We started with a classic Shepherd’s Pie and gave it a smoky twist by cooking it on a Traeger and folding in chopped, thin-sliced steak. This hearty, flavorful dish is ideal for making ahead, reheating before serving, or freezing for another day. It blends a rich meat-and-vegetable filling with a fluffy mashed potato topping and a subtle wood-fired aroma from the pellet grill.
Traeger Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Life is busy—work, family, errands—so cooking should feel rewarding, not like another item on the to-do list. This Traeger Shepherd’s Pie brings comfort food to the pellet grill, marrying the familiar, cozy flavors of a traditional shepherd’s pie with the smoky, wood-fired notes a Traeger adds. The result is a crowd-pleasing, family-friendly meal that’s easy to prepare and perfect for cool evenings or weekend gatherings.
Recipe Shopping List
You probably have many of these ingredients on hand. For exact quantities, see the ingredient list below.
- Chopped beef steak
- Ground beef
- Shallots
- Carrots
- Green peas
- Green beans
- Fresh parsley
- Red wine
- Au jus powder (or beef broth substitute)
- Flour
- Prepared mashed potatoes
- Butter
How To Make This Recipe (Overview)
Below is a clear overview of the steps so you can see what’s involved. Full ingredient amounts and a printable-style instruction set follow further down.
- Preheat – Heat your Traeger or pellet grill to 350°F while you assemble the pie.
- Make the filling – Chop the thin-sliced steak and brown it with ground beef and diced shallots. Drain excess fat, then add vegetables and most of the parsley.
- Prepare the gravy – Whisk red wine, water, au jus powder (or beef broth substitute) and flour until smooth, then pour into the beef mixture and simmer until thickened.
- Assemble and grill – Spoon the beef mixture into a grill-safe baking dish, top with mashed potatoes, pour melted butter over the top, and place in the grill. Cook 45–60 minutes until hot and bubbly.
- Finish – Remove, sprinkle with remaining parsley, and serve hot. Optionally brown the potato topping briefly under a broiler for extra color.
Serve with simple sides like grilled dinner rolls, a crisp salad, or a light dessert. This dish holds well for serving at parties and can be reheated or assembled ahead.
Recipe Card
Traeger Shepherd’s Pie — Yield: 8 servings
This hearty Shepherd’s Pie is finished on a pellet grill for a subtle smoky flavor that complements the savory beef filling and creamy mashed potatoes.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients
Beef Mixture
- 8 ounces chopped beef steak
- 8 ounces ground beef
- 2 large shallots, diced
- ½ cup chopped carrots
- ½ cup green peas
- ½ cup cut green beans
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
Gravy
- ½ cup red wine
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons au jus powder (or substitute beef broth)
- ¼ cup flour
Potatoes
- 2 pounds prepared mashed potatoes
- 4 ounces butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat your Traeger or other pellet grill to 350°F.
- Chop the thin-sliced steak into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, chopped steak, and shallots. Drain excess fat.
- Add carrots, peas, green beans, and most of the parsley to the pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- Reserve the remaining parsley for garnish.
- In a small bowl, whisk together red wine, water, au jus powder (or broth), and flour until smooth.
- Stir the gravy into the beef mixture and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer 5–10 minutes until thickened.
- Spray a grill-safe baking dish with cooking spray and transfer the beef mixture into it.
- Top the beef with the prepared mashed potatoes, spreading evenly.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the mashed potatoes.
- Place the baking dish in the grill and cook for 45–60 minutes, until bubbling and heated through.
- Remove from the grill, sprinkle with reserved parsley, and serve hot.
Recipe FAQ
Can this recipe be made ahead of time? Yes. You can assemble the pie a day in advance and bake or grill it just before serving. It can also be fully baked, kept warm, and served later.
Are substitutions recommended? Absolutely. Omit or swap vegetables based on what you have—leave out peas if you prefer, or add extra veggies. If you don’t have au jus powder, use beef broth or a concentrated broth paste.
Do I have to use a grill? No. If you don’t have a pellet grill, you can bake this dish in a conventional oven at the same temperature.
Serve This With…
- Homemade Greek Salad
- Grilled Dinner Rolls
- Raspberry Fluff Pie
- Red Wine Sangria
Cold Weather Recipes To Try
- Traeger Pot Roast
- Traeger Mississippi Pot Roast
- Smoked Prime Rib
- Fall Butter Board
- Traeger Braised Beef Short Ribs
- Apple Crumble Pie
- Salted Caramel Spiked Apple Cider
- Traeger Smoked Meatloaf
- Smoked Potato Stacks with Parmesan Cream Sauce
Nutrition (Estimate per serving)
Calories: 439 • Total Fat: 27g • Saturated Fat: 12g • Trans Fat: 1g • Unsaturated Fat: 11g • Cholesterol: 85mg • Sodium: 548mg • Carbohydrates: 28g • Fiber: 3g • Sugar: 4g • Protein: 19g
Nutrition data provided here is an estimate.