Copycat Cheesecake Factory’s Shepherd’s Pie (but better!)
My mom’s Shepherd’s Pie is one of my favorite recipes from childhood. Every now and then she makes a few small pies and gives me one to heat up on a busy weeknight. I am always thrilled to dig beneath the warm potatoes to the tender beef and vegetables. She is the one who actually turned me on the the Shepherd’s Pie at the Cheesecake Factory-one of our favorite restaurant dishes. It’s luxurious and rich with mushrooms and zucchini and an amazing gravy. Our quick, easy version doesn’t hold a candle to it.
I don’t typically make Shepherd’s Pie myself but I have always wanted to re-create that rich, meaty pie from the Cheesecake Factory. I think I may have actually stumbled upon an even better recipe. It’s not a quick dish but it’s not hard and once you’ve got it in the baking dish you can refrigerate it or freeze it until you are ready. It’s a good long, slow weekend dish: one that takes some time but gives you plenty of delicious leftovers for the week.
Shepherd’s Pie
serves 8, prep 20 min, cook 40 min- 2 tbsp oil, divided
- 12 oz white mushrooms, sliced thinly
- 8 oz red wine, divided
- 1/2 cup carrots, julienned
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground lamb or beef
- 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsp butter, divided
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup chicken or beef stock
- 2 medium zucchini, julienned
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 6 cups mashed potatoes (6 medium yellow potatoes, 4 tbsp butter, 1/2 cup cream)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
- If you happen to have left-over mashed potatoes skip to step 2. Boil diced potatoes in salted water until soft, about 30 minutes.
- Pre-heat oven to 400F. Butter a large casserole dish.
- Meanwhile in a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium-high heat. Add sliced mushrooms. Saute mushrooms until soft and brown. Add 2 oz red wine to the hot pan, stirring and scraping the pan. Remove mushrooms to a plate.
- Wipe out the pan and add the remaining 1 tbsp of oil, heat to medium.
- Saute carrots until beginning to soften, then add onion and garlic.
- When onions are soft add ground meat and brown, breaking meat into large chunks.
- When meat is browned, season with salt, pepper and thyme. Add mushrooms, peas and 1 tbsp butter.
- Sprinkle mixture with flour and stir. Then add tomato paste, Worcestershire, and remaining 6 oz wine.
- Cook and stir mixture for several minutes. Add stock and simmer until sauce is thick and somewhat reduced.
- Remove from heat and stir in zucchini. Season to taste.
- Pour meat mixture into the prepared casserole.
- Drain and mash potatoes with butter and cream as needed.
- Spoon mashed potatoes over meat and spread and smooth the top. (At this point you can refrigerate or freeze the dish as desired.)
- Brush potatoes with a beaten egg and sprinkle with Parmesan.
- Bake casserole 20-30 minutes or until hot and bubbling and potatoes are browned. Cook time will be longer for a cold dish.
Posted in Main Dish, Things I Love
January 4th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Sans the mushrooms and onions, I am all over this one Katie!
Happy New Year!
January 14th, 2012 at 10:05 am
This is so delicious! I made it last night and the flavors are to die for.
January 24th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
I have been searching a long time for a shepherd’s pie recipe that I would like and I believe my search to be over. This one looks amazing and I am looking forward to making it soon. Thank you so much for posting it and sharing! 🙂
February 4th, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Spent more time than I should have today looking at your blog and the wonderful recipes…
February 13th, 2012 at 9:47 am
Hope you are doing okay Katie! 😀 Hugs!
March 28th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Hi! I just wanted you to know that I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! I love reading your blog. Your recipes are fabulous + so are your photos. And I wanted others to know about your fabulousness too!! 🙂 Here’s my link about it. http://www.thedailydeelight.com/2012/03/versatile-blogger-awards.html
Have a great day!! 🙂
April 10th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
I love the Cheesecake Factory! Not sure I’ve ever had their shepherd’s pie, but this looks great!
July 27th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
I just made this for dinner so we could have something to eat while watching the London Olympic opening ceremonies! It’s so good! 🙂
September 8th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I’m trying this tonight. I recently moved into an area that has no Cheesecake Factory for miles and I was really craving a heaping spoonful of shephard’s pie today. I just got back from the grocery store with the ingredients and can’t wait to dive into this.
Thank you for the recipe!!
January 1st, 2013 at 10:19 pm
I just made this. It is close to the Cheesecake Factory version. And it is very very yummy! I used beef instead of lamb, and I think the lamb would be better.
October 25th, 2013 at 3:21 pm
Their recipe has rosemary in it you can taste it and see it so I doubt your recipe is correct
November 16th, 2013 at 7:57 pm
This recipe rocks! I used sharp cheddar on top instead of eggs and parmesean cheese. My children loved it too.
December 29th, 2013 at 6:23 pm
We are big fans of the Cheesecake Factory Shepard pie. As someone had pointed out, their recipe contains rosemary. We just added about 1 tablespoon of dried rosemary & followed the rest of the recipe. It came out exactly like the Cheesecake Factory version, even better. Also, I believe they use thinly julienned cucumbers instead of zucchini. I think the zucchini taste better but lack the crunch that the cucumber has.
Thank you for this recipe! We will keep in our family recipe binder.
April 27th, 2014 at 8:05 pm
When do you add the peas. I added them with the zucchini but I was just wondering if I was supposed to actually add it earlier.
May 16th, 2014 at 10:56 am
What kind of wine?! I’m making it tonight without I hope it turns out good!
May 19th, 2014 at 1:41 pm
Hi – There is still an aromatic spice missing from this recipe that Cheesecake Factory puts in. Can’t seem to figure out what it is. Not Tarragon. Any ideas?
June 11th, 2014 at 11:32 pm
this is absolutely amazing! It’s so rich! The first Shepherd’s pie I ever ate was my husband grandma’s and… it was okay. It didn’t leave me craving shepherds pie any time soon. But this recipe!!!! I seriously think about this recipe at least once a week! I’m gong to be making it again for dinner next week, and I can’t wait for the leftovers to take to work for lunch!
August 19th, 2014 at 4:47 am
Tried the recipe and it is delish! This one’s a keeper. With the rosemary it tastes really close to the real deal. I used ground turkey and it’s still soooo delicious. I’m usually disappointed with these types of recipes but this one is a home run!
September 3rd, 2014 at 6:50 pm
This is so delicious. Make it on a day when you have plenty of time. There is quite a bit of prep work and several cooking steps. It would be a great company recipe.
November 11th, 2014 at 11:02 am
I made this last night, and the sauce still seems to be missing something. It did not have the richness that the cheesecake factorys pie had. However, I used 93/7 ground beef. Cheesecake factory obviously used a way fattier beef and did not drain the fat… so maybe that is what it was. I am hoping not because as good as it was I felt my arteries clogging. Any ideas on the richness? I don’t it was just because it didnt have rosemary in it.
January 25th, 2015 at 9:07 am
Hi – I had this the other day at CF and I think they used salisbury steak, broken up and browned. It was delicious!
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September 11th, 2016 at 4:33 pm
I just made this recipe with slivered sirloin. It was the best Shepherd pie we’ve had yet!! Thanks for posting the recipe!!
Lisa
January 14th, 2017 at 6:27 pm
[…] while back I told you about a great Copycat recipe for the Cheesecake Factory’s Shepard’s Pie that made after I had taken my daughter and a couple of friends to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. It […]
April 23rd, 2017 at 1:42 am
[…] Shepard’s Pie– Chaos in the Kitchen […]
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September 21st, 2018 at 1:40 pm
What brand of red wine you use?
Hiw much alchol% ?
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January 2nd, 2019 at 6:08 pm
This was a close version to the cheesecake factory! This was delicious! I followed a reviewer’s advice and added some rosemary (2 tsp). My local store didn’t have fresh thyme so i added 3/4 tsp of dried thyme. Also, the next time i will use a leaner ground beef as it let out more oil than I’d prefer. That’s just a recommendation because this is definitely my new go to for shepard’s pie! Yum!
April 15th, 2019 at 5:43 pm
What type of wine is used? Wanting to make tomorrow. Thank you
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September 7th, 2019 at 9:50 am
This recipe however is not gluten free, Cheescake Factory’s is. So be careful.
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February 23rd, 2020 at 3:51 pm
I cooked this tonight after my partner was repeatedly asking for it. We like the one at cheesecake ans gave this one a try.
I took some shortcuts with instant mashed potatoes (using broth instead of water) and I used a frozen bag of carrots, corn and green beans).
IT was good. I added a tbs of Rosemary as was suggested. I’d onky cut back on the wine… Probably use 6 instead of 8 Oz as originally instructed. I could still taste the wine which I don’t care for.
Will definitely make again
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