Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef and Lamb

Paula pays tribute to Savannah’s rich Irish history by making a traditional Shepherd’s Pie with a twist! She mixes ground beef and lamb in this ultra decadent dish.

Southern cook Paula Deen is known for preparing delicious down-home dishes. She pays tribute to Savannah’s rich Irish history and makes a traditional Shepherd’s Pie with a twist! Combining ground beef and lamb makes an ultra decadent version of the classic recipe, perfect for “Whenever St. Patrick’s Day Comes Around!”

———

Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef and Lamb

shepards-pie_photo by nastyakamysheva via Adobe Stock_960x720.jpg

Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef and Lamb

Photo by nastyakamysheva via Adobe Stock

When St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, there’s no better recipe to whip up than Paula Deen’s Special Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef and Lamb, topped with buttery, whipped mashed potatoes.

Servings:
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons of butter
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 lb. ground lamb
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • For the Mashed Potato Topping:
    • 5 lbs. red new potatoes
    • 1 cup milk, warmed
    • 1/2 cup of butter (8 tbsp.)
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

MAKE THE MEAT + VEGGIE MIXTURE:

  1. In a large cast-iron skillet or oven-safe sauté pan, cook the chopped onions and carrots in two tablespoons of butter until translucent (about five minutes).
  2. Add ground beef and lamb and continue cooking until the meat has browned (about 10 minutes).
  3. Once the meat is browned, stir in the tomato paste.
  4. In a liquid measuring cup, stir together the flour and the beef broth until there are no more lumps of flour. Pour the broth into the meat mixture and cook for another five minutes.
  5. Add Worcestershire sauce and fresh chopped herbs, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Then stir in the frozen vegetables.
  6. Turn off the heat and set aside the beef mixture while making the mashed potatoes. Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.

MAKE THE MASHED POTATO TOPPING:

  1. While the meat mixture is cooking, boil a large pot of heavily salted water.
  2. Cook the potatoes in boiling water until fork-tender (about 15 minutes).
  3. Whip potatoes with an electric mixer; mix until moderately smooth. Don’t overbeat them; a few lumps are fine.
  4. Add 1 cup heated milk and 1/2 cup butter. Salt and pepper to taste. Whip until mixed. If desired, adjust thickness by adding more milk.
  5. If desired, spray a 9"x 13"x 2" pan or any similar casserole dish. (However, if the skillet in which you cooked the beef mixture is large enough and oven-safe, you can use the same pan!)
  6. Add the beef mixture to the prepared casserole dish, then pipe the mashed potatoes on top.
  7. Bake in a 350°F oven for approximately 35 to 45 minutes until the top is golden brown. If desired, top the casserole with more fresh chopped herbs.

———

Stream this episode of Positively Paula, “When St. Patrick’s Day Comes Around,” anytime with your RFD-TV Now subscription. You can also catch the show live on Tuesdays at 7 PM ET only on RFD-TV!

Related Stories
This cast-iron Meat Lover’s Pizza is loaded with beef, sausage, ham, pepperoni—and ALL the cheese. It’s deep-dish, crispy-edged, and unapologetically extra.
All your cheeseburger faves—on a pizza! Beef, bacon, pickles, and melty cheese in every bite. It’s bold, beefy, and totally crave-worthy.
Crispy crust, creamy Gorgonzola, salty prosciutto, and peppery arugula make this pizza fancy, fast, and full of flavor!
Toss this cucumber, onion, and tomato salad recipe together in minutes!
A Southern mac and cheese recipe that cuts like a casserole? Yes, please! The extra cheese is optional, but your family will thank you for it.
Paula Deen’s legendary Not Yo’ Mama’s Banana Pudding is an irresistible, easy, no-bake dessert recipe topped with decadent Chessmen butter cookies and a dollop of homemade whipped cream.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Crop producers face tightening credit and lower incomes, while strong cattle markets continue to stabilize finances in livestock-heavy regions.
Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Stage Two will disburse around $16 billion, approved by Congress last year. Sign-ups begin Monday, and producers have until April to return applications.
Removing the 40% duty sharply lowers U.S. beef import costs on beef, coffee, fertilizer and fruit, and restores Brazil’s competitiveness during a period of tight domestic supply.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer explains the USDA’s Stage Two Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, including application details, deadlines, and guidance for rural producers.
Singer-songwriter Shea Fisher joined the program to discuss her latest projects and her appearance on the Dirt Diaries podcast.
CattleCon 2026 kicks off February 3 in Nashville. Kristin Torres with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association joined RFD-TV to share more about what’s ahead at this year’s event.