How to Make Simple Ground Venison Shepherd’s Pie

Simple Ground Venison Shepherd’s Pie

Let’s make a simple ground venison shepherd’s pie. It’s hearty, easy, and the perfect comfort food for busy nights. This recipe is full of flavor, creamy mashed potatoes, and that cozy, stick-to-your-ribs feeling — without all the grease. This recipe also heats up well and is great for meal prep. I LOVE this cozy recipe.

Field to Table: Why We Love Cooking with Venison

In our house, venison is more than just meat — it’s a way of life. My husband is a hunter, and every deer season, he brings home clean, lean wild game meat straight from the field. There’s something so satisfying about knowing where our food comes from. From field to table, venison offers pure protein with little fat and no additives.

One of the best parts? There’s no need to drain it. Deer meat cooks beautifully on its own because there’s no added fat, which makes it the best way to keep meals clean and healthy. Over the years, I’ve loved converting our family’s favorite dishes into venison recipes — and this one might be my favorite yet. I’ll just be honest, it is NOT my hubby’s favorite, but I sure do love it. 

Ingredients for This Venison Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

You’ll need:

• 2 tablespoon olive oil or butter
  
• 1 ½ cups diced yellow onion
  
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  
• 2 pounds ground venison
  
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
  
• 1 tablespoon black ground pepper
  
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
  
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
  
• 2 cups beef stock (beef broth or even chicken broth will work)
  
• Optional: a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce for extra depth
  
• 1 small bag frozen peas
  
• 1 small bag frozen corn (or a 1-pound pea and carrot blend)
  
• 4 cups prepared mashed potatoes
  
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  

(If you don’t have venison, you can easily make this with ground beef — it still turns out delicious!)

First Step: Prepare the Meat Mixture

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Place a large pot (or a super large skillet) over medium heat. Add olive oil or butter. Let it heat up for a minute or two.  Add diced onion and minced garlic. Stir and cook until the onion softens.

Add the ground venison, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir well and cook until the venison browns. Remember — there’s little fat in deer meat, so there’s no need to drain it.

Sprinkle in the corn starch. Mix this into the ground meat mixture until it’s evenly combined. Slowly pour in the beef stock and stir to blend. Add a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce if you want that deeper, traditional shepherd’s pie flavor. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Stir until it thickens slightly.

If it still looks thin, add a touch more corn starch. This thick, savory meat mixture is what makes this dish so comforting.

Add the Veggies

After about ten minutes, stir in your frozen peas and corn (or your pea-carrot mix vegetables blend). Let them heat through while you work on the mashed potatoes.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes for the Perfect Cottage Pie

You can make your mashed potatoes from scratch, or heat up some ready-made Bob Evans mashed potatoes — both work great. Stir in one cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese in the the finished mashed potatoes for a rich, creamy finish. That layer of cheesy mashed potatoes makes this feel like a traditional shepherd’s pie with a homemade twist.

Assemble and Bake the Ground Venison Pie

Spread the venison meat mixture evenly in a 9×13 baking pan or casserole dish. Smooth it out, then spoon the mashed potatoes over the top. Spread them evenly to cover the filling.

Bake for 10 minutes, then switch the oven to low broil and cook for another 5–7 minutes until the top turns golden and slightly crisp. You can even sprinkle on a bit of cheddar cheese if you want. 

Serve and Enjoy Your Venison Cottage Pie

That’s it — a simple, wholesome meal straight from your kitchen. This venison shepherd’s pie is the best way to turn wild game meat into a great recipe your whole family will love. It’s one of those delicious recipes you’ll come back to again and again — especially when you have leftover meat to use up.

Whether you call it a shepherd’s pie or a cottage pie, this dish is hearty, flavorful, and full of comfort. From the creamy mashed potatoes to the rich venison filling, it’s everything a cozy dinner should be.