Leftover Lamb Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's pie is a hearty British classic. It’s a dish that evokes warmth and comfort with its rich lamb filling and creamy mashed potato topping. But what happens when you find yourself with leftover lamb, wondering how to transform it? Fear not, for this Leftover Lamb Shepherd's Pie is the answer!

If you find yourself with leftover roast lamb, don't despair! You can use it to make a delicious leftover lamb shepherd's pie. This dish is just as good as the original, and it is a great way to use up leftovers from a Sunday roast or Easter feast.

Shepherd's pie is British comfort food at its best. It is made with a rich lamb filling that is topped with soft and fluffy mashed potatoes. The dish is then baked in the oven until golden brown, bubbly & crispy.

A few of my other favourite recipes using lamb include these lamb kofta wraps, minced lamb & sweet potato hotpot & this keema rice. Check them out, they are delicious!

❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe

• ✔️ Pure Comfort Food: With the hearty lamb filling, rich gravy and fluffy yet crispy mashed potato, this is feel-good food that hugs you like a blanket!
• ✔️ Allergy Friendly: This shepherd’s pie is dairy-free and as long as you use a gluten-free stock, is gluten-free too!
• ✔️ Easy To Make: All you need is leftover lamb, vegetables, gravy, and mashed potatoes!
• ✔️ Great Way To Use Up Leftovers: If you have leftover lamb from a roast dinner, this is a great way to use it up. You can also use leftover gravy and mashed potatoes too!
• ✔️ Versatile: You can easily customise it, depending on what you have left over or your preferences. Add in your favourite vegetables or use a different type of meat. 

🥘 Ingredients You Will Need & Substitutions

✋ Double check all packaging for allergens ✋

• Leftover Lamb: The star of the show, leftover lamb from a previous roast is best, like this slow-cooked rolled lamb breast or leg of lamb in red wine sauce. If you don’t have any leftover lamb, you can fry off some lamb mince at the start for 5-10 minutes and then add it to the pie at the same time you would add the cooked lamb.
• Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes provide the comforting topping for the shepherd's pie. If you have leftover mashed potatoes, you could use those; or mash some leftover crispy roast potatoes.  Otherwise, prepare a fresh batch.
• Soffritto: Soffritto is a mixture of finely chopped onions, carrots, and celery. It is used to add flavour and depth to the lamb filling in shepherd's pie.
• Rosemary: If you don't have fresh rosemary, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary for every tablespoon of fresh rosemary called for in the recipe.
• Tomato Puree: This is used to add a depth of flavour to the gravy and to help thicken up the sauce.
• Stock: I have used the Knorr lamb stock pots, which are gluten and dairy-free, but they do contain celery. You can use beef stock or the same amount of leftover gravy instead if you prefer.
• Flour: Used to thicken the gravy. If you are following a gluten-free diet, use gluten-free flour.
• Butter: Butter is used to add flavour and richness to the mashed potatoes and also to cook the soffritto. Use a dairy-free spread if you need the recipe to be dairy-free.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

⭐ Variations

Not only is Shepherd’s Pie a great way to use up leftovers, but there are also several ways you can mix it up!

• Vegetarian: Replace the lamb with cooked lentils or beans for a meatless version.
• Sweet potato: Swap traditional mashed potatoes for mashed sweet potatoes for a touch of sweetness.
• Cheesy: If dairy isn’t a problem, sprinkle grated cheese over the mashed potatoes before baking for an extra cheesy indulgence.
• Meat: Swap the lamb for leftover roast beef to make a cottage pie.

✏️ How To Make - Step-By-Step Instructions

⬇️ Here you will find an overview of how to make the recipe. For full information on ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page ⬇️

Step 1: Start by peeling the potatoes & chopping them into bite-sized pieces. In a large saucepan, bring water to the boil, gently lowering the potatoes into the boiling water and letting them simmer for 10-12 minutes.

Once the potatoes are ready, (check them with a fork), carefully drain them into a sieve. Return the potatoes to the saucepan, then add the butter and mash with a potato masher until soft and creamy. (Beat with a wooden spoon to make them even creamier!)

Step 2: While the potatoes are cooking, turn your attention to the onion, carrot, and celery. Peel the onion and carrot,  then finely chop them, along with the celery. In a separate saucepan, heat the rest of the butter over a low heat. Once the butter has melted, add the celery, onion, and carrot & sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they soften.

Step 3: Next, add the flour to the pan, letting it cook out for around a minute. This will help to thicken the stock once it's added. 

Step 4:  Carefully remove the rosemary leaves from their stalks, discarding the stalks and finely chopping the leaves. 

Step 5:  Add the chopped rosemary leaves, along with the tomato puree and made-up lamb stock, into the pan. Stir the mixture, allowing the flavours to meld and the gravy to thicken nicely.

Step 6:  Chop the leftover lamb into bite-sized pieces, then gently stir the lamb into the mixture, making sure it's evenly distributed.

Step 7: Transfer the lamb mixture to an ovenproof baking dish, then spread the velvety mash over the lamb mixture. Use a fork to score the surface of the mash, creating a pattern that will turn golden brown and crispy during baking.

Step 8: Place the baking dish in a preheated oven & bake for 35-40 minutes, until the mashed potato topping has a  crispy texture.

💡 Tips & Tricks

• ✔️ Unless you are cooking for small children, don’t be afraid to season both the lamb mixture and the mashed potatoes to enhance the overall flavour.
• ✔️ Stab the potatoes with a fork to check if they are cooked when boiling. If the fork easily slides into the potato, they are ready.
• ✔️ Once mashed, beat the potatoes with a wooden spoon for extra smoothness and creaminess.
• ✔️ If you want to be extra fancy, transfer the mashed potato to a piping bag and pipe the mashed potato on top of the lamb mixture.
• ✔️ If you don't have any leftover lamb you can use lamb mince. Fry it in a saucepan for 5-10 minutes, then add to the pan at the same time you would the cooked lamb.
• ✔️ If you have enough leftover gravy, omit the flour and stock and use this instead for a deliciously rich sauce.
• ✔️ Make into individual pies. Spoon the lamb and potato into individual ramekin dishes. Reduce the baking time to 20 minutes.

🍴 How To Serve

I love to serve this roast lamb Shepherd’s pie with a huge helping of fresh vegetables, like peas, sweetcorn or roasted carrots & green beans.

The kids also love to eat it with some baked beans or garlic bread. 

It’s also delicious drizzled with some gluten-free Worcestershire sauce once cooked.

💬 Recipe FAQ's

📖 More Family Dinner Recipes

Looking for other meals like this? Check out these other delicious family-friendly recipes!