Instant Pot Shepherd's Pie

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 07/19/21
Shepherd's pie on a plate
Diana Rattray
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 6 servings

If you avoid making shepherd's pie because of the many steps and cleanup involved, you will love this Instant Pot version. All of the ingredients are cooked together in the pressure cooker. All that's left for you to do at the end is mash the spuds, thicken the filling mixture and transfer everything to a baking dish. Just a few minutes under the broiler will reward you with a perfectly browned mashed potato topping.

After first browning the meat, the Instant Pot cooks the dish in an incredibly fast three minutes, though you will need to build in approximately 15 minutes for the pot to come up to pressure.

This version is a traditional shepherd's pie because it is made with lamb. If you use ground or minced beef or turkey, it is more correctly called a cottage pie. Either way, the casserole is delicious!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 2 clove garlic, minced

  • 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped

  • 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for the potatoes

  • 2 cups unsalted beef stock

  • 2 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 1 1/2 pounds potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 2 (.87-ounce) packets brown gravy mix

  • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas

  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided

  • 1/3 cup milk

  • Salt, to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for the Instant Pot shepherd's pie
    Diana Rattray

  2. Choose the sauté setting on the Instant Pot and add the lamb and onions. Cook, stirring, until the meat is no longer pink. Add the garlic, rosemary, and parsley and then sauté for about 1 minute longer.

    Brown the ground lamb and onions
    Diana Rattray

  3. Cancel the sauté and add the carrots and beef stock to the Instant Pot.

    Add the beef stock and carrots
    Diana Rattray

  4. Put the potatoes in a steamer basket and place it on top of the lamb and carrot mixture.

    Add the steam basket and potatoes to the pot
    Diana Rattray

  5. Lock the Instant Pot lid in place and turn the venting knob to "sealing." Select the manual setting, high pressure. Set the time to 3 minutes.

  6. When the time is up, carefully turn the knob to "venting" for a quick release of pressure. The steam is very hot, so protect your hands and use a long wooden spoon handle or tongs to turn the knob.

  7. Remove the potatoes to a large mixing bowl and set aside. Add the peas and gravy mix the Instant Pot. Set the pot on sauté and cook until the filling is thickened.

    Add the gravy mix to the Instant Pot pressure cooker
    Diana Rattray

  8. Meanwhile, mash the potatoes with 2 tablespoons of butter and the milk. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

    Mash the potatoes by hand or with an electric mixer
    Diana Rattray

  9. Preheat the broiler. Pour the thickened filling into a 1 1/2-quart baking dish.

    Instant Pot shepherd's pie
    Diana Rattray

  10. Spoon the mashed potatoes evenly over the filling and gently spread them to cover. Alternatively, pipe the potatoes onto the filling with a pastry bag and large star tip. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and brush it lightly over the potatoes. Sprinkle lightly with paprika.

    Instant pot shepherd's pie ready for the oven
    Diana Rattray

  11. Place the shepherd's pie under the preheated broiler and cook just until the potatoes are browned.

    Shepherd's pie from the Instant Pot
    Diana Rattray

  12. Serve the shepherd's pie with a salad or sliced fresh tomatoes on the side.

  13. Enjoy.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Tip

  • If you use ground lamb, beef, or turkey frequently, you might find it convenient to brown several pounds—with or without onions and seasonings—and freeze it in one-pound portions for two to three months. It will still be safe if frozen for a longer period of time but the quality might be reduced.

Recipe Variations

  • Top the potatoes with about 1 cup of shredded cheese before you sprinkle the casserole with paprika. Broil until the cheese is melted and browned.
  • Leftover roast lamb is another excellent option for the shepherd's pie. Sauté the onions until they are translucent and then add the minced lamb, garlic, rosemary, and parsley. Sauté for another minute or two and continue with Step 3.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
574 Calories
30g Fat
40g Carbs
36g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 574
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 30g 38%
Saturated Fat 13g 67%
Cholesterol 127mg 42%
Sodium 854mg 37%
Total Carbohydrate 40g 15%
Dietary Fiber 6g 20%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 36g
Vitamin C 17mg 87%
Calcium 102mg 8%
Iron 4mg 25%
Potassium 1320mg 28%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)