Flavorful and hearty, this gluten-free shepherd’s pie is easy to put together and feeds a crowd! It’s great for bringing to potlucks or for a busy weeknight dinner, is the ultimate comfort food for cold nights, and the whole family will love it. Totally dairy-free too!
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Jump to:
- What is Shepherd’s Pie?
- Why This Recipe Works:
- Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Recipe Notes + Substitutions:
- How to Make Gluten-Free Shepherd’s Pie (Step by Step):
- Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
- Recipe FAQs:
- Other Ground Meat Recipes to Enjoy:
- Comforting Gluten-Free Casseroles to Warm Up To:
- Easy Gluten-Free Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (Dairy-Free)
What is Shepherd’s Pie?
Shepherd’s pie (or ‘cottage pie’) is basically a savory dish made of a minced meat filling at the bottom and topped with creamy mashed potatoes.
Usually prepared in a casserole dish and baked in the oven, shepherd’s pie is often made with either ground beef or lamb. (Fun fact: some insist that mutton must be used for it to be called “shepherd’s pie” and beef is used in “cottage pie.)
Flavorful and comforting, it makes a hearty and filling stand-alone dish for the winter months that needs nothing else to accompany it.
Why This Recipe Works:
- Simple Ingredients: The ingredients required for this gluten-free shepherd’s pie are easily accessible at the local grocery store (nothing fancy required!).
- Easy to Make: Preparing the mashed potato topping and the ground meat filling is uncomplicated, and if you already have mashed potatoes leftover from another meal, then you’re one step closer!
- Totally Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free: The best part is that this easy shepherd’s pie recipe is 100% gluten-free and dairy-free, which means that even those with Celiac disease, or who have gluten or lactose intolerances can enjoy it without issues!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required to make this gluten-free shepherd’s pie recipe.
(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)
Recipe Notes + Substitutions:
- Potatoes: For making mashed potatoes, it’s best to use starchier potatoes such as Russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes to get the creamiest effect.
- Almond Milk: I like using an unsweetened version of my homemade almond milk, but you may also use another unsweetened non-dairy milk (such as cashew milk, rice milk, oat milk, etc). Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, go ahead and use regular milk (or heavy cream if you prefer).
- Parmesan: I used dairy-free parmesan cheese to keep this recipe dairy-free. However, if you are not lactose-intolerant, go ahead and use regular parmesan cheese instead. You may also leave it out completely if you’re not keen on the taste of cheese.
- Butter: I used dairy-free butter (vegan butter) to keep this recipe dairy-free. You can also use coconut oil if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use regular butter or ghee instead.
- Ground Meat: You may either use ground beef or ground lamb for this gluten-free shepherd’s pie filling.
- Frozen Vegetables: I used frozen carrots, peas and corn for a colorful mixture. Alternatively, you can also use fresh vegetables if you prefer.
- Gluten-Free Flour: I used a gluten-free all-purpose flour to thicken the gravy for the filling and to keep the recipe gluten-free. You may also use corn starch or tapioca starch for thickening if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, go ahead and use regular all-purpose flour instead.
- Beef Broth: The beef broth adds a beautiful flavor to the shepherd’s pie filling. You may either make your own homemade beef broth or use storebought beef broth (either will work). Alternatively, you can also use chicken broth or vegetable broth if you prefer.
- Oil: I like using sunflower oil because I always have a bottle of it on hand. You may also use another type of vegetable oil (such as canola oil, olive oil, avocado oil etc).
- Onion: I used a yellow onion, but feel free to use a white onion or red onion instead.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds a lovely flavor to the shepherd’s pie filling, so I highly recommend adding it. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use 1 teaspoon of dried minced garlic.
- Tomato Paste: The sweetness from the tomato paste balances out the savory flavors from the meat and other ingredients, making a nice contrast.
- Worcestershire Sauce: If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, make sure to use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
- Black Pepper: A sprinkle of ground black pepper adds a little bit of heat, but feel free to leave it out if you don’t enjoy pepper.
- Fresh Herbs: You may use any type of fresh green herbs (my favorite options are chopped chives, green onions or parsley.)
How to Make Gluten-Free Shepherd’s Pie (Step by Step):
1. Boil Potatoes
Add the cubed potatoes to a pot of water and bring to a boil, then cook the cubed potatoes for 20-25 minutes until they are fork tender and can be easily mashed without much effort.
When the potatoes are cooked, drain the water. Add the dairy-free almond milk, salt, dairy-free butter and dairy-free parmesan.
2. Prepare Mashed Potatoes
Using the back of a fork or a potato masher, mash the potatoes very well until they are creamy and there are no more lumps.
3. Cook Onions
While the potatoes are cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet and add the onions to the pan. Fry on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring.
Then add the garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
4. Add Ground Meat
Add ground meat and fry everything together for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add Flour
Add the gluten-free all-purpose flour and mix, stirring for another 2 minutes.
6. Add Broth, Tomato Pasta, Worcestershire Sauce, Salt & Pepper
Add beef broth, tomato paste, gluten-free Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. You can also add any other spices to taste. Mix well.
7. Stir and Combine
Stir and cook everything together for 6-7 minutes until the broth has reduced and thickened. Then add the frozen vegetables, stir and turn off the heat after 2 minutes.
8. Preheat Oven and Transfer Filling to Baking Dish
Preheat the oven to 360F. Transfer the cooked meat mixture to a large casserole dish.
(The oval baking dish I used is 11” long and 7” wide, but you can use any shape dish you wish).
9. Top Filling with Mashed Potatoes
Distribute the mashed potatoes on top of the minced meat filling, using a wet spatula to spread the potatoes out evenly.
10. Bake Until Ready
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown.
11. Garnish and Serve
Serve the gluten-free shepherd’s pie hot and garnished with fresh chopped green onions or chives.
Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
- Use Ground Meat of Choice: Traditionally, the most common options for shepherd’s pie are ground beef or ground lamb (mutton), but you can also use other types of ground meats if you prefer (such as ground chicken, ground pork or ground turkey).
- Use Sweet Potatoes instead of Potatoes: If you like a slightly sweeter option, go ahead and use mashed sweet potatoes instead of mashed potatoes (or use a mix of both)!
Recipe FAQs:
To store, cover the shepherd’s pie with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the pie in the oven or microwave until warm before serving.
Yes, you can! To freeze, place the shepherd’s pie in a freezer-safe container and freezer for up to 2 months. Let the frozen shepherd’s pie thaw completely overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.
Other Ground Meat Recipes to Enjoy:
- Turkey Bolognese (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Easy Chili con Carne (Gluten-Fre, Dairy-Free)
- Hamburger Helper (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Juicy Homemade Meatballs (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Inside Out Egg Roll (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
Comforting Gluten-Free Casseroles to Warm Up To:
P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!
PrintEasy Gluten-Free Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (Dairy-Free)
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Flavorful and hearty, this gluten-free shepherd’s pie is easy to put together and feeds a crowd! It’s perfect for bringing to potlucks or for a busy weeknight dinner. Totally dairy-free too!
Ingredients
For the Mashed Potatoes:
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 3 tablespoons dairy-free grated parmesan
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon dairy-free butter
For the Ground Beef Filling:
- 1 pound ground meat
- 1 cup frozen vegetables (corn, peas, carrots)
- 2 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
- Chopped fresh herbs, for garnishing
Instructions
- Boil Potatoes: Add the cubed potatoes to a pot of water and bring to a boil, then cook the cubed potatoes for 20-25 minutes until they are very tender and can be easily mashed with a fork.
- Prepare Mashed Potatoes: When the potatoes are cooked, drain the water. Add the dairy-free almond milk, salt, dairy-free butter and dairy-free parmesan. Mash the potatoes well until they are creamy and there are no more lumps.
- Cook Onions: While the potatoes are cooking, heat the oil in a skillet and add the onions to the pan. Fry on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring. Then add the garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
- Add Ground Meat: Add ground meat and fry everything together for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add Flour: Add the gluten-free all-purpose flour and mix, stirring for another 2 minutes.
- Add Broth, Tomato Pasta, Worcestershire Sauce, Salt & Pepper: Add beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. You can also add any other spices to taste.
- Stir to Combine: Stir and cook everything together for 6-7 minutes until the broth has reduced and thickened. Then add the frozen vegetables, stir and turn off the heat after 2 minutes.
- Preheat Oven and Transfer Filling to Baking Dish: Preheat the oven to 360F. Transfer the filling to a large baking dish. (The oval baking dish I used is 11” long and 7” wide).
- Top Filling with Mashed Potatoes: Distribute the mashed potatoes on top of the minced meat filling, using a wet spatula to spread the potatoes out evenly.
- Bake Until Ready: Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Serve the gluten-free shepherd’s pie hot and garnished with fresh chopped green onions or chives.
Notes
Potatoes: For making mashed potatoes, it’s best to use starchier potatoes such as Russet potatoes or Idaho potatoes to get the creamiest effect.
Almond Milk: I like using an unsweetened version of my homemade almond milk, but you may also use another unsweetened non-dairy milk (such as cashew milk, rice milk, oat milk, etc). Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, go ahead and use regular milk (or heavy cream if you prefer).
Parmesan: I used dairy-free parmesan cheese to keep this recipe dairy-free. However, if you are not lactose-intolerant, go ahead and use regular parmesan cheese instead. You may also leave it out completely if you’re not keen on the taste of cheese.
Butter: I used dairy-free butter (vegan butter) to keep this recipe dairy-free. You can also use coconut oil if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use regular butter or ghee instead.
Ground Meat: You may either use ground beef or ground lamb for this gluten-free shepherd’s pie filling.
Frozen Vegetables: I used frozen carrots, peas and corn for a colorful mixture. Alternatively, you can also use fresh vegetables if you prefer.
Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour: I used a gluten-free all-purpose flour to thicken the gravy for the filling and to keep the recipe gluten-free. You may also use corn starch for thickening if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are not Celiac or gluten-intolerant, go ahead and use regular all-purpose flour instead.
Beef Broth: The beef broth adds a beautiful flavor to the shepherd’s pie filling. You may either make your own homemade beef broth or use storebought beef broth (either will work).
Oil: I like using sunflower oil because I always have a bottle of it on hand. You may also use another type of cooking oil (such as canola oil, olive oil, avocado oil etc).
Onion: I used a yellow onion, but feel free to use a white onion or red onion instead.
Garlic: Fresh garlic adds a lovely flavor to the shepherd’s pie filling, so I highly recommend adding it. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use 1 teaspoon of dried minced garlic.
Tomato Paste: The sweetness from the tomato paste balances out the savory flavors from the meat and other ingredients, making a nice contrast.
Worcestershire Sauce: If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, make sure to use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
Black Pepper: A sprinkle of ground black pepper adds a little bit of heat, but feel free to leave it out if you don’t enjoy pepper.
Fresh Herbs: You may use any type of fresh green herbs (my favorite options are chopped chives, green onions or parsley.)
Storing/Freezing: To store, cover the shepherd’s pie with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the pie in the oven or microwave until warm before serving. To freeze, place the shepherd’s pie in a freezer-safe container and freezer for up to 2 months. Let the frozen shepherd’s pie thaw completely overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 mins
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western
Dana says
Thanks for the recipe. I often use mashed sweet potato as topping, or, alternatively half sweet potato and have regular white potato. In Australia and I believe UK, shepherd’s pie is made with lamb mince whilst cottage pie is made with beef mince.
Felicia Lim says
Hi Dana! Love the mix of both sweet potatoes as well as regular potatoes for the mashed topping. Thanks for sharing too that in AU and UK cottage pie is with minced beef and shepherd’s pie is with lamb!
Grace Lim says
Dear Felicia,
This is a great dish to serve the family.
You know what? We are having this shepherd pie for dinner tonight and everyone is looking forward to digging into the pie – yum yum yummy!
Thanks Felicia with lots of love!
Mum
Felicia Lim says
YAY! can’t wait to hang out all together tonight!