This is a excellent recipe!!! Me, my wife, my kid, and the whole family love this. It is great for a quick cheap meal. Thank you so much for posting this!!!!!

I think it´s absolutely ridiculous to make such a big fuss about a person commenting on a recipe!!!!!!!!!!

This dish is confusing to many - I have heard it called three different names - I was taught if it is shepherd's pie it is made with lamb - shepherd/lamb - makes sense.

If it is called Cottage Pie or Chinese Pie it is made with hamburg. I am from New England and my mother called it Chinese Pie. She made it with ground hamburg, sauteed onions, 1 can of kernel corn, 1 can of cream style corn, and 1 can of gravy over the mixture with mashed potatoes on top - no cheese. When the dish was done the gravy would bubble to the top of the mashed potatoes and then she would stick under broiler for a few seconds to brown and crisp top. No one can make it wrong. It is a favorite no matter what you call it unless, of course, you are in a competition!!!!

Hi, Vanessa! Thanks for sharing this recipe. This version is so quick and easy to make and my kids LOVE IT!!!! I work full time and go to school full time as well, so this recipe once a week (at least) is a life saver!!! Thanks again!!! (CONFESSION: I used a bag of frozen peas and carrots instead of the cans, but it's "all good!! LOL)

Okay I know this is a little late but really Neil wow everyone has their own opinion. And this recipe was amazing. I have to make 3 batches of it next time becuse my family devoured it so yah. This recipe is awesome!

Thanks much. This was a hit with the family.

Here is my version, and Vanessa yours is a great USA SHEPHERDS PIE, mine is very close, quick version, 2 cans of roast beef with the gravy, warm up and shred the chunks of beef, then add to a casserole dish, 13x9 is good, then add some veggies, mixed frozen, or canned, your favorite ones, then instant mashed potatoes, again your favorite one, there are about 5 or 6 flavors out there, and layer it up, and then heat in oven 350°F for 20 min or until hot thru, then add your cheese, shredded, your favorite, I use the mixed or with mexican seasons, just for that extra kick, and serve, I have made a chicken one too, use chicken or turkey, a bag of the STEAMER VEGS (broccoli cauliflower and carrots), add in the instant mashed potatoes, add some spinach and bacon and cheese, this is a play with your food recipe, left overs pie, modern day hash.

The recipe sounds delicious. I was surprised to see the sugar, though.

Hey, I'm an American that has eaten Shephard's Pie like Vanessa's made by a Brit! I loved it. Would never and will never touch Lamb! Thanks anyway. However I see Neil's point. We Americans as well as Brits or anyone else in the world have a tendency to change recipes to suit our own cupboards or tastes. Lighten up Neil. You wouldn't want to know what I do to Trifle! : )

Vanessa - this recipe is one of my mother-in-laws specialities... she omits the veggies and spices up the meat while cooking with onions garlic etc.. her family has always called it Mountain Potatoes but it's delicious, easy to cook, and great on a tortilla :)

I have made my own version of your recipe, using 1/2 lb. of sausage and 1/2 lb. of ground beef. Then I used frozen hash brown potatoes, cooked lightly until tender. I didn't use sugar, but added a little garlic.

I see there's a lot of confusion about this shepherd's pie. I'm surprised no one actually knows the origin of this particular type. It's not actually shepherd's pie but a dish which originated in Quebec called pâté chinois. For some reason, the English translation came out as shepherd's pie. So no one needs to feel offended.

Kudoes to trying your own thing on a already great recipe. I myself add lots of bell peppers to the ground beef when browning it. Yummy. I use corn always because my family likes it. I will, however, incorporate some of the other ideas like the sausage. Happy cooking dj

Hi Vanessa,
I prefer yours to the British since we don't like lamb, also I added Worchestershire sauce just a little and took out the sugar. But this is not a poor man's recipe in my book! My kids have British in them on my husband's side, but I still prefer yours to theirs, thanks!! I'm from Canada, so it doesn't matter to me one way or the other!! ;-)

Well again thanks Vanessa! I was looking for something easy to make on the web with my ground beef I have in the fridge and have decided on this one. Guess we just need something easy to make sometimes and not so complicated. I will probable add some of the variations but hopefully it will be ready in 1/2 to 3/4 hours so it will be ready for dinner. That or I will make old standby meatloaf or spaghetti.