How To Reheat Shepherd’s Pie – I Test 4 Methods [Pics]

This article was updated on 11th September 2023 for freshness and to incorporate new insights.

I’ve personally tried and tested out four different reheating methods for shepherd’s pie to find the best one.

The best way to reheat shepherd’s pie is in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F and cover the shepherd’s pie with foil. One portion will heat up in 10-15 minutes. An entire pie will need 30-40 minutes. Remove the foil at the end to crisp the top. If you’re in a hurry, you can use the microwave.

Note: These methods also work for cottage pie.

How I tested reheating shepherd’s pie

I prepared a giant shepherd’s pie last night, which of course I couldn’t finish. After storing it in the fridge overnight, I decided to experiment with four different reheating methods.

I was looking for a method that would keep the potatoes soft and fluffy, and the meat saucy. The methods I tried included:

• In the oven: Best method overall.
• In the microwave: Fast but watery.
• In a skillet: Produced a different kind of dish.
• In the air fryer: Similar to the oven.

Reheating shepherd’s pie in the oven/toaster oven

Time: 15 minutes (one portion)
Rating: 9/10

1. Take the shepherd’s pie out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature.
2. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
3. Cover your shepherd’s pie (in an oven-safe dish) with foil.
4. Heat single portions for 15 minutes or a whole pie for 30-40 minutes. Shepherd’s pie straight from the fridge will take a bit longer, and frozen pies will need between 60-90 minutes. 
5. Remove the foil two-thirds of the way through the heating process. 
6. Optional: Add some extra cheese on top to refresh the dish.

For a toaster oven: If you’re using a toaster oven, you can follow the above instructions, just reduce the timings slightly.

Top tip: If you’re in a rush and only have a small portion, pop the shepherd’s pie in the microwave for 15-30 seconds before putting it in the oven. This will reduce the heating time needed. 

Covering your shepherd’s pie with foil while you heat it stops it from losing too much moisture, but you need to remove it to crisp the top.

Results: The shepherd’s pie tasted fresh and you couldn’t really tell it was a day old. This method also works for any portion size, but for just one slice it’s pretty slow and inefficient.

Reheating shepherd’s pie in the microwave

Time: 2 minutes
Rating: 5/10

1. Place a portion of leftover shepherd’s pie on a microwave-safe plate.
2. Optional: If your pie has gone a bit dry, cover it with a piece of damp paper towel to help restore some lost moisture.
3. Warm it in 30-second intervals until piping hot (around 2 minutes).
4. Allow the shepherd’s pie to rest for 30 seconds before serving.
5. Optional: Crisp the topping under your broiler for a minute or two.

Be careful not to burn your mouth biting into a steaming shepherd’s pie, it can get very hot in the microwave! And be prepared that any cheese on top will get soggy in the microwave, which is where the broiler comes in. The broiler will help bring the crunch back to the topping (if you have the time).

Results: The microwave was super quick and convenient and the flavor was good. But the filling ended up a little watery as moisture from the mince and vegetables pooled around the plate. Overall, it’s okay if you’re in a rush.

Reheating shepherd’s pie in a skillet

Time: 3-5 minutes
Rating: 7/10

1. Lightly coat a skillet with oil or butter and set it on medium heat on your stove.
2. Add a portion of shepherd’s pie to the pan and stir the mince and mash together.
3. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water or stock to the pan to replace lost moisture.
4. Keep stirring until your shepherd’s pie has heated up to your satisfaction, around 3-5 minutes.
5. Once warm, serve immediately.

Make sure not to add too much stock or water, or you’ll end up with mashed potato soup (yuk!). And stock is way better than water for adding flavor, but make sure to use low-sodium salt. If water is all you have, consider adding a few drops of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce.

If you want some crispier bits of mince in your dish, turn the heat up to high and don’t add any extra liquid. You can also add extra cheese or seasoning for a flavor boost. Sometimes I’ll even fry bacon in the pan before adding the leftover shepherds pie.

Results: The end result of this method was really tasty because I was able to play around with extra flavors (i.e. the bacon). But the texture of the dish was completely different. My partner compared it to baby food! 

Reheating shepherd’s pie in the air fryer

Time: 5-7 minutes
Rating: 8/10

1. Set your air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
2. Line your fryer basket with parchment paper (fold up the sides too for easy lifting).
3. Place the shepherd’s pie in the basket straight from the fridge.
4. Heat it for 5-7 minutes, or until hot all the way through.
5. Optional: Add extra cheese for the last two minutes of cooking.

Lining your basket with parchment paper reduces mess, especially if you’re dealing with a saucy pie. You can fold the paper up the sides of the basket to make it easy to lift the pie out once it’s warm.

If you don’t have any parchment paper, you can use foil as an alternative. Taking the pie straight from the fridge helps it keep its shape too.

Pro tip: check the heating progress at the halfway mark to ensure the topping isn’t burning.

Results: The air fryer was quick and convenient and yielded similar results to the oven, but with an even crispier cheesy topping. But getting the pie in and out of the basket can be awkward.

Creative ways to reheat leftover shepherds pie

Don’t fancy eating the same meal as last night but don’t want your leftovers to go to waste? Here are some tasty ways to jazz up your leftover shepherds pie:

• Shepherd’s pie empanadas: Roll out some pastry dough and fill it with your leftover shepherd’s pie mixture. Brush the tops with an egg wash and bake until golden brown.
• Shepherd’s pie quesadillas: Spread your leftover shepherd’s pie mixture on a tortilla, add some cheese, and top with another tortilla. Cook in a pan until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crispy (p.s shepherds pie sandwiches are a thing too)
• Shepherd’s pie soup: Heat up your leftover shepherd’s pie mixture in a pot with some chicken or beef broth. Add some chopped vegetables and simmer until everything is tender.
• Shepherd’s pie stuffed mushrooms: Remove the stems from portobello mushrooms and fill them with your leftover shepherd’s pie mixture. Top with some grated cheese and bake until the mushrooms are tender.

How to store shepherd’s pie

You can store leftover shepherd’s pie in the fridge for up to 4 days. Cool your leftovers to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container. Alternatively, you can keep the shepherd’s pie in the dish it was baked in. Wrap the tray tightly with foil or plastic wrap before refrigerating.

Can you freeze shepherd’s pie?

Shepherd’s pie freezes well, making it a great choice of meal to prep ahead of time. Bake it in advance and keep it for up to 6 months in the freezer. Just wrap the baking dish tightly in foil before freezing. You can also store leftover portions in airtight containers or Ziploc bags.

How to freeze shepherd’s pie

1. Cool your shepherd’s pie to room temperature and then leave it in the fridge for a few hours to firm up. This makes it easier to portion and transfer into different containers.
2. Transfer the shepherd’s pie into an airtight container or wrap it in foil/plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag.
3. Reheat within 6 months to retain the best quality.

*Note: You can wrap whole, pre-prepped pies in foil in their original baking dishes. 

Preparing a whole pie in a foil container rather than a casserole dish is a convenient hack for freezing. No one wants all their best baking dishes stuck in the freezer!

How to reheat frozen shepherd’s pie

To reheat frozen shepherd’s pie, thaw it in the fridge overnight and then reheat it in the oven. Alternatively, you can reheat it straight from frozen in the oven. Set the oven to 350°F (180°C) and cover the shepherd’s pie in foil. Heat a thawed one for 20-40 minutes and a frozen pie for 40-60 minutes. 

Timings will vary greatly depending on the size and depth of your shepherds pie, so make sure to check on it often. When it’s done, the sauce should be bubbling.

Remove the foil towards the end to crisp the top.

You can also use the microwave to thaw and reheat shepherd’s pie. The downside of this is that the filling can become very watery.

Read Next: How to Reheat Chicken Pot Pie

How To Reheat Shepherd’s Pie [Tested Methods]

I’ve tried out four different reheating methods to test which ne works best for reheating shepherd’s pie.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: British

Keyword: how to reheat shepherd’s pie, shepherd’s pie

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 112kcal

Equipment

• Foil

Ingredients

• 1 portion shepherd's pie

Instructions

• Take the shepherd's pie out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature.
• Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Cover your shepherd’s pie (in an oven-safe dish) with foil.
• Heat single portions for 10 minutes or a whole pie for 30 to 40 minutes. Shepherd's pie straight from the fridge will take a bit longer, and frozen pies will need between 60-90 minutes. 
• Remove the foil two-thirds of the way through the heating process. 
• Optional: Add some extra cheese on top to refresh the dish.
• Once hot all the way through, serve immediately.

Notes

Top tip: if you’re in a rush, pop the shepherd’s pie in the microwave for 15-30 seconds before putting it in the oven. 

A quick trick to test if your shepherd’s pie is hot in the middle is to stick a knife into it.

Feel the metal as you pull the knife out; if it’s hot, the dish is ready.

Covering your shepherd’s pie with foil while you heat it stops it from losing too much moisture, but you need to remove it to crisp the top.

For a toaster oven: If you’re using a toaster oven, you can follow the above instructions, just reduce the timings slightly.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 112kcal