Budget Friendly Shepard’s Pie

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Budget Friendly Shepard's Pie | Reclaiming Yesterday

[I made this Budget Friendly Shepard’s Pie for Earth Fare! It still has all the meaty flavor, but we’re just using a little grass-fed beef and bulking the rest of the filling up with veggies and lentils!]

I’ll be honest – a huge portion of our family’s budget goes to groceries. 

I think it’s so important to invest in quality food ingredients, and in the long run it pays you back. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll avoid expensive trips to the doctor and health issues down the road! 

That being said, I wanted to reinvent classic Shepard’s pie in a way that was affordable–without cutting any corners on the quality of ingredients. 

I went classic with the topping, because mashed potatoes are affordable and delicious! If you have a little more flexibility with your food budget, I also LOVE to do 1/2 cauliflower and 1/2 mashed potatoes.

The filling of this Shepard’s pie is what we’re remixing here. 

I adore grass-fed ground beef (which may be a weird thing to adore, but I do.) It’s extremely healthy, versatile, and pretty dang affordable–especially if you get it on sale. 

For this “budget friendly” version of Shepard’s pie, we’re only using 1/2 pound of grass fed beef, and bulking up the rest of the filling with lentils! 

The beef is enough to give you that hearty, beefy feel and the lentils do more than just reduce the cost. 

Lentils are a powerhouse of nutrition—full of fiber, important minerals, and protein. They’re a great hack if you’re trying to stretch your meat further. 

Budget Friendly Shepard's Pie | Reclaiming Yesterday

Sneaking in all the veggies!

And of course, no meal is complete without a hefty serving of veggies! 

For a really affordable version, I used carrots, celery, onions, and frozen peas. 

DISCLAIMER: I also experimented with replacing the celery with mushrooms, which I personally prefer. Mushrooms are a bit more expensive, however, so use what you love and what your grocery budget allows for! 

Budget Friendly Shepard's Pie | Reclaiming Yesterday

Basically, everything gets cooked together along with some beef broth, tomato paste, and coconut aminos to give you a saucy, stew-like filling that’s delicious on it’s own. 

But add the mashed potatoes/cauliflower on top and bake until hot and bubbly? 

That makes for the ultimate cozy night in. 

Budget Friendly Shepard's Pie | Reclaiming Yesterday

Serve it up on a cold night with a simple side salad (maybe a little feta cheese) and you’ll be perfectly content staying inside ☺️

Budget Friendly Shepard’s Pie Variations 

  • I love the beef in here for the flavor, protein, and health benefits. But you could easily make this vegetarian by simply adding extra veggies in place of the meat and using vegetable broth.
  • Ground lamb in place of ground grass fed beef would be delicious!
  • Swap out the celery for mushrooms if you prefer! They add a great texture and “meaty” flavor. 
  • Swap out the mashed potato topping with pureed cauliflower for a low-carb version. Or, do what I really love: go 1/2 and 1/2 with the cauli and potatoes. 
  • I love to make this Shepard’s pie a day ahead, because the flavors get better with time. To reheat, cover with tin foil and bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes. 

Budget Friendly Shepard's Pie | Reclaiming Yesterday

Budget Friendly Shepard's Pie | Reclaiming Yesterday

 



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