This veggie-packed mason jar shepherd’s pie meal prep is one of my go-to dishes when I’m craving comfort food but also want to have a generous serving of vegetables without extra work. It’s simple but delicious, making for both a delicious weeknight meal and a grab-and-go lunch, as it reheats wonderfully.
Veggie Packed Shepherd’s Pie
I love comfort food. Even more, I love anything that has a generous amount of mashed potatoes alongside it. This shepherd’s pie checks all the boxes. This healthy shepherd’s pie is one of my favorite things to make because it doesn’t put me in a food coma at work, like regular shepherd’s pie.
This make ahead shepherd’s pie is perfect if you’re also looking to increase your veggie intake. I love using the “blend and extend” method where I cut down the beef by around 25%. The blend and extend method is where I blend mushrooms into a dish to bring an additional serving of vegetables to the recipe and add volume so the portions can be extended despite there being less meat. The mushrooms in this lightened up shepherd’s pie saves me a bit of money, bulks up the dish so it’s still a filling lunch, and I get my veggies in. It’s a win-win!
Quick tip: the fastest way to dice up a bunch of mushrooms quickly and finely is to just toss them into a food processor and have that do the work for you! I also tossed my garlic, carrots, and onions into the food processor for this recipe as well to save time and chopping!
Shepherd’s Pie vs Cottage Pie
While I love a traditional shepherd’s pie, lamb can be on the expensive side, so I usually make it with ground beef. While ground beef technically makes cottage pie, most North Americans still call it shepherd’s pie, so I’ll be using the same terminology. Call it a cottage pie meal prep or shepherd’s pie!
Why Mason Jars?
I like using mason jars for this shepherd’s pie meal prep because they’re airtight, easy to stack, and make for a quick grab-and-go option. You can use any size mason jar, depending on how big you want the portions to be.
I find that when I try to portion out a full-sized shepherd’s pie into meal prep containers, the mashed potatoes tend to get compromised as they move around a slightly large container and sometimes end up mixed into the filling before you even reheat it.
Pre-packing them into mason jars means you are guaranteed to get a bite of everything with each spoonful. However, there’s nothing wrong with using a regular container; I’ve done that many times, but sometimes lunch in a jar is also just more fun!
What You’ll Need To Make This Mason Jar Shepherd’s Pie
olive oil — or any neutral oil such as avocado oil.
onion & garlic — gotta get those aromatics in! The more garlic, the better.
ground beef — I use lean ground beef. If you use a fattier ground beef, you might have to drain the fat before adding the rest of the ingredients.
mushrooms — you can use a variety of mushrooms, but for the best bang for your buck, brown button mushrooms are perfect for the blend extend method.
salt and pepper — I always use kosher salt.
broccoli — you can use fresh or frozen broccoli. You can even swap it out for cauliflower! Just make sure everything is tiny bite-sized, so it mixes well into the filling.
carrots — I cut my own carrots, but if you want to save time and money, you can always get the frozen blend of carrots, peas, and corn kernels!
tomato paste — I started buying tomato paste in a tube instead of a can, so it’s easier to store in the fridge once it’s been opened as I rarely use an entire can in one recipe.
flour — to help thicken everything.
Worcestershire Sauce — this adds a lovely deep umami flavoring. If you’ve run out, you can also swap in soy sauce in a pinch. However, Worcestershire sauce adds classic shepherd’s pie flavor.
broth — I like to use low-sodium broth, but you can use your favorite.
peas — as a big peas fan, sometimes I double the amount of peas in this recipe.
mashed potatoes — you can use instant or homemade. I have a variety of mashed potato recipes to try such as my Creme Fraiche Mashed Potatoes, Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Rosemary Mashed Potatoes, and Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
How to Make Meal Prep Shepherd’s Pie
- In a pan on medium heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the onions. Saute the onions for 2 to 3 minutes before adding garlic and a pinch of salt. Saute for another minute and add the ground beef.
- Once the ground beef starts to brown, add more salt and pepper. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, breaking up the beef as you go along.
- Add in mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, and Worcestershire Sauce and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and flour and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Stir in your frozen peas and beef broth and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Portion into your meal prep containers and then top with some mashed potatoes.
Tips and Notes On Making This Shepherd’s Pie Meal Prep
- If the mushrooms release too much liquid, be sure to drain them before serving.
- I add my broccoli and carrot closer to the end because I want them to still have a crunch. However, if you prefer your vegetables to be softer, add them earlier, such as with the onions.
- If you don’t want to use mashed potatoes, an alternative is to top with mashed sweet potato, tater tots, or cauliflower mash!
Storage Tips
- I used a mix of mason jars to store this recipe – from leftover jam jars, to weck jars, to regular mason jars. If properly sealed in an airtight container, this shepherd’s pie meal prep should last up to 5 days in the fridge.
- Make sure everything is cooled before you put the lid on and transfer to the fridge to avoid condensation, which makes your food soggy.
- Avoid overpacking the jars! It’s better to use a larger jar if you are unsure of the portion size you want.
FAQs
Can shepherd’s pie meal prep be frozen?
They sure can be! Let the dish cool completely and freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Always leave headspace if freezing, as the filling can expand in the freezer.
Do mason jars crack in the microwave?
Yes! Please be careful when reheating this ground beef meal prep. I usually bring the mason jar out of the fridge so there is no thermal shock. Also, be sure not to have the metal lids or clips in the microwave, as that can damage your microwave. Lunch in a jar is convenient, but make sure you read the instructions on your jar packaging before reheating!
Can I use ground turkey?
You can use any ground meat in place of the ground beef. You can even go 50-50 with a different ground meat if that’s what you have on hand.
Mason Jar Shepherd’s Pie Meal Prep
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 sweet onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 pound ground beef
- 454 grams mushrooms, diced finely, approximately 5 cups worth after diced.
- 1 broccoli crown, cut into small florets
- 2 carrots, diced finely
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1½ cup peas
- 1 cup beef broth, low sodium
- 2½ cups mashed potatoes
Instructions
- In a pan on medium heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the onions. Saute the onions for 2 to 3 minutes before adding garlic and a pinch of salt. Saute for another minute and add the ground beef.
- Once the ground beef starts to brown, add more salt and pepper. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, breaking up the beef as you go along.
- Add in mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, and Worcestershire Sauce and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and flour and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Stir in your frozen peas and beef broth and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Portion into your meal prep containers and then top with some mashed potatoes.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
More Meal Prep Recipes to Try
- Firecracker Beef
- Egg Roll in a Bowl with Ground Turkey and Extra Veggies
- Chicken Pepperoni Pasta Salad
- Curry Shrimp Meal Prep
- Ground Beef Stir Fry
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