Guinness Shepherd's Pie will satisfy your appetite with savory flavor and fill your kitchen with a comforting aroma. The rich meat filling is topped with cheesy mashed potatoes for a hearty restaurant-worthy meal you can enjoy at home.
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There's nothing more wonderful than enjoying a delicious, hearty meal in the comfort of your own home, such as Mississippi beef stew, short rib risotto, or this savory Guinness Shepherd's Pie.
This meal-in-one is a favorite of meat and potato lovers. Guinness stout and Irish cheddar cheese bring Irish inspiration to this dish, which is ideal for St. Patrick's Day or any time you crave a comforting meal.
Why This Recipe Works
- Flavor: Guinness stout adds a deep, malty flavor that pairs wonderfully with the hearty meat filling, and cheddar cheese adds tangy flavor to the mashed potatoes. For the non-beer drinker (like myself), the beer only imparts an earthy richness and doesn't leave any beer flavor behind.
- Versatility: Swap lamb for the beef and add other vegetables like peas or corn.
- Make-ahead: Prepare and refrigerate until ready to serve. Warm in the oven until warmed through.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef: I use 85/15 grass-fed beef. It provides enough fat for flavor without being too greasy. Ground lamb (which is traditional in Shepherd's Pie) can be substituted if preferred.
- Guinness beer: This rich, stout beer adds a deep, earthy flavor to the dish. You can substitute another stout beer or use beef broth.
- Potatoes: Both Russets and Yukon gold potatoes work well for mashing.
- Cheddar cheese: I use Irish cheddar to pair with the Guinness. White cheddar can also be used.
See the recipe card for complete instructions and ingredient amounts.
How to Make Guinness Shepherd's Pie
Step 1: Add the ground beef, carrots, and onions to a large braiser or oven-safe skillet. Cook until the meat is brown, about 10 minutes. Drain the excess fat.
Step 2: Add the garlic and tomato paste and stir to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
Step 3: Add the beer and seasonings, stirring and scraping any bits from the bottom of the pan.
Step 4: Cover and cook for one hour.
Step 5: Meanwhile, peel and dice the potatoes. Add them to salted water, bring it to a boil, and simmer until fork-tender. Drain.
Step 6: While the potatoes cook, warm the cream, butter, and black pepper in a small saucepan.
Step 7: Add the cream cheese to the warm pot that was used to cook the potatoes. Using a potato ricer, rice the potatoes into the pot. The warm potatoes will soften the cream cheese.
Step 8: Add the warm cream and butter mixture to the potatoes. Stir until well combined. Fold in the cheddar cheese, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Step 9: Spread the potatoes in an even layer over the top of the meat mixture.
Step 10: Bake at 400℉ for 15-20 minutes until bubbling around the edges and lightly golden on top. Garnish with chives and serve.
Expert Tips
- Prepare the meat filling and mashed potatoes up to two days in advance. Then, bake the casserole when ready to eat.
- Use store-bought mashed potatoes when short on time. Try mashed cauliflower for a lighter vibe.
- Use turkey instead of beef (or lamb) to lighten this dish.
- Serve with Ciabatta garlic bread and a green salad with balsamic dressing for a complete meal.
Recipe FAQs
Traditionally, Shepherd's Pie is made with ground lamb, while Cottage Pie is made with ground beef. Since ground beef is more readily available in the United States, it is commonly used in recipes for Shepherd's Pie.
Guinness adds deep flavor, but Shepherd's Pie will still be delicious without it. You can use beef broth, brown ale, or another variety of stout beer.
Shepherd's Pie can be frozen in two ways. To freeze after baking, allow the casserole to cool completely. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating. To freeze before baking, assemble the casserole, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
More Hearty Beef Recipes to Try
- Crockpot Corned Beef Brisket is another favorite for St. Patrick's Day. Turn leftovers into Reuben sliders.
- Meatloaf without breadcrumbs is an easy comfort classic that I love pairing with make-ahead mashed potatoes with cream cheese.
- Barbecue Beef Stew is another comfort food winner. The beef is cooked in tangy BBQ sauce until melt-in-your-mouth tender.
- Turn family-favorite flavors into a skillet meal with this Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole.
Have you tried this recipe? I'd love to hear it! Please leave a comment and rating below. You can also follow along on Facebook and Pinterest or sign up for my Newsletter for more recipe inspiration.
📖 Recipe Card
Guinness Shepherd's Pie
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Ingredients
Meat mixture
- 2 pounds 85 percent lean ground beef (or ground lamb or turkey)
- 1½ cups diced yellow onions
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 12 ounces Guinness beer
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
Mashed potatoes
- 2 ½ pounds russet potatoes
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 4 ounces Irish cheddar cheese (shredded)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- chopped chives (for garnish)
Instructions
- Add the ground beef, onions, and carrots to a large oven-safe braiser or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook for 10 minutes until the veggies have softened, crumbling the meat as it cooks. Drain the excess grease.2 pounds 85 percent lean ground beef, 1½ cups diced yellow onions, 1 cup diced carrots
- Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the beer, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, thyme, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for one hour.1 teaspoon minced garlic, 3 tablespoons tomato paste, 12 ounces Guinness beer, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, 2 teaspoons black pepper
- Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and cut them into one-inch cubes. Add them to a pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Simmer until potatoes are fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain.2 ½ pounds russet potatoes
- While the potatoes cook, preheat the oven to 400℉. Add the butter, heavy cream, and black pepper to a small saucepan and warm gently until butter is melted.¼ cup unsalted butter, ¾ cup heavy cream, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- After draining the potatoes, add the cream cheese to the same pot and, using a potato ricer, rice the potatoes into the pot. (The hot potatoes will melt the cream cheese.) Pour the warm cream mixture over the potatoes and stir to combine. Fold the shredded cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper.4 ounces cream cheese, salt and pepper, 4 ounces Irish cheddar cheese
- Top the meat mixture with the mashed potatoes, spreading into an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes until lightly brown and bubbly around the edges. Garnish with chives and serve.chopped chives
Notes
- To make ahead: Prepare the meat filling and mashed potatoes up to two days in advance and bake when ready to serve.
- Use store-bought mashed potatoes when short on time.
- Guinness can be substituted with another variety of stout beer or beef broth.
- To freeze before baking, assemble the casserole, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
- To freeze after baking, allow the casserole to cool completely. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific ingredients used.
Abbey McDermott says
I love the deep, rich flavor that Guinness imparts, without making this dish taste like beer. This is a St. Patrick's Day comfort food favorite in our house.