This bison shepherd's pie is packed with classic flavors of thyme and rosemary, is topped with creamy and quick mashed potatoes, and is a fun twist on the traditional version. Whip up this 30-minute, hassle-free dinner for a meal the whole family will love!
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💬 Featured Comment
"So good! Used turkey instead of bison and was delish!" Thanks for the kind words, Amanda!
why this shepherd's pie is better
- Quick: This dish is ready in 30 minutes thanks to instant potatoes. And, with a few tricks, these instant potatoes taste just as good as fresh mashed potatoes!
- Classic flavor: This bison shepherd's pie has all the classic flavors like thyme, rosemary, and garlic.
- Very little prep: The only prep work for this recipe is chopping the onion and garlic - how easy is that?!
- Pantry staples: You can use beef or bison and the rest of the ingredients are all pantry staples!
ingredients and substitutions
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Bison: Lean ground beef can be used too or another ground meat like lamb or ground turkey. If using turkey, you may need to add a little avocado oil before sauteing the onions and garlic. Bison also makes great tacos if you have leftover bison (for more ideas, get our full list of ground bison recipes)!
- Onion & garlic: If using fresh garlic, it's about 3 cloves of garlic. If using pre-minced garlic, it's 1.5 tablespoons of minced garlic. You can probably use onion powder and garlic powder but we have not tested these substitutes.
- Salt & black pepper
- Beef stock: Feel free to use vegetable or chicken stock if you don't have beef stock. Vegetable broth, beef broth, or chicken broth work too, and are nearly the same thing as stock.
- Herbs: A combination of dried rosemary, thyme, parsley, and bay leaves add all the flavor to this shepherd's pie. You can use fresh thyme and fresh rosemary if you prefer.
- Apricot jam: If you don't have apricots, you can use orange marmalade, dried apricots that are minced or maple syrup.
- Tomato paste
- Frozen vegetables: We use peas, carrots, and corn but you can use any combination of frozen vegetables you like. This could be fire-roasted corn, sweet peas, green beans, or a mixture.
- All-purpose flour: 1:1 Gluten-free flour replacement or 2 teaspoons of cornstarch or arrowroot flour can be used.
- Worcestershire sauce
- Instant potatoes
- Milk: Plant-based milk, lactose-free, or cow's milk can be used. You can also try replacing half of the milk with Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Butter: Plant-based butter or regular works. I would not use olive oil because it doesn't harden back up when cooled.
- Parmesan: Feel free to use dairy-free, regular parmesan, or an Italian blend of shredded cheese.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
allergy swaps
If you have special dietary restrictions, here are some substitution ideas to keep this recipe safe for everyone!
- Dairy-free: To make this dairy-free, simply use plant-based milk, butter, and parmesan (or leave out the parmesan). And, make sure the potatoes are dairy-free (many have added flavorings).
- Gluten-free: To make this gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour replacement or 2 teaspoons of cornstarch instead of all-purpose flour. Also, make sure the potatoes are gluten-free.
- Grain-free: You can try using mashed cauliflower but we haven’t tested it. It would likely release a lot of moisture so you would need to try to remove as much moisture as possible from the cauliflower prior to baking and not add the water we list in the ingredients.
recipe testing notes
Throughout our testing of this bison shepherd's pie, we learned what worked and didn't work. Here are the key takeaways!
- Less potatoes: Initially we tested this with more potatoes and decided the ratio of meat to potatoes was off.
- Fresh herbs versus dried: We’ve tested this shepherd's pie with both fresh and dried herbs. They both had very similar flavors but the dried herbs were easier to use so we feel that’s the best option for this recipe.
how to make this - step by step
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full shepherd's pie recipe!
Step one: brown the bison
Brown the bison over medium-high heat until mostly cooked, then add the onions and garlic to saute.
Step two: add the other filling ingredients
Add the tomato paste, spices, stock, flour, and other filling ingredients. Wait to add the vegetables until the flour is whisked in.
Step three: simmer and make the potatoes
Let the filling mixture simmer for 5-10 minutes while you make the potatoes. Whisk together all potato ingredients until fluffy in a medium bowl.
Step five: combine and broil
Remove the bay leaves and top the bison meat mixture with the potato topping, smoothing out the top into an even layer. If your skillet is not oven-safe, transfer the meat to a casserole dish or baking dish. Top with parmesan cheese and broil on high for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove and enjoy!
Prefer to watch how to make this?
helpful tips
- Use an oven-safe skillet: This saves time and dishes because you can saute and bake everything in one large skillet or Dutch oven.
- Add the vegetables after the flour: This makes it easier to whisk in the flour so there are no clumps.
- Save time and energy: Use whatever frozen vegetables you have on hand for this shepherd's pie. You can also use pre-minced garlic to speed up the process.
- To spread the creamy mashed potatoes: Dollop them evenly around the top of the meat filling. Then gently spread them around using the back of a spoon or rubber spatula that has been wetted. This helps to keep it from sticking. Also, use a very light touch to ensure you don’t press the potatoes into the filling and cause the filling to soak through the potatoes.
common questions
Nope, they can be added fully frozen. And it’s also ok if they are slightly defrosted.
This is an awesome recipe to use leftover mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes with! Just spread them over the top and broil them as directed. If you don’t have enough to cover the top, you can also just dollop potato on top. It also helps to warm them up a bit for easier spreading.
A Shepherd’s Pie is typically made with ground lamb (hence the name Shepherd’s). When it is made with ground beef, it is referred to as a cottage pie or meat pie. This pie is in between so we are going with shepherd's pie.
recipe variations
Instant Pot Bison Shepherd's Pie
To make this in the Instant Pot, use the saute function to brown the beef and saute the onions and garlic. Then, add all the filling ingredients (except the flour) and increase the beef stock to 2 cups. Set to pressure cook on high for 2 minutes and once done cooking, naturally release the pressure for 5 minutes.
Next, turn the pot back onto saute, mix in the flour, and let the mixture simmer until thickened. Make the potatoes as directed in the original recipe but mix the parmesan into them and then spread on top of the meat mixture.
Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
Make the beef base as directed. For the potatoes, either use a leftover mashed sweet potato on top or cook the potatoes. Mix the softened and peeled sweet potatoes with the butter and ½ a cup of milk or Greek yogurt. Spread on top of the bison mixture, add the parmesan, and broil till golden brown.
storage and meal prep tips
Fridge: This pie will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in a sealed container. To reheat it, either use the microwave or the oven to reheat it through. To use the oven, bake for 30-35 minutes at 400 degrees.
Freezer: To freeze this, cover with foil and plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw the night before and then reheat in the microwave or oven.
Meal prep: Prepare the pie as directed, let it cool completely, then cover with foil and plastic wrap to freeze or refrigerate it.
more bison recipes
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Recipe
Bison Shepherd's Pie Recipe with Instant Potatoes
Equipment
- 1 dutch oven
Ingredients
Filling Ingredients
- 1 pound ground bison (or beef)
- ½ of a diced white onion (or yellow)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 teaspoon dried parsley (chopped)
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ cup apricot jam
- 2 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 12 oz frozen peas, carrot, corn (about 3 cups)
Potato Topping Ingredients
- 1.5 cups instant potatoes flakes
- ¾ cup milk (regular or plant based)
- 1 cup hot water
- 4 tablespoon butter (regular or plant based)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup shredded parmesan (regular or vegan, optional)
- parsley (for topping, optional)
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Brown the bison until mostly cooked, then add the onion and garlic. Saute until the onions soften and the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the remaining filling ingredients except the vegetables. Mix everything together until the flour is dissolved. Then, add the vegetables and stir again.
- Let this mixture simmer while you make the potatoes.
- Make the potatoes by whisking or using a hand mixer to combine all the mashed potato ingredients except the parmesan.
- Remove the bay leaves from the meat mixture. Spread the mashed potatoes on top of the meat mixture and then top with parmesan.
- Transfer to the oven and broil on high for 5-7 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
- Top with fresh parsley if desired and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Dairy-free: To make this dairy-free, simply use plant-based milk, butter, and parmesan (or leave out the parmesan). And, make sure the potatoes are dairy-free (many have added flavorings).
- Gluten-free: To make this gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour replacement or 2 teaspoons of cornstarch instead of all-purpose flour. Also, make sure the potatoes are gluten-free.
- Grain-free: You can try using mashed cauliflower but we haven’t tested it. It would likely release a lot of moisture so you would need to try to remove as much moisture as possible from the cauliflower prior to baking and not add the water we list in the ingredients.
- Use an oven-safe skillet: This saves time and dishes because you can saute and bake everything in one large skillet or dutch oven.
- Add the vegetables after the flour: This makes it easier to whisk in the flour so there are no clumps.
- Save time and energy: Use whatever frozen vegetables you have on hand for this shepherd's pie. You can also use pre-minced garlic to speed up the process.
- To spread the creamy mashed potatoes: Dollop them evenly around the top of the meat filling. Then gently spread them around using the back of a spoon or rubber spatula that has been wetted. This helps to keep it from sticking. Also, use a very light touch to ensure you don’t press the potatoes into the filling and cause the filling to soak through the potatoes.
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
This was terrific! Fast, simple, and satisfying! Made it for St Paddy's Day dinner! Thank you!
This is so delicious and full of flavor. It’s going to become one of my new regular meals!
I loved this! So delicious and flavorful 🤤. I had to improvise a bit because I don’t have an instant pot and would be curious how you would adjust the recipe for those without an instant pot.
This is really good! Just became a dinner favorite! Thank you!
So good! Used turkey instead of bison and was delish!
Thanks so much for making it! Glad you enjoyed!