A healthy comfort food your family will love 🍲💛

🍲 Cozy Comfort: My Family’s Go-To Shepherd’s Pie

Some recipes just feel like a hug.
This one? It’s my family’s all-time favorite. 💛

The first time I made it, I wasn’t sure how the boys would feel about all the veggies tucked inside. But to my surprise, they devoured it—plates wiped clean, little voices asking for seconds. Now it’s one of those meals that I come back to again and again.

It’s healthy, hearty, and always hits the spot. Made with simple ingredients from our local farmers market, and so versatile—you can swap the protein, change the veggies, or keep it vegetarian. The best part? It freezes beautifully, so I can pull out a dish on those nights when life feels extra full.

🥕 Ingredients

• Olive oil

• 1 onion, diced

• 2–3 celery stalks, diced

• 2 carrots, diced

• 1 zucchini (or peas if you prefer)

• 2–3 garlic cloves, minced

• Sea salt + cracked pepper

• Tomato paste/passata, ketchup, soy sauce, coconut aminos, fish sauce - anything that boosts flavour

• 1–1.5 lbs ground grass-fed beef (or free-range chicken, bison, or go vegetarian with lentils)

• 6–7 medium potatoes, cubed

• 2–3 tbsp grass-fed butter

• Splash of milk

• 1 cup grated cheese (mozzarella, white cheddar, provolone, friulano, or even parmesan—use what you’ve got!)

• Fresh parsley or dill, for topping

👩‍🍳 Method

1. Sauté the veggies: In a big pan, warm olive oil and sauté onion, celery, carrots, zucchini/peas, and garlic. Season with salt + pepper. Add your flavour booster here.

2. Add the protein: Stir in your choice of meat (or lentils for vegetarian). Cook until browned and blended with the veggies.

3. Boil the potatoes: While that’s cooking, boil the cubed potatoes until tender.

4. Mash it up: Drain, then mash with butter, milk, cheese, salt + pepper.

5. Assemble the pie: Spread the veggie-meat mix in a 9x13 (or any baking dish). Top with the mashed potatoes—use a fork to make ridges so they crisp up.

6. Bake: Into the oven at 400°F for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbling.

7. Finish + serve: Sprinkle fresh parsley or dill. Pair with a crisp green salad (I love romaine with balsamic or ACV).

✨ Why We Love It

✔️ Wholesome + satisfying
✔️ Kid-approved (my boys devour it)
✔️ Freezer-friendly for busy weeks
✔️ Comfort food… without the guilt

This dish tastes like home—warm, nourishing, and made to share.

I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as we did. My husband came home hungry from work and polished off the entire casserole dish and although this is a common theme (he loves food), I was genuinely shocked he ate more than half 🥰 

Goes to show how tasty it really is.

Until next comfort recipe,

Larissa