Simple Shepherd’s Pie Recipe with a Spicy Twist: Chorizo

This Simple Shepherd’s Pie Recipe is the perfect budget-friendly meal for busy weeknights. If you’re like me, you might find yourself scrambling to put together a yummy meal on the table when two kids have activities on the same night. Plus, it feeds a crowd or makes perfect leftovers for lunch the next day.

Fear not! I’ve got your back. Packed with flavor and protein, this dish will quickly become a family favorite. Once the cooler weather hits in the fall this recipe is on repeat until spring. 

A fun fact about me is I went to college in London. I haven’t been back since but am hoping to make a trip with the family someday. I would often eat shepherd’s pie at the pub while studying, and I still love it. International comfort foods will always have a place in my belly.

Kitchen Tools and Equipment

• 9 x 13 Casserole Dish
• Instant Pot
• Immersion Blender or Potato Masher
• Large Cooking Pan
• Silicone Spatula
• Mix N Chop Meat Tool (seriously one of my favorite kitchen tools)

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Ingredients You’ll Need for Shepherd’s Pie

• 3 lbs Potatoes
• 2-3 Cloves Garlic, whole
• 1-2 lbs Ground Beef or Venison, seasoned with Chorizo (about 1/4 cup per pound)
• 1Tbsp Fat (for browning meat)
• 1 Small Onion, chopped
• 2-3 Cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 Can Tomato Paste
• 1 Can Diced Tomatoes (fresh also works)
• 12oz Bag Frozen Mixed Veggies (canned or fresh work too)
• 4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/4 cup Heavy Cream 
• Shredded Cheese (optional)

Step-by-Step Shepherd’s Pie Cooking Instructions

1. Wash potatoes, peeling if desired.
2. Add wire rack and 1/2 cup water along with whole peeled garlic cloves and potatoes to the Instant Pot
3. Set timer to cook for 20-30 min (depending on potato type)
4. Meanwhile, mince other 2-3 cloves of garlic, set aside and Chop onion.
5. Add fat and chopped onions to pan on medium and sauté until translucent.
6. Add garlic and meat to the pan to brown.
7. Once meat is browned, add tomato paste, frozen veggies and diced tomato to ground meat
8. Stir well and cook until veggies are warm.
9. Turn off heat and leave pan on stovetop covered
10. Release pressure from cooked potatoes.
11. Remove wire rack and dump out half of the water from Instant Pot leaving potatoes and garlic in the pot.
12. Add butter, salt and cream.
13. Using an immersion blender (or masher) mash the potatoes to the desired consistency.
14. Pour meat mixture into oven safe 9×13 casserole dish.
15. Top meat layer with shredded cheese if desired.
16. Spread mashed potatoes on top of meat filling and smooth out the top.
17. Turn oven on and broil for 5-8 minutes or until the top of the potatoes are a bit browned. 
18. Serve with homemade bread or a salad. 

Notes:

• Don’t over-blend the potatoes or they will become gloopy, pulsing is your best bet. We also like to leave them a little chunky.
• You can remove the skins from potatoes if you prefer before mashing
• You can add a little cream cheese to potatoes when mashing 
• Add cayenne to the meat for a spicy kick 

Choosing the Right Meat, Potatoes, and Flavor

When it comes to making this Shepherd’s Pie recipe, chorizo is key – at least for our family. If you want to add a kick to the pie, go for a spicier chorizo, or for kids go with a milder version. Be sure to consider the fat content as well, as this can affect the consistency of the filling. You don’t want a greasy and runny filling.

You can also try your own flavors and chorizo alternatives, like taco or Italian and they will also work great! I have been wanting to try chili as the filling too. You just want to choose a meat that will enhance the flavor of the dish. No bland unseasoned meat here.

We usually make two shepherd’s pie variations of this recipe, one with gold potatoes and one with sweet potatoes. Both are a hit in our house; it usually depends on what we have in stock. Mexican shepherd’s pie with sweet potatoes is my daughter’s favorite. Nerdy note: Did you know studies have shown that potatoes are better for you after they have been cooked and then cooled (source)? Yay for leftovers!

We season our deer meat when we process it. It saves a lot of time because we usually stick to the same “flavors” of ground meat and then I don’t have to make up, or buy, the mixes again and again throughout the year. Get the Chorizo Seasoning Mix recipe.

Cooking the Potatoes

Wash potatoes, peeling if desired.

Add wire rack and 1/2 cup water along with whole peeled garlic cloves and potatoes to the Instant Pot. I always add a few extra potatoes to the instant pot to have on hand for lunches throughout the week.

Set the timer to cook for 20-30 minutes, depending on the type of potato.

Preparing the Shepherd’s Pie Filling

Meanwhile, mince other 2-3 cloves of garlic, set aside and chop onion. Add fat and chopped onions to pan on medium and sauté until translucent. Add garlic and meat to the pan to brown.

Brown the chorizo over medium heat. As the chorizo cooks, break it up into smaller pieces to ensure even cooking. Peep the Mix N Chop.

Once the chorizo is cooked through, add tomato paste, frozen veggies and diced tomatoes to the skillet.

Cook the mixture until the vegetables are tender. You can simmer the filling for a few minutes to let the flavors meld together. Turn off the heat and leave the pan on the stovetop covered. With the filling ready to go, you’re now ready to create the perfect mashed potato topping for your Chorizo Shepherd’s Pie.

Creating the Perfect Mashed Potato Topping

The mashed potatoes will provide a delicious contrast to the flavorful chorizo filling, creating a truly comforting dish.

Release pressure from cooked potatoes. Remove wire rack and dump out half of the water from Instant Pot leaving potatoes and garlic in the pot. Add butter, salt and cream. Using an immersion blender (or masher) mash the potatoes to the desired consistency. Don’t over-blend or they will become gloopy.

Assembling the Pie

Once your potatoes are mashed to perfection, you’re ready to assemble your Chorizo Shepherd’s Pie and bake it. As the pie cooks, delicious aromas will fill your kitchen, so be sure you are hungry!

Pour meat mixture into oven safe 9×13 casserole dish. Top meat layer with shredded cheese if desired.

Spread mashed potatoes on top of meat filling and smooth out the top.

Turn oven on and broil for 5-8 minutes or until the top of the potatoes are a bit browned. 

Serve with homemade bread or a salad. 

Give this savory comfort food a try tonight and enjoy the satisfaction of a homemade dish that will surely become a favorite. I hope this easy Chorizo Shepherd’s pie recipe will be a success with your friends and family.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried this recipe or experimented with another flavor.

FAQ