Shepard’s Pie With Wild Game

Posted April 8, 2026 by Prairie Wife -

It can be hard to find online recipes that use wild game. So, I thought I would share my Shepard’s Pie recipe, which I always make with wild game. The gravy prevents the meat from tasting dry (a problem many people have with wild game because it’s so lean), and the flavors in the recipe mean most people won’t even notice it’s not beef!

This recipe CAN take a bit longer than others I’ve shared because it includes mashed potatoes. Definitely feel free to use a boxed or frozen recipe to save yourself time. I tend to make this after a big holiday meal when I have leftover mashed potatoes. You’ll also be keeping track of a lot during the prep time. I make the gravy, brown the meat, and tackle making mashed potatoes all at the same time! But once that’s all done, you throw it all in the oven, sit back, and relax.

Shepard’s Pie With Wild Game
Prep Time: 40 min (with making mashed potatoes) Bake Time: 35-45 min
Serves: 8-10

Ingredients
4 cups of Brown Gravy
2 lb of ground meat (we use elk or deer)
1lb of frozen Mixed Vegetables (thawed)
1/2 cup chopped Onion
1 tbsp Minced Garlic
4 cups of mashed potatoes
1 cup Shredded Cheese (we prefer Colby Jack)
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Set oven to 350
2. Chop up onions.
3. Begin boiling water for mashed potatoes. Here is a recipe I like for making them from scratch.
4. Begin cooking ground meat on medium heat. Add in onions, garlic, salt, and pepper.
5. Make gravy (if using canned gravy, skip this step), then remove from the heat when done.
6. Continue to make mashed potatoes.
7. Spray a 9×13 glass casserole dish with non-stick spray.
8. When the meat is fully cooked, combine it with gravy and mixed vegetables in a casserole dish.
9. When mashed potatoes are done, spread them evenly over the top of the meat/gravy/vegetable mix.
10. Evenly sprinkle the cheese over the mashed potatoes.
11. Place your Shepherd’s Pie in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and the cheese is melted. I put a cookie sheet on the rack underneath to catch any juices that may bubble over.
12. If you like your top browned and a bit crispy, feel free to broil it for a few moments to achieve this look.

NOTES:

You can use whatever vegetables you want in this, so get creative!

For our active family, I use 2 pounds of meat to fill the Cowkids up, but you can use more or less depending on your family’s lifestyle and needs.

Feel free to use beef instead of wild game if that’s your preference.

Categories: Health and Wellness, Recipes, This and That

Tags: , deer meat, Elk meat, hearty meals, meals for a large family, recipes for hunters, shepard's pie, wild game