Serve this for special occasions, a wintery dinner, or pack it for lunch. It’s great for meal prep, and suitable for freezing. Love shepherd’s or cottage pie but looking for a vegan version? This recipe is truly the best ever mushroom and lentil shepherd’s pie. This is vegan comfort food at its best! A savory stew of mushrooms, lentils, tomatoes, and peas is baked underneath a creamy layer of homemade mashed potatoes. Just look at the crispy bits on top! This vegan pie with mashed potato topping is extremely easy to make, and I love making a large batch to divide into smaller portions and pop in the freezer for later. Were you looking for a ground beef version of this recipe? Try my classic Cottage Pie recipe!
Difference Between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie
Technically, a shepherd’s pie is made with lamb and a cottage pie is made with beef or ground beef. When it comes to this vegan lentil pie recipe, it’s made with neither of those things, so it doesn’t really matter what you call it. It can be a vegan cottage pie or a vegan shepherd’s pie! All you really need to know is that this is a delicious, savory, meat-free meal.
The Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this, and some details on the most important ones:
Mushrooms: You can either use white or cremini/chestnut mushrooms for this pie. Lentils: Brown or green lentils are the best type for this recipe. We’ll cook them ahead of time so that they’re ready to go. In a pinch, you can also use canned lentils here. Potatoes: You can use leftover mashed potatoes in this recipe, and they work perfectly fine! Otherwise, we will boil 2 pounds of potatoes and mash them with salt, vegan butter, and almond milk to keep them dairy-free. I suggest Yukon gold potatoes or Russet potatoes. Vegetable Stock: For the very best flavor, use homemade vegetable stock, or a high-quality boxed version.
How to make Vegan shepherd’s pie
Make Ahead Option
I love making this vegan shepherd’s pie one day in advance if I’m hosting a dinner. I do everything as explained above, wrap and store in the fridge. Then I pop the pie in the oven just before serving (no need to pre-bake it). It comes out so fresh and nice every time.
Recipe Tips
Baking Pan: This recipe will work well in a 12-inch round baking dish or a 9×13-inch baking dish. I’m using a large oven-proof skillet so that I don’t need to do so many extra dishes. Timing: The potatoes and lentils can be simmering on the stove while you prepare the sauce. This will help you save time while making dinner! You can use sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes in this recipe. You’ll end up with a sweet potato shepherd’s pie. You might also like to add things like cauliflower, butternut squash, or parsnips to your mash. Use any beans and vegetables that you like! I add lentils because I like them, but any other type of beans works perfectly here too. You could also add other veggies such as cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, sweet corn, etc.
Storing Tips
To Store: You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. They easily reheat in the microwave on in the oven. To Freeze: Once the lentil shepherd’s pie is assembled it can be frozen whole! Wrap it well with layers of plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. I suggest thawing overnight in the refrigerator, then baking as directed.
What to Serve with Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
The good news is that this hearty vegan dish is already a full meal, packed with protein, vegetables, and potatoes. You don’t need to offer any side dishes, but you can go above and beyond and make up a batch of homemade dinner rolls and a simple side salad.
How to make this pie oil-free?
Saute the veggies with just water, and omit the vegan butter when mashing the potatoes.
Can I make this recipe gluten free?
The only gluten in this recipe comes from the soy sauce. Replace it with a gluten-free option such as tamari or liquid aminos.
Should I mash potatoes with a mixer?
I actually don’t recommend using a hand mixer to make mashed potatoes. This method mashes the potatoes too much and causes them to become sticky and starchy. Instead, use an old-fashioned hand-held potato masher.
More easy vegan dinners to try
The best ever vegan chili Butternut squash chili Black Bean Soup Vegan pumpkin curry Greek green beans with tomato and potatoes Sweet potato curry Aubergine and chickpea curry
This vegan shepherd’s pie is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter dinner. Don’t forget to Pin this recipe to save it for later! © Little Sunny Kitchen
