Shepherd's Pie Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes is the classic comforting dish reinvented. Perfect for kids and kids at heart!
St. Patrick’s Day is near which means it’s time to concoct my annual twist on a classic Shepherd’s Pie to celebrate.
Shepherd’s Pie is a staple in traditional Irish cooking, combining meat and potatoes to create an inexpensive and hearty meal. Every year I make a version of the dish around St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate the holiday.
In the past I’ve made a skillet version, one with a healthy mashed potato topper, and even a luscious braised version. This year I’m deconstructing it a bit to make Shepherd’s Pie Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes.
Perfect for kids and kids at heart!
Scrumptious, hearty, cozy, and FUN. Meat and potatoes at their finest!
How to Make this Dish
Start with the mashed potatoes. I think a lot of people believe mashed potatoes are hard or time consuming to make since they’re often associated with big holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, but they’re actually super easy as they kind of just cook themselves. I make them often as an easy side dish with dinner.
First peel then chop 2lbs potatoes, which is about 2 large potatoes.
Recipe Tip
I always place a plastic bag around the faucet then peel my potatoes right it for easy cleanup.
Place the potatoes into a large pot of lightly-salted, cold water then bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender, but not mushy.
Once the potatoes are tender, drain then return the pot to the stove over low heat.
Melt 2 Tablespoons butter in 1/3 cup milk then season with lots of salt and pepper. Add the potatoes then mash until smooth.
Place a lid on top to keep the potatoes warm while you work on the other parts of the dish. Onto the meatballs!
While the potatoes are cooking, grate 1/2 onion into a large bowl.
To the grated onion add 1lb lean ground beef.
Next add 1 egg and 2 minced garlic cloves.
Followed by 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
Season with lots of salt and pepper then add 1/2 cup gluten-free panko-style bread crumbs (or regular panko if you don’t need to eat GF).
Combine the mixture with your hands then shape into 16 meatballs and place onto a nonstick-sprayed cooling rack set atop a foil-lined baking sheet.
Pop the meatballs into a 400 degree oven for 20-22 minutes, or until cooked through.
While the meatballs are baking, make the luscious gravy to pour on top.
Start by melting 2 Tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat then whisk in 3 Tablespoons gluten free flour (or AP flour if not GF).
Let the flour cook for a few minutes, or until golden brown, then slowly whisk in 14oz beef broth until smooth. Then add in 1 Tablespoon each Worcestershire sauce and gluten free Tamari (or soy sauce if not gluten free).
Switch to a spatula then let the sauce simmer until thick and bubbly, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Finally, add 2 cups frozen vegetables and let them cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes.
Scoop some mashed potatoes onto a plate, top with 4 meatballs and a ladleful of that rich, flavor-packed gravy, then dig in!
I always feel the need to put a disclaimer on my recipes that have longer ingredient lists, or a few components, so here it is:
Many of the ingredients in this recipe are fridge/freezer/pantry staples, and all three of the components – mashed potatoes, meatballs, and gravy – kind of overlap each other so everything should be done around the same time.
It will all be worth it in the end anyways because, hello, Shepherd’s Pie Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes — so good!
Have a happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Equipment
Ingredients
For the mashed potatoes:
- 2 lbs potatoes, ~2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1/3 cup milk, or a little more or less depending on your preferred consistency
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- salt and pepper
For the meatballs:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 small onion, grated or minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 egg
- 1 Tablespoon gluten free worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup gluten free panko bread crumbs
- salt and pepper
For the gravy:
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 3 Tablespoons gluten free flour, or AP flour if not GF
- 14 oz gluten free beef broth
- 1 Tablespoon gluten free reduced-sodium Tamari, or soy sauce if not GF
- 1 Tablespoon gluten free worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups frozen vegetable medley
- pepper
Directions
- Add potatoes to a large pot of lightly-salted cold water. Bring to a boil then cook until potatoes are tender, but not mushy. Drain then return empty pot to stove over low heat. Melt butter in milk then season with salt & pepper. Add drained potatoes then mash until smooth. Turn off heat then place a lid on top of the pot to keep potatoes warm.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine meatballs ingredients in a large bowl then mix with hands until just combined. Divide mixture into quarters then roll four meatballs out of each quarter. Place meatballs onto a non stick-sprayed cooling rack set atop a foil-lined baking sheet then bake for 20-22 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat then sprinkle in flour and whisk until smooth. Cook until mixture is golden brown, about 2 minutes. then slowly stream in beef broth while whisking constantly. Add soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce then switch to a wooden spoon and cook until sauce is thick and bubbly, about 5-7, minutes stirring often. Add frozen vegetables and lots of pepper then cook until vegetables are tender and heated through, about 2-3 minutes.
- Scoop mashed potatoes onto plates then top with 4 meatballs and a scoop of gravy and serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I made this tonight. We had some mashed potatoes left over from Easter, so I just peeled and cut up a few more. I also added chopped kale because I had some in the house that I needed to use up. Very yummy. Adult daughter and I loved it. I love shepherd’s pie and was intrigued by the meatballs.
Thank you for this recipe!! I make it at least once a month, (though I must admit I cheat and use frozen meatballs), but I have a DELICIOUS dinner on the table in 30 minutes. Sometimes I even make it vegetarian by doubling the gravy and stirring in soy crumbles. I’ve used it that way over baked potatoes and even gnocchi. Anyways, thank you for one of my favorite meals!
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thanks for the recipe! i made this but thought that the tablespoon of Worcestershire was too much. i’d make this with less of that next time. :)
Made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Subbed Udi’s bread crumbs for the panko and used soy milk and dairy free margarine in the mashed potatoes. Dairy free margarine and GF flour from TJ’s in the gravy. My husband’s comment was this was the kind of meal he has missed eating since we’ve had to make some dietary changes. Making the change to gluten and dairy free has been challenging at times and its meals like this that put a smile on our face. This will definitely be in regular rotation at our dinner table.
I made this last night and it was delish! The panko really makes the meatballs tasty. Thanks for the recipe!
We just finished eating this. My husband told me it was the absolute best thing I’ve ever cooked. :) thanks so much for sharing the recipe. It really tastes amazing.
Love this idea! I live with 3 boys and every sunday night we have family dinner night and we rotate who’s turn it is to cook dinner. I go to your blog every time it’s my turn to cook looking for a new idea. Each time, the boys just LOVE whatever I cook… but I haven’t reveled my secrete to them yet ;) So thanks a bunch!
Three of us have developed a “paleo” lifestyle, so I tend to alter some recipes to fit that diet. I’ve been wondering if Shepherd’s pie could be altered to sweet potatoes instead? I’m thinking something along the lines of sweet potatoes with sausage meatballs? Any thoughts to make this just as tasty as the original??
Thanks so much for your wonderful recipe ideas!! I love it!
I made this tonight, and it was fantastic; even my veggie-hating husband liked it!
Hi Kristin,
Love your blog!
Just want to clarify one thing.
Its St. Patricks Day or Paddy’s Day at a push.
Definitely, absolutely not St. Pattys Day.
As far as I know Patty refers to a girls name or a burger in America.
Just thought I would let you know!
Thanks,
Jules
Ireland
I absolutely love your blog and this idea is genius! My kids are crazy about meatballs and I think they’d love this. I think I’ll adapt it to my shepherd’s pie recipe and try this next week. Thank you!
What a cool idea! I love shepherds pie and this is such a fun spin on it :)
I JUST finished making this and it is AMAZING! Thank you for such a great recipe. The sauce itself is a keeper, too!