What Should You Serve With Shepherd’s Pie? 20 Superb Side Dish Ideas

Shepherd’s pie is a homely and comforting dish that’s popular in Britain. It consists of a juicy meat and vegetable casserole layer topped with thick and creamy mashed potatoes.

So if you are wondering what side dish pairs best with shepherd’s pie, here are 20 incredible ideas!

1. Yorkshire Puddings

Like shepherd’s pie, Yorkshire puddings are a popular delicacy in Britain. We love making Yorkshire puddings as an accompaniment to a roast dinner or other meaty dishes, such as shepherd’s pie.

Though store-bought Yorkshire puddings will suffice, this homemade recipe is superior. They have a crispy yet soft texture that works wonderfully with shepherd’s pie.

Yorkshire puddings are particularly delicious once they have been covered in a scrumptious sauce, such as gravy.

2. Roasted Potatoes

The idea of pairing shepherd’s pie with potatoes might sound a little odd. After all, this dish already contains potatoes.

But if you want a starchy and filling meal, roasted potatoes are a great option. They work especially well when shepherd’s pie is covered with gravy.

These crispy roasted potatoes are a sensational side dish for your shepherd’s pie. They have a crispy outside and a fluffy inside, which creates a textural contrast with the mashed potatoes.

These roasted potatoes are seasoned to perfection with garlic powder, parsley, and black pepper.

3. Broccoli

If you want a healthy and nutritious addition to your shepherd’s pie, broccoli is an outstanding option. For example, it’s a rich source of vitamin K.

Broccoli has a mild flavor, which can come across as quite bland. Luckily, this brilliant broccoli has been seasoned with garlic and lemon to give it a tangy taste.

It’s a great way of making broccoli more interesting so that even kids will enjoy eating it.

This is a really simple recipe to make. It will be ready in just 10 minutes!

4. Roasted Carrots

Roasting carrots is perhaps the best way of cooking these orange vegetables. This is because carrots alone can be quite boring. But roasted carrots have a more complex flavor that makes them a more exciting side dish.

We particularly adore this roasted carrots recipe, as it cooks these vegetables in honey to provide a sweet taste.

Moreover, parsley and thyme provide a herbal flavor that compliments these roasted carrots.

These roasted carrots will also help add some color to your meal.

5. Green Beans

Green beans are a nutritious side dish that is often overlooked. Just because this side dish is healthy, it doesn’t mean that it needs to be boring.

This French-inspired recipe is a wonderful way of making green beans. It uses lemon juice to infuse these green beans with a sharp and tangy taste that’s somewhat bitter. 

Another reason why we love this recipe is its simplicity. It will only take 20 minutes to prepare, making these green beans an ideal side dish if you are making shepherd’s pie as a midweek meal.

6. Mashed Parsnips

If you are looking for a potato substitute to serve with your shepherd’s pie, parsnips are an amazing alternative.

Like potatoes, parsnips can be cooked in a variety of ways, including roasted parsnips. Perhaps our favorite way of serving parsnips is mashing them.

The above recipe makes mouth-watering and buttery mashed parsnips. Plus, it requires just 6 ingredients.

These creamy mashed parsnips will absorb the meaty juice of the shepherd’s pie, making this a sensational side dish!

7. Brussels Sprouts With Honey Glaze

Brussels sprouts are a controversial side dish. You either love them or you hate them. But with this amazing recipe, you’re bound to adore these Brussels sprouts.

These charred Brussels sprouts are covered in an irresistible honey glaze, which gives them a sweeter taste that undercuts the bitter flavor associated with these vegetables.

Moreover, we love the idea of adding red pepper flakes to this recipe, as it provides the Brussels sprouts with a spicy kick. Yet, this ingredient is optional, which is great for people who don’t enjoy spicy food.

8. Fried Corn

Fried corn is an iconic Southern dish that’s surprisingly versatile. We love pairing it with shepherd’s pie!

An advantage of this recipe is that it adds bacon to the mix, which infuses the dish with an irresistible smoky and salty taste.

Not to mention, it makes the corn feel a little more substantial, so this dish is guaranteed to fill you up.

We also love how bright and colorful this dish is. The combination of corn, bacon, and chives creates a visually appealing dish that kids are bound to love.

9. Creamy Sauteed Mushrooms

Not everyone loves the sharp woody flavors of mushrooms. But if you adore mushrooms, this is the perfect recipe for you.

This irresistible recipe is creamy and cheesy. What’s not to love? This creamy sauce is a great way of adding extra moisture and flavor to your shepherd’s pie. Plus, it will only take you 20 minutes to prepare.

Some shepherd’s pie recipes are made with mushrooms, so this side dish just makes sense. Mushrooms are a great way of adding a rich and earthy taste to this magnificent meal.

10. Baked Beans

Baked beans aren’t everyone’s favorite side dish. But if you like baked beans, you should consider pairing them with shepherd’s pie.

If you don’t have enough time to cook your own baked beans, a store-bought can will do. But if you have the time, we recommend making these flavorsome baked beans.

The use of seasoning gives these beans a delightful flavor. This is thanks to ingredients like garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder, which heighten the taste of these beans.

The addition of bacon also provides a marvelous meaty taste.

11. Thyme-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

If you love potatoes but crave something different, sweet potatoes can work wonderfully.

These sweet potatoes not only look very different from standard potatoes, but they have a unique sweet flavor that works surprisingly well in savory dishes.

These thyme-roasted sweet potatoes are an amazing way to bring out the taste of this side dish. Thyme provides a minty and somewhat earthy taste that compliments the sweet potatoes.

Ultimately, if you are looking for a fun and filling side dish, this thyme-roasted sweet potato recipe is a great choice.

12. Peas And Onions

Peas can be somewhat boring, so serving them with onions is a great way of enhancing the flavors. This is because onions have a pungent and tangy taste that’s anything but boring!

Peas and onions pair beautifully with a diverse range of meals, including shepherd’s pie. It will complement the flavors of the pie.

In addition, this is also a nutritious side dish. For example, peas are a superb source of vitamin C, calcium, and potassium.

This side dish takes 20 minutes to prepare, making it a quick and easy option.

13. Soda Bread

Soda bread is a great addition to most meals. One of the reasons why it works so well with shepherd’s pie is that it will absorb all of its juice, thus taking on its meaty taste.

It’s also quite a filling side dish, so you won’t have to worry about being hungry afterward.

It may sound like a lot of effort to make your own soda bread. But the truth is that it’s worth it.

Not to mention, this Irish soda bread recipe proves that it doesn’t always have to take ages to make bread. This recipe can be made in just 45 minutes.

14. Cauliflower Cheese

Cauliflower cheese is a dish that originates from Britain. It’s creamy and cheesy. This side dish is irresistible, particularly if you are a cheese enthusiast.

This versatile side dish is fantastic for a wide range of different meals, including a roast dinner or shepherd’s pie.

This tantalizing recipe makes cauliflower cheese that’s bursting with cheesy notes. This cheese sauce is smooth and creamy, which is the ideal consistency. 

The use of mustard powder gives this side dish a sophisticated flavor that is difficult to resist.

15. Potato Wedges

This is perhaps our favorite potato wedges recipe! Let’s face it, you can’t go wrong with potato wedges. These are the most flavorsome potato wedges that we’ve ever tried.

We especially adore the idea of coating them in parmesan cheese, as this provides a cheesy flavor that is missing in dishes like shepherd’s pie.

The use of seasoning is also superb, as it makes them seem as though they were made by a professional chef.

Moreover, this recipe will help you to achieve the ideal texture for this side dish. The wedges are soft on the inside with a crispy outside, which creates a pleasant eating experience.

16. Ratatouille

No, we aren’t talking about the movie! Ratatouille is a delightful French dish consisting of vegetables such as garlic, tomatoes, and onions.

This side dish is overflowing with tangy flavors and is sure to add an enjoyable taste to any meal.

One of the reasons why we love this recipe is its simplicity. Plus, it makes 8 servings, which should keep you well-fed for a long time. 

We particularly love the herb seasoning, which heightens the delectable flavors of this dish. This sensational seasoning includes basil, garlic, thyme, and parsley.

17. Apple Salad

The idea of serving a salad with shepherd’s pie might sound a little odd. The notion of adding apples may sound even weirder. But trust us, this side dish works brilliantly!

These apples have a sweet taste and a crunchy texture, which will provide a delightful contrast to your shepherd’s pie. 

Another reason to adore this apple salad recipe is that it will be ready in just 15 minutes, making it a convenient option for weeknights. Moreover, it’s nutritious thanks to healthy ingredients like apples, spinach, and raisins.

18. Mediterranean Roasted Artichokes

Artichokes are a type of edible flower. They are often underused in cooking. Yet, we adore cooking with artichokes. This is because they have a nutty and herbaceous flavor that can make this an appetizing side dish.

If you want to make artichokes, we recommend using this Mediterranean roasted artichokes recipe. The roasted garlic and dill vinaigrette give this dish a potent flavor that’s sure to be a hit with anyone who tries it.

19. Braised Leeks

Braised leeks make a light side dish that pairs well with shepherd’s pie, which can occasionally feel quite heavy.

Braising is perhaps the best way of cooking leeks, as the broth gives them a juicy texture and a stronger flavor.

We also love this recipe because you will only need a few ingredients to make it. This makes it a great side dish option if you are cooking on a budget.

20. Roasted Eggplant

Last but not least, roasted eggplant is an astonishing addition to shepherd’s pie. Eggplant has a slightly sweet and bitter taste that’s often underrated.

Luckily, this roasted eggplant is an excellent way to enhance the taste of this side dish.

It’s been seasoned to perfection with garlic powder and paprika. Paprika provides an enjoyable smoky taste.

Moreover, this roasted eggplant has been caramelized, which boosts its flavors even further.

We also love the textural contrast between the crispness of the roasted eggplant and the softness of the shepherd’s pie.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between Cottage Pie And Shepherd’s Pie?

Cottage pie and shepherd’s pie are terms that are often used interchangeably, as they are essentially the same dish. However, the main difference is that shepherd’s pie traditionally contains lamb mince while cottage pie is often made with beef.

Why Is My Shepherd’s Pie So Runny?

Shepherd’s pie should not have a runny texture. The main reason why this may occur is that the gravy is too thin. To prevent this, you should simmer the gravy for longer to boil the liquid. Alternatively, you can add flour or cornstarch to thicken the gravy.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are loads of different delicious side dishes to choose from. Shepherd’s pie is a versatile food that will pair perfectly with a wide assortment of side dishes. 

So if you are craving a shepherd’s pie, why not serve it with one of these irresistible accompaniments?