Which British dish is made from minced lamb or mutton topped with mashed potato?

The British dish made from minced lamb or mutton and topped with mashed potato is shepherd’s pie.

The filling is usually cooked with onions, carrots, peas, and gravy before being covered with mashed potato and baked. The potato topping forms a browned crust, making the dish a practical way to use leftover cooked meat.

The name reflects the use of sheep meat: “shepherd” points to lamb or mutton. Cottage pie is the closely related version traditionally made with minced beef. This distinction is useful because the two names are frequently used interchangeably in casual speech.

The modern terms became established in Britain during the nineteenth century, after potatoes had become a major staple. Recipes vary by region and household, but the lamb-versus-beef distinction remains the standard culinary difference. The dish is also widely associated with economical home cooking.