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9 Best Side Dishes To Pair With Your Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie is a classic and the perfect centerpiece for your British dinner, but it can’t be the only dish on the table!

If you are not sure what can go with a Shepherd’s Pie, we have a whole list of ideas that you can quickly cook up and enhance your dinner setup. 

The main trick here is to keep the side dishes light, as Shepherd’s Pie is something on the heavier side.

If you can add a suitable side dish, it also enhances the experience of the Pie. So, we have curated various recipes with your Shepherd’s Pie.

Let’s get started!

Quick Table: Best Side Dishes To Pair With Your Shepherd’s Pie

RecipesCalories Per ServingPreparation Time
Brown Sugar And Butter Glazed Carrots76 20 Minutes
Classic British Mushy Peas72 15 Minutes
Mexican/Italian Roasted Cauliflower58 30 Minutes
Olive Oil Corn Salad120 15 Minutes
Milk-Based Bread Rolls300 4 Hours
Soda-Based Irish Bread290 1 Hour
Parsnip Puree85 30 Minutes
Roasted Asparagus54 15 Minutes
Beet Salad With Cranberries And Cheese110 40 Minutes

1. Brown Sugar And Butter Glazed Carrots

This is the perfect sweet addition to the savory taste of the Shepherd’s Pie. While some prefer it with normal granulated sugar, the best taste of this dish is achieved with brown sugar

The dish’s crispiness pairs well with Shepherd’s Pie’s savory flavors.

Why This Dish:

  • It takes no more than 20 minutes to prepare.
  • A perfect crunchy side dish to go with Pie.
  • Benefits of vitamins and antioxidants from carrots.

Calories Per Serving : 76  

Preparation Time: 20 Mins

2. Classic British Mushy Peas

If you want your English dinner setup to be accurate, then a side of Mushy peas is the best option. Most British dinner options have mushy peas as a side, such as fish n’ chips. 

This traditional recipe is not only simple, but it also adds the perfect taste changer to the Shepherd’s Pie.

Why This Dish:

  • 15 minutes of prep time.
  • Make it buttery and counter the savory taste of the main dish.
  • Makes for a colorful palette, truly picture-worthy.

Calories Per Serving : 72

Preparation Time: 15 Mins

3. Mexican/Italian Roasted Cauliflower

The advantage of having cauliflower as a side is that you get to prepare it in two completely different ways. It takes on an Italian flavor if you roast it with parmesan, parsley, and lemon. 

Also, if you go with cumin, chili, and cilantro, you have the perfect Mexican addition to your table.

Why This Dish:

  • 30 minutes of prep time, mostly roasting time.
  • A versatile recipe can prepare exactly how you want.
  • Very tender; add any garnish to suit your taste.

Calories Per Serving: 58

Preparation Time: 30 Mins

4. Olive Oil Corn Salad

Adding a diverse taste to your Shepherd’s Pie dinner is a good idea, especially if you are not used to British food

Corn salad is many people’s go-to option to pair with a Shepherd’s Pie. It’s also a heavy side, so if you have a lot of guests, this is the perfect side.

Why This Dish:

  • Takes about 15 minutes to prepare, with no/minimal cooking.
  • It’s refreshing and takes away the heaviness of the Pie.
  • It can also be topped with feta cheese.

Calories Per Serving : 120

Preparation Time: 15 Mins

5. Milk-Based Bread Rolls

A Japanese delicacy, if you want a global palette, then this is an easy-to-prepare recipe for your Shepherd’s pie dinner. 

While it may take some time to prepare, it will serve a great dinner and take you from a basic chef to a pro-chef in no time! 

It’s also very fluffy, and the texture fits perfectly for pairing with Shepherd’s Pie.

Why This Dish:

  • Takes about 4 hours, mostly baking.
  • You can use normal milk or condensed milk.
  • Perfect for serving your sweet tooth.

Calories Per Serving : 300

Preparation Time: 4 Hours

6. Soda-Based Irish Bread

Slices of bread have become quite a popular addition to the Shepherd’s Pie, and here is another quick and awesome recipe that does not have any yeast. 

As far as baking goes, this is an absolutely easy recipe and will come together wonderfully for a large dinner. It can also be saved to be eaten later with any dip.

Why This Dish:

  • Less than 1 hour of cooking time.
  • The fastest way to cook bread.
  • Filling side dish, great for large gatherings.

Calories Per Serving : 290

Preparation Time: 1 Hour

7. Parsnip Puree

This is another quick recipe that tastes creamy and nutty. While some say this is a bit of an acquired taste, it actually pairs beautifully with a Shepherd’s Pie. 

It’s somewhat like mashed potatoes, making it a great pairing.

Why This Dish:

  • About 30 minutes of prep time.
  • The goodness of minerals and vitamins.
  • Made with very simple ingredients.

Calories Per Serving: 80 

Preparation Time: 30 mins

8. Roasted Asparagus

This crispy dish side goes smoothly with a Sheperd’s Pie because of both its texture and its minty flavor. You can also add more flavors to it, such as parmesan and chili flakes

It’s also super simple to make and perfect to quickly throw together with some leftover pie. You can also add your favorite spices with it to make it more palette-friendly.

Why This Dish:

  • Only 15 minutes of prep time.
  • It’s highly nutritious.
  • You can customize the flavor.

Calories Per Serving: 54

Preparation Time: 15 mins

9. Beet Salad With Cranberries And Cheese

Ending this list with a more experimental dish, which seems to be a millennial favorite. A perfect combination of the old and the new comes together in this salad. 

The feta cheese and cranberries elevate to more than ‘just a salad.’ The taste is also a burst of flavors.

Why This Dish:

  • Takes about 40 minutes to prepare.
  • Add almost any ingredient to it.
  • A very colorful dish packed with flavors.

Calories Per Serving : 110

Preparation Time: 40 mins

Frequently Asked Questions

What Vegetables Pair Well With A Shepherd’s Pie?

You can pair a whole range of vegetables with your Shepherd’s Pie. From carrots to parsnips, beet to corn, vegetable side dishes is a great addition to the Shepherd’s Pie dinner. 

The key is to find a way to make the taste of the vegetables appealing and complement the Pie.

What Is A Good Side Dish For Mashed Potatoes?

Generally, a salad or crunchy vegetables are served well with mashed potatoes. Since the flavor of mashed potatoes is cheesy and savory, when paired with something crunchy, it makes the flavors truly stand out. 

You can opt for the glazed carrot or corn salad recipes from the above list.

Is Rice A Side Dish For Shepherd’s Pie?

 Rice is usually not considered to be a good pairing with Shepherd’s Pie. Since rice has a bland flavor, it does not complement the savory taste of the Pie. 

Since rice is also dry, it goes well with something that is spicy and contains gravy.

How Do You Pair Side Dishes With The Main Dish?

When choosing side dishes for the main dish, the primary thing to keep in mind is the complement of flavors. 

At the same time, you should also keep in mind the portions of the side dish, the time it will take to make, and the overall presentation factor.

9 Best Side Dishes To Pair With Your Shepherd’s Pie

Read On To Discover 9 Delicious, Best Side Dishes To Serve With Your Shepherd’s Pie And How You Can Make Them.

Directions

  • Pick a recipe from the list above
  • Click the recipe name and visit the website
  • Collect the ingredients and cook the food
  • Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review

Recipe Video

Jess Smith
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