Freeze Ahead Mediterranean Shepherd’s Pie
With busy schedules, and running around after kids and husband, finding time to make a roast can be challenging. I’m finding that freeze-ahead meals and freezing leftovers is one of my lifesavers and make the perfect quick and easy mid-week family meal. At a weekend, I will often cook up a batch of some of our favourites that can easily be brought out of the freezer, defrosted and heated up for dinner that night. One of our family favourites is a freeze-ahead Mediterranean Shepherd’s Pie.
Batch cooking is perfect for busy families and this Make-Ahead meal is perfect comfort food now that autumn is drawing in.
Ingredients for Freeze ahead Mediterranean Shepherd’s Pie
6 Large Potatoes – good for mashing – we use Maris Pipper.
1kg Lamb Mince – our butcher minces a leg of lamb for us when we do the batch cooking.
1 Onion.
3 medium to large Mushrooms.
Garlic to taste – we use 3 cloves.
Mediterranean Vegetables – we use frozen in the winter and fresh in the summer (things like peppers, courgettes, carrots).
5 Sun Dried Tomatoes chopped up.
1 Vegetable Stock Cube to crumble in.
1tsp Dried Basil.
1tsp Garlic Powder.
1tsp Onion Powder.
1tsp Dried Oregano.
Salt and Pepper.
1/2 tsp Dried Rosemary.
1 tbsp Tomato Puree.
Knob of butter.
Try our Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas another Make-Ahead and Freeze easy midweek meal for families.
Freeze ahead Mediterranean Shepherd’s Pie
- Peel potatoes and chop, place into water and bring to the boil. Cook them until they are soft and suitable for mashing. Whilst they are cooking make the base of the Shepherd’s Pie
- Start off by chopping the onion and mushrooms. Tailor how many and the thickness to your taste, we prepare for our children to eat so I make sure that the pieces aren’t too big. If you are using fresh Mediterranean Vegetables then chop these as well.
- Heat up some oil in a large pan and add in the onion, mushrooms and any Mediterranean vegetables and brown for around 5 minutes.
- Add the lamb mince to the mix and stir as it cooks.
- Once the lamb has browned, crumble in the stock cube, add the sun dried tomatoes and tomato puree.
- Mix well and let simmer.
- With the potatoes cooked, drain and add a knob of butter and mash. Depending on the potatoes you may need to add some milk or cream to make the mashing easier.
How to Freeze Shepherd’s Pie
I have found that the best way to freeze the Shepherd’s Pie is in 2 parts – the minced meat in one container and the mash in another, this is because sometimes we will use the minced meat in other dishes.
On the day you want to serve the Shepherd’s Pie take out the containers in the morning and defrost. Add the Mince to a heat proof dish and then top with the mash.
Spread the mash over the minced meat with a fork leaving lines that will crust nicely when cooked.
If you want, you can add some cheese to the top and place in the oven to cook at 200C for 30 minutes until the top is lightly browned and it’s cooked all the way through.
With 1kg of lamb mince , we usually have enough for 3 pies for the family (would serve 6 people as the kids don’t eat a lot).
Make Ahead and Freeze Mediterranean Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients
- 1 kg Lamb Mince our butcher minces a leg of lamb for us when we do the batch cooking
- 1 Onion
- 3 Medium Mushrooms
- Garlic to taste - we use 3 cloves
- Mediterranean Vegetables - we use frozen in the winter and fresh in the summer things like peppers, courgettes, carrots
- 5 Sun Dried Tomatoes chopped up
- 1 Vegetable Stock Cube
- 1 tsp Dried Basil
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- Salt and Pepper
- ½ tsp Dried Rosemary
- 1 tbsp Tomato Puree
Mashed Potatoes
- Knob of butter
- 6 Large Potatoes - good for mashing we use Maris Pipper
Instructions
- Peel potatoes and chop, place into water and bring to the boil. Cook them until they are soft and suitable for mashing. Whilst they are cooking make the base of the Shepherd's Pie
- Start off by chopping the onion and mushrooms. Tailor how many and the thickness to your taste, we prepare for our children to eat so I make sure that the pieces aren't too big. If you are using fresh Mediterranean Vegetables then chop these as well.
- Heat up some oil in a large pan and add in the onion, mushrooms and any Mediterranean vegetables and brown for around 5 minutes.
- Add the lamb mince to the mix and stir as it cooks.
- Once the lamb has browned, crumble in the stock cube, add the sun dried tomatoes and tomato puree.
- Mix well and let simmer.
- With the potatoes cooked, drain and add a knob of butter and mash. Depending on the potatoes you may need to add some milk or cream to make the mashing easier.
How to Freeze Shepherd's Pie
- I have found that the best way to freeze the Shepherd's Pie is in 2 parts - the minced meat in one container and the mash in another, this is because sometimes we will use the minced meat in other dishes.
- On the day you want to serve the Shepherd's Pie take out the containers in the morning and defrost. Add the Mince to a heat proof dish and then top with the mash.
- Spread the mash over the minced meat with a fork leaving lines that will crust nicely when cooked.
- If you want, you can add some cheese to the top and place in the oven to cook at 200C for 30 minutes until the top is lightly browned and it's cooked all the way through.
I’ve never had Shapherds pie like this before. It’s so full of flavor and just incredible.
I love making Shepherd’s Pie, and your recipe was very delicious! I was planning to use it as a make-ahead recipe, but family came over and I served up this wonderful goodness for everyone to enjoy. Not one bit is leftover for the week. It looks like I’ll be making it again very soon!
I had to let you know that I made this last week and it was a HUGE hit. Loved that it can be freezed for busy days.
My family LOVED this recipe! You are right, this was perfect for the freezer.
I loved that this was a freezer meal! They are real life savers on busy days. The flavor in this recipe was over the top good!