Here are 36 delicious ideas for what to serve with shepherd’s pie.
Shepherd’s pie is one of the most famous comfort foods globally.
The dish originates from the sheep country in Scotland and northern England, which attributes to how the pie is named.
A shepherd’s pie is mainly a baked meat pie with minced or diced lamb or ground beef and vegetables topped with a thick layer of mashed potatoes.
This savory dish has a long culinary history and has provided comfort and gastronomic happiness to those who eat it as it can warm you from the inside out.
Shepherd’s pie is already a filling dish, but pairing it with a side dish can make your meal even more comforting.
If you’re wondering what to serve with shepherd’s pie, we’ve put together a list of options that you can know of so you can try each one!
From Apple Walnut Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette to Fried Cabbage With Bacon to Lemon Garlic Green Beans, these tasty side dishes are going to make you the kitchen hero!
The #10 Air Fryer Carrots recipe on this list is so easy, and it involves preparing the carrots and putting them in the air fryer.
Best Ideas For What To Serve With Shepherd’s Pie
This green beans recipe is quick and easy to do and pairs with anything, especially a rich and savory shepherd’s pie.
Paired with straightforward flavors from the lemon and garlic, which lightens up this side dish, these Lemon Garlic Green Beans can be done in 15 minutes and can elevate your entire meal.
Cooked beans make your dining experience a lot better, as it provides the right amount of crunch with the fresh flavors that you can taste.
Using French green beans to pair with the English shepherd’s pie is ideal for this recipe since this variety of beans is shorter and thinner, making it cook faster.
You can also change the seasonings to your preference, such as adding some ground ginger to add an extra kick to the flavor.
The eggplant is a somewhat underrated vegetable that packs plenty of flavors, especially when paired with a luscious dish such as a shepherd’s pie.
Perfect to cook up during the fall and winter seasons as a side dish to your pie, Sauteed Eggplant is a great way to add more veggies to your table while adding color to your plate.
Serving Sauteed Eggplant gives a nice contrast to the palate when served with shepherd’s pie since it isn’t dressed in any thick sauce.
If you want to make it a silkier dining experience, you may even add some melted mozzarella cheese to them.
This salad side dish can provide an added layer of flavor complexity when paired with savory shepherd’s pie.
This fall-style salad served with apples and walnuts offers texture, crunch, and mild sweet flavor that can balance the palate of your meal.
The mild apples tossed with tangy vinaigrette offer just the right flavors, added with some briny feta cheese in this recipe.
This Apple Walnut Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette is easy to do and can be whipped up in less than 10 minutes.
Shepherd’s pie is mostly a dish served for colder months, so picking out what ingredients are in season during that time is recommended.
Brussels sprouts go well around this time, providing a simple yet elevated dish to your shepherd’s pie.
Cooking it right is vital to achieving the best flavor of these mini cabbages, and roasting them is ideal.
This recipe serves roasted brussels sprouts with some honey and balsamic to provide complexity to your meal.
Having only 3 ingredients in this recipe makes it a convenient and easy side dish that goes well with the shepherd’s pie.
Butternut squash is a rich and sweet dish, and while it is somewhat starchy, roasting it provides a contrast in texture from the mashed potatoes that dominates your shepherd’s pie.
Adding bacon to this side dish gives the butternut squash a smoky bite that adds to your delectable dinner.
These sweet peas added with brown butter and mint are as comforting as shepherd’s pie and are inspired by another British dish: the mushy peas like #17 (without being mushy!).
This recipe uses brown butter, which is melted butter that’s cooked until it turns golden brown, providing a layer of nuttiness to the butter itself and onto the peas.
Adding mint to this dish also makes it geographically relevant since mint is quite a popular ingredient in the UK.
Serving artichokes can be pretty exciting when placed on the table since it’s a super delicious dish and quick enough to whip up.
Artichoke hearts can be added to pasta, pizza, or as a straight-up side dish and can provide a combination of sweet, bitter, and herbaceous flavors with an added crunch.
These unique flavors provide exciting contrasts to your shepherd’s pie and can make your meal extraordinary.
Artichokes taste great even with only a few added ingredients, and this particular recipe involves just 5 elements and can be ready in under 10 minutes.
8. Dinner Rolls
Soft, fluffy, and delightfully chewy, dinner rolls can hold their rightful place alongside a heap full of shepherd’s pie on your plate.
They’re easy to eat and can smother up your shepherd’s pie till there’s none left.
This dinner roll recipe is easy to do and can help you achieve those heavenly pillows every time.
It takes an hour or so to make, which is relatively quicker than most methods, with a simple ingredient list that you can easily find.
When serving a heavy, rich dish such as shepherd’s pie, opting for a lighter lettuce salad as a side dish can help highlight the flavors of your main dish.
The Everyday Green Salad is a typical side dish that you can whip up for anything.
Flavors can be adjusted depending on the ingredients you add, but they are mainly served with different green salad leaves with a basic oil and vinegar dressing.
Use different kinds of lettuce, such as romaine, butter, and green or red leaf lettuce, to provide different colors and textures to your salad.
A recipe that will surely be a simple way of adding veggies to your table that goes great with shepherd’s pie is by slicing carrots and cooking them in an air fryer.
Using fresh carrots, some oil, and your option of seasonings, you can serve up these delicious roasted carrots.
This recipe also provides a variety of flavors you can choose from, with sweet, spicy, and savory options for the dish.
Roasted Asparagus goes great with shepherd’s pie, with the asparagus providing that desired crunch with every bite.
This recipe leads you to the most straightforward and best-roasted asparagus version that’s oven-baked to perfection.
Ingredients involved in this dish are easy to find to keep it simple, with the process providing the proper preparation to develop the best flavors.
You can also opt to add in different spice combinations to enhance this side dish to your preference.
This Sauteed Spinach & Mushrooms recipe is a savory side dish that can complement your shepherd’s pie.
While most people saute spinach with some garlic and olive oil for a quick side dish, adding mushrooms to the cook adds another layer of flavor that goes great when serving heavy protein.
Add some cheddar cheese to these veggies and let them melt for more earthy flavors.
Cauliflower is a common vegetable that people often reach for when preparing a delectable side dish, and this recipe highlights cauliflower’s versatility.
Most would consider topping cauliflower with cheese, and while that method does make cauliflower more delicious, this recipe calls for different flavors.
These cauliflower are roasted with smoked paprika, olive oil, and salt, providing rich BBQ flavors that go great with your luscious shepherd’s pie.
This flavorful side dish goes great with any meal and is perfect for pairing alongside shepherd’s pie.
Tender cabbage and savory bacon make quite a delicious pairing and are a traditional Southern dish that invokes nostalgic tastes.
This recipe is fast and convenient, with only 4 ingredients on the list with your array of added seasoning.
It all comes together in just under 20 minutes, allowing you to dig in fast to all that delicious goodness perfect for your dinner.
15. Buttered Leeks
Whipping up a simple recipe to pair with a heavy main dish such as shepherd’s pie is ideal, so these Buttered Leeks should be a go-to.
These leeks are steeped in butter and melt in your mouth, with just the right char on its edges to provide a tasty crisp.
This recipe only needs a few ingredients and can be done in under 15 minutes.
This flavorful dish adds crunch and freshness next to the hearty Shepherd’s Pie.
Not only do they pair in taste but also in texture with the creamy mashed potatoes.
Plus, these parmesan oven-roasted green beans are simple to prepare!
You get a mouthwatering side or main dish in just 30 minutes!
17. Mushy Peas
Shepherd’s Pie is a classic, hearty British dish; many would argue that it isn’t complete without adding a side dish of mushy peas.
But why?
Mushy peas are the perfect accompaniment to Shepherd’s Pie as their texture and mild sweetness work harmoniously with the comforting spud-topped casserole.
The earthy flavor of mushy peas also helps to cut through any richness from the ingredients used in the pie, allowing all of its sumptuous flavors to come together where this humble yet mighty veggie is present.
Grandma’s Irish Soda Bread is not only a tasty accompaniment to Shepherd’s Pie, but it also has a memorable place in the hearts of many families.
Its generous yet distinctively subtle flavor and hearty texture complete Shepherd’s Pie.
This combination has been part of cozy family dinners for generations – and as classic comfort food, it will never go out of style!
What’s terrific is that even if you don’t have years of baking experience, Irish Soda Bread couldn’t be easier or quicker to make – all you need are accessible pantry staples like flour, baking soda, and salt.
And with Grandma’s tried-and-true recipe, anyone can whip up this tasty tradition in minutes!
The rich and smoky flavor of the roasted sweet potatoes brings out the robust flavors of the beef in the Shepherd’s Pie.
The sweetness of carrots is mellowed by roasting, while simple herbs like thyme add an additional layer of flavor that ties harvests together.
Roasting makes sweet potatoes exceptionally tender, ensuring a lovely texture when mixed with mashed potato topping on Shepherd’s Pie.
Shepherd’s Pie is a well-loved dish that warms the soul with its rich layers of delectable flavors.
But what makes anybody’s Shepherd’s Pie shine is the immaculate side dish to pair with it.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad is an excellent choice for this as it features fresh, crunchy, and sweet additions to contrast with the hearty flavors of the Pie.
With slices of fragrant shallots paired with sweet carrots and tart cranberries – this salad has all the right elements to balance out the Shepherd’s Pie.
A generous topping of salty Parmesan cheese adds a winning complexity to the mix that makes this combination unbeatable – definitely a plate you won’t forget!
Roasted delicata squash adds a bit of robust bite to any dinner plate.
Its mild flavor works particularly well with Shepherd’s Pie, as its subtle earthy tones complement the spiced ground beef or lamb.
The squash retains its texture and shape even after roasting, creating an exciting contrast to the creamy mashed potatoes.
The earthy beets in the salad perfectly complement the savory beef in the Shepherd’s Pie.
Thanks to its unique blend of herbs, spices, and aromatics, the Moroccan Beet Salad adds a wonderful depth of flavor that brings out the best in Shepherd’s Pie.
The marriage between these two allows each dish to take on new dimensions as they balance each other out and give an added bite too!
23. Garlic Bread
One classic combination is Shepherd’s Pie and garlic bread.
The contrast between the zesty bread and the filling main dish creates a unique juxtaposition of complementary tastes and textures.
The crunchy texture of garlic bread complements the tender meat and potatoes in Shepherd’s Pie, giving it an added layer of flavor without competing or overpowering.
It also helps to add a hint of buttery richness – perfect for those chilly winter evenings!
The combination of tangy, roasted lemons and sweet cherry tomatoes adds vibrant color to the plate.
It brings a fantastic medley of flavors that harmonize with the savory ground beef in Shepherd’s Pie.
It is visually appealing, but the contrast between the tart lemons and the tomatoes’ sweetness brightens up all the flavors while adding complexity to them.
Shepherd’s Pie is a classic entree, but it can become too heavy-handed if not complemented by a suitable side dish.
That’s where Warm Chickpea, Fennel, and Parsley Salad comes in!
This vibrantly colored side incorporates warm quinoa, flavorful tomato cubes, crunchy slices of fennel, sweet onions, and zesty parsley to offset the heartiness of Shepherd’s Pie.
Plus, it creates a wholesome balance that makes anyone feel satisfied – without feeling overly full.
If you’re looking for a comforting Irish dinner, look no further than bacon and cabbage served with Shepherd’s Pie.
This combination is a classic one-two punch of flavor and tradition that tastes as good today as it did centuries ago.
The salty, smoky flavors of the bacon pair perfectly with the warmth of the Shepherd’s Pie and the tender, fresh sweet cabbage.
If you’re looking for a superb side dish to pair with your Shepherd’s Pie, then Mexican Street Corn is the answer!
This dish has everything that it needs to complement the flavor of a Shepherd’s Pie.
It has a creamy and cheesy base of mayonnaise, Cotija cheese, and spices like cumin, which nicely offsets the beef and gravy from a traditional Shepherd’s Pie recipe.
Shepherd’s Pie is an ideal comfort food for a cold winter night.
The savory beef, creamy mashed potatoes, and intense vegetables create a scrumptious dish.
But if you want to take your Shepherd’s Pie to the next level, add sautéed Swiss Chard!
This leafy green packs quite a punch of flavor and texture, making it a great complement to the other components in Shepherd’s Pie.
Its vibrant color adds a layer of healthful appeal.
This salad requires only a few simple ingredients like kale, Parmesan cheese, and croutons.
The combination of creamy dressing and salty, crunchy toppings brings out the best of both dishes.
The balance between the savory Shepherd’s Pie, hearty kale, and flavorful Caesar dressing can make for one nourishing meal.
Creamy Parsnip Puree pairs perfectly with Shepherd’s Pie because it is a light, nutty accompaniment.
You will find your taste buds dancing as the sweet parsnips meld with the savory natural flavors of a classic Shepherd’s Pie.
The smooth and subtle flavor of the creamy parsnip puree contrasts with the hearty ground beef and potato-topped casserole for an unbeatable combination.
This simple salad pairs wonderfully with the hearty flavor of Shepherd’s Pie, providing a balancing and refreshing contrast.
The sweet tomatoes and crunch from the cucumbers offset the rich flavor of mashed potatoes and savory filling, resulting in a unique dining experience that pleases everyone around the table.
This salad is fuss-free to throw together and can be tailored to suit your tastes – add some olives or feta cheese for an extra boost of flavor.
32. Crostini
Not only does this combination provide a great variety of flavors, like the warm tones of cheesy mashed potatoes mixed with herb-infused ground beef, but the pairing also gives a nice contrast in textures.
Crostini and Shepherd’s Pie are a nice combo.
Grilled broccolini is an excellent side dish to add to Shepherd’s Pie.
It’s a unique pairing that is sure to please any discerning palette, as the sweet and smoky flavor of the grilled broccolini complements the hearty beef stew in the Pie perfectly.
Sous vide asparagus only takes 12 minutes of cooking time yet delivers a tender but crunchy texture that pairs with the flavorsome minced meat and creamy gravy of a Shepherd’s Pie.
The herbal flavor of sous vide asparagus also tones down the strong flavor of some Shepherd’s Pie recipes, creating an overall balanced taste that is sure to delight your palate.
35. Radicchio Salad
The acidity of this salad’s dressing helps to cut through a rich and hearty dish like Shepherd’s Pie, while the crunch of radicchio adds a pleasant texture that complements potatoes well.
Eating the two dishes together creates an exciting contrast.
Serve your next Shepherd’s Pie with a hearty radicchio salad and see how it adds some extra flavor to an old favorite.
Shepherd’s Pie is a classic comfort food, with its savory blend of ground beef and vegetables combined with golden mashed potatoes.
But sometimes, it needs a side dish to give it an extra oomph.
Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette is the precise accompaniment for this homey favorite: the peppery arugula, tart lemon juice, and zesty garlic in the dressing provide a bright contrast.
Plus, all that green from the salad also gives you a wholesome bonus!
The bottom line
Knowing what to serve with shepherd’s pie lets you choose what flavors you want to experience to make it such a perfect meal.
These recipe options can help you decide much easier and get your appetite going for the feast you’re about to have!
More Yummy Side Ideas
- NEW: How To Cook Carrots In The Microwave
- Easy Oven Roasted Tomatoes & Zucchini
- 4-Ingredient Skillet Fried Corn
- Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Butternut Squash
- Farro Salad With Roasted Vegetables
36 Ideas For What To Serve With Shepherd’s Pie
Here are 36 delicious ideas for what to serve with shepherd’s pie.
Ingredients
- Lemon Garlic Green Beans
- Sauteed Eggplant
- Apple Walnut Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Honey Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Bacon & Butternut Squash
- Brown Butter Peas With Mint
- Simple Lemon Artichokes
- Dinner Rolls
- Everyday Green Salad
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Roasted Asparagus
- Sauteed Spinach & Mushrooms
- Smoky Roasted Cauliflower
- Fried Cabbage With Bacon
- Buttered Leeks
- Oven-Roasted Parmesan Green Beans
- Mushy Peas
- Grandma's Irish Soda Bread
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Roasted Delicata Squash
- Moroccan Beet Salad
- Garlic Bread
- Roasted Lemon & Cherry Tomato Salad
- Warm Chickpea, Fennel, And Parsley Salad
- Irish Bacon And Cabbage
- Mexican Street Corn
- Sauteed Swiss Chard
- Kale Caesar Salad
- Creamy Parsnip Puree
- Tomato Cucumber Salad
- Crostini
- Grilled Broccolini
- Sous Vide Asparagus
- Radicchio Salad
- Arugula Salad With Lemon Vinaigrette
Instructions
- Find your favorite here for what to serve with shepherd’s pie!
- Gather all the ingredients and make it homemade!
- Start cooking and make us proud!