Wondering what to serve with shepherd’s pie? Here are 17 of the best side dishes to go with shepherd’s pie and will keep this hearty casserole the star of the show. From bread recipes to fresh vegetables to greens and salads, you’ll have great options to create an amazing menu!

Our family loves digging into traditional shepherd’s pie full of tender lamb and vegetables bathing in a red wine gravy and blanketed in creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes. Homey comfort food at its finest!
Our Pub-Style Irish Shepherd’s Pie uses diced lamb leg as the base of the meat mixture, but you can easily use ground lamb. When using ground beef the dish is known as cottage pie and all the sides included here work seamlessly for any type of meat pie.
And some of our other favorite Irish-inspired recipes are these Bangers & Sweet Potato Mash Hand Pies and Nutty Irishman Cheesecake Swirled Brownies for a sweet ending!
Jump to:
- Best Sides for Shepherd’s Pie
- Irish Soda Bread
- Condensed Milk Bread
- Yorkshire Pudding
- Glazed Carrots
- Sweet Potatoes and Butternut Squash
- Baked Beans
- Balsamic Roasted Green Beans and Brussels Sprouts
- Irish Cabbage and Bacon
- Orange Avocado and Goat Cheese Salad
- Mushy Peas
- Corn Salad
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Roasted Eggplant
- Sautéed Swiss Chard
- Lemon Artichokes
- Creamy Parsnip Puree
- Dinner Rolls
- Shepherd’s Pie Tips
- More Side Dish Recipe Collections!
- 💬 Comments
Best Sides for Shepherd’s Pie
The next time you’re having the gang over and deciding what to eat with shepherd’s pie, you’ll have a variety of delicious sides to choose from. And all recipes include the time it takes to make so you can plan accordingly.
These are easy and delicious recipes balancing heavy sides with lighter vegan, gluten-free and keto-friendly options. All of which will keep your taste buds happy.
Irish Soda Bread
No kneading or proofing required in making this easy quick bread. It takes just ten minutes to pull together using pantry staples. The oven does the rest as it bakes in a large skillet.
It has a golden brown crust and moist, tender interior with a subtle sweetness to counterbalance the savory meat in shepherd’s pie.
Total time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Condensed Milk Bread
A fluffy, soft and moist bread dripping with a milky glaze on top. It takes an hour to proof but definitely worth the wait. Its pillowy texture is a perfect complement to the heavier shepherd’s pie and a delicious way to mop up the rich gravy!
Total time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Yorkshire Pudding
These cloud-like popovers have a crispy shell with a tender, eggy interior you just want to pull apart with your fingers. They can be made in a regular muffin tin and the batter has just four ingredients: whole milk, flour, eggs and salt.
What makes them special is the fat the batter cooks in. You can choose beef drippings, oil, bacon fat or butter. You can’t go wrong with any of them and they’re an excellent addition to your shepherd’s pie menu.
Total time: 35 minutes
Glazed Carrots
Although carrots are part of the veggie mixture in shepherd’s pie, these tender glazed carrots are by all means welcome to the party.
They’re simmered in a mixture of butter and brown sugar and finished with a sprinkling of fresh parsley. An inexpensive, simple dish perfect for any occasion.
Total time: 20 minutes
Sweet Potatoes and Butternut Squash
A delicious side dish of tender sweet potatoes and butternut squash coated in an apple cider, maple syrup glaze infused with warm spices.
These standout flavors are then topped with a fluffy meringue. A perfect sweet n’ savory contrast with shepherd’s pie.
Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Baked Beans
The delicious flavor of sweet n’ smoky baked beans fits right in with a rich and savory casserole dish. This recipe combines different beans with molasses, brown sugar and soda for sweetness that’s balanced with a warm spice blend for smoky, spicy flavor.
An easy and delicious set-and-forget slow cooker recipe!
Total time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Balsamic Roasted Green Beans and Brussels Sprouts
A delicious veggie medley featuring green beans, brussel sprouts, broccoli and asparagus. The vegetables are simply roasted with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and topped with toasted walnuts and parmesan cheese.
A super easy and healthy sheet pan recipe that has something for everyone and brings a lighter balance to shepherd’s pie.
Total time: 35 minutes
Irish Cabbage and Bacon
Tender cabbage that’s full of flavor from simmering in chicken broth with crisp bacon, onion and mustard seeds. Just five ingredients and five minutes of prep! A perfect side for your shepherd’s pie.
Total time: 35 minutes
Orange Avocado and Goat Cheese Salad
Nothing like a bright, crisp salad full of fresh greens, orange and avocado slices and crumbled goat cheese to balance the richness of shepherd’s pie. The salad is drizzled with an orange and honey vinaigrette for an extra sweet n’ tangy bite!
Total time: 20 minutes
Mushy Peas
Thick, creamy mushy peas are often a side dish for fish and chips, and they go perfectly well with shepherd’s pie too. Frozen peas are typically included in the pie’s meat mixture but this side dish gives them a bit of an encore. All you need are peas, butter, heavy cream, salt and pepper. Done!
Total time: 25 minutes
Corn Salad
Slightly charred sweet corn salad tossed with red onion, peppers, lime and grated cheese is loaded with sweet and smoky flavor. This tasty side is a great way to balance a meaty dish. And you can dial the spice up or down to your liking.
Total time: 30 minutes
Roasted Cauliflower
Oven roasted cauliflower with crisp, golden brown edges and a delicious nutty flavor will expand on the flavors of your shepherd’s pie recipe. An easy sheet pan side dish that takes just five minutes to prep!
The cauliflower is drizzled with olive oil and generously seasoned with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. When it’s done roasting, bright it up with a squeeze of lemon juice and parmesan cheese.
Total time: 30 minutes
Roasted Eggplant
Healthy roasted eggplant that’s perfectly caramelized on the outside and tender inside with the help of a hot 425 degree F oven. The cubed eggplant is tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper and herbs of your choice in a baking dish.
Seasonings are adjusted when it comes out of the oven. A great way to get your veggies while enjoying shepherd’s pie!
Total time: 25 minutes
Sautéed Swiss Chard
A deliciously light and nutrient-packed side dish to go with a filling shepherd’s pie. The leafy greens are simply sautéed with olive oil and garlic until they’re tender but still has a bit of crunch. A perfectly healthy side dish for any night of the week!
Total time: 20 minutes
Lemon Artichokes
These simple lemon artichokes bring a bright and refreshing element to a shepherd’s pie dinner. A quick and easy side dish for busy weeknights, made with frozen artichoke hearts, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder and fresh parsley. Plus they’re vegan, paleo, gluten free and Whole30 approved.
Total time: 10 minutes
Creamy Parsnip Puree
This parsnip puree is a versatile side that’s velvety smooth and creamy with a slightly nutty flavor. Parsnips and garlic cloves are covered with cold water in a large pot which is brought to a boil then lowered to a simmer until fork tender.
The parsnips and garlic are drained then blended with butter and cream until silky smooth. Parsnips are low in carbs and could be a topping for shepherd’s pie if you’re looking to replace high-carb mashed potatoes.
Total time: 30 minutes
Dinner Rolls
Let’s face it, light and fluffy dinner rolls are a perfect addition to any meal, shepherd’s pie included. There’s no denying their pillowy texture and buttery flavor that can be used to soak up every last bit of gravy.
Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Shepherd’s Pie Tips
I hope these side dish ideas struck a chord and got the culinary gears turning! Here I’ve included tips on making homemade shepherd’s pie to keep in mind no matter the recipe. But if you’re looking for a tried-and-true Irish Shepherd’s Pie, this one’s for you.
- Let filling cool and thicken up before spreading mashed potatoes on top so they don’t sink.
- Make sure your mash is fluffy. Firm mash is hard to spread.
- The filling can be made one day ahead of assembling, but not the mashed potatoes. They will be impossible to spread if refrigerated.
- Place casserole dish or ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any stew that may bubble over while baking. You don’t want to have to clean the oven after.
More Side Dish Recipe Collections!
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