Vegan Shepherd's Pie

March 16, 2022 By Melissa Huggins / 35 Comments

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This Vegan Shepherd's Pie has pure comfort in every bite! The filling combines mushrooms, ground walnuts, grated carrots, and onions for a meaty mince that is savory and satisfying!

A piece of vegan shepherd's pie on a white plate with a fork on the side. Casserole dish in the background.

It's still cold and rainy here, so the comfort food continues! This week has been filled with Vegan Lasagna, hearty Soup recipes, Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese, and this Vegan Shepherd's Pie.

I've always loved Shepherd's Pie but I never made my own version before, so I thought it would be fun to veganize Gordon Ramsay's Version. I'm not sure how happy Gordon would be about this, so thankfully we are at a safe distance.

I replaced the meat with finely chopped mushrooms and ground walnuts and used the rest of his recipe as a guide. His version also calls for grated onions and carrots which broke down and added to the texture of the vegan mince. I was pleasantly surprised!

The only thing I left out was the Worcestershire sauce and I replaced it with low sodium tamari sauce. I usually love it, but I felt the recipe had too much zing along with the wine and tomato paste.

Gordon uses chicken broth and that was easily replaced with vegetable broth. You can also use a No-Chicken Broth if preferred.

Oh, I cheated and used dried herbs, but you can totally use fresh if you prefer. I also added a hint of cornstarch to thicken it up slightly.

overhead view of fully cooked vegan shepherd's in a white casserole dish.

Table of Contents

How to Make Vegan Shepherd's Pie

Before you head to the full recipe below, here are step-by-step process photos to show you how to make the mince and mashed potatoes. It's easy!

six process photos of cooking the vegan mince in a pan.

Sauté mushrooms over medium-high heat until softened and slightly browned.
Reduce heat and sauté onions, carrots, and garlic for a few minutes.
Add tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds. Then add tamari and herbs and cook until fragrant.
Turn up the heat and pour in the red wine and cook until reduced. Turn the heat back to down.
Add walnuts, broth, and cornstarch mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened. Stir in peas, add salt, and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.

Now on to the potatoes!

four process photos of mashing potatoes, then filling casserole with mince and topping with potatoes.

Boil the potatoes in salted water until fork-tender then drain. Over low heat, mash potatoes to let the steam escape.
Now add vegan butter, non-dairy milk, and seasoning. Mash until smooth & creamy.
Place shepherd's pie filling evenly in a casserole dish.
Top with mashed potatoes and spread evenly. Rake a fork across the top for texture. Bake until hot and bubbly. Broil for 1-2 minutes for a crispier top.

Vegan Shepherd's Pie Success Tips

Here are a few expert tips to ensure your dish comes out perfectly:

The carrots need to be finely grated to add to the texture of the ground "meat" texture, so don't use matchstick carrots or they won't soften enough.
You can omit the wine if preferred and replace it with ¼ cup of vegetable broth.
For a lower-carb option, you can use cauliflower mash instead of potatoes.

Reheating + Storing Tips

Storing - leftovers will last in the fridge for 3-4 days stored in an airtight container or frozen for 2-3 months in a freezer-safe container. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight.
Reheating - place in the oven at 375 F. for 15-20 minutes or until heated throughout. You can also heat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

What do you serve with shepherd's pie?

Shepherd's pie is hearty enough to serve on its own, but side dishes are always a nice addition. You can serve it with a small garden salad or roasted veggies such as asparagus, brussels sprouts, green beans, or carrots. A fresh loaf of crusty bread is delicious, too.

Piece of cooked shepherd's pie on a white plate with fork on the side.

More comfort meals to try

If you love comfort food, you may want to try a few of the following reader favorites.

I Love to Hear From You

If you make this Vegan Shepherd's Pie, let me know what you think by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.

📖 Recipe

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