from frozen, cook at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 for 1 hr-1 hr 20 mins until piping hot in the centre. Flash under the grill to brown, if you like.)

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.

How long can shepherds pie stay in fridge? ›

The best way to store leftover shepherd's pie is in a Tupperware container. Once you have separated the food to an airtight container, transfer it to your refrigerator. Shepherds pie will last up to five days in your refrigerator.

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

Bake shepherd's pie for 20–25 minutes, until mashed potatoes are golden brown and crispy on top. Serve and enjoy! 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.

Can I freeze shepherds pie before baking it? ›

A make-ahead hack makes it even easier to enjoy this hearty classic any day of the week. The base of the pie can be made ahead and frozen in an easy-to-store container.

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.

Can you freeze shepherds pie in a pyrex dish? ›

If you baked a casserole in a Pyrex dish and wanted to freeze the leftovers, don't transfer the still-hot dish to the freezer. Instead, let the casserole cool to room temperature, then cover the dish, and store it in the freezer.

Can you microwave shepherd's pie from frozen? ›

Description. If frozen, thaw… microwave for approx. 5 minutes or transfer to a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes until heated through.

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.

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) ...

Can you refreeze shepherds pie? ›

The answer is yes. But pay attention to the way you thaw and, conversely, the way you freeze. Most foods previously frozen, thawed and then cooked can be refrozen as long as they have not been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours.

Can I eat 5 day old shepherd's pie? ›

Shepherd's pie can typically last in the fridge for about 3-5 days if stored properly in an airtight container. Make sure to let it cool down before refrigerating it, and always ensure that it's reheated thoroughly before consuming it again.

Can you eat week old shepherds pie? ›

All meat up to 4 days in fridge if wrapped/covered properly but not more than 2 days for fish. Your shep pie would be fine tonight as long as it's heated up to a reallt hot temp. That's unless it was cooked, then frozen then reheated - can't reheat more than once.

Is shepherds pie good after 4 days? ›

Freshly Baked

If your Shepherds Pie is already baked, please store it in the fridge. For best results, the pie should be consumed within 4 days of purchase. To warm, place on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 350°F.

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

You can freeze Meat Pies either baked or unbaked. Either way, when you want to bake the Pies, you can bake them off frozen. They will, however, take a little longer to bake then the time stated in the recipe.

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.

Should you bake a meat pie before freezing? ›

After checking with two Bloggers I trust, you can freeze first or freeze after cooking. 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.

Can you freeze cottage pie with mash on top? ›

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. For a really crisp, golden topping, flash under the grill for a few mins before serving.

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