Mushroom & Lentil Shepherd's Pie with Herb Crust
A hearty vegan twist on classic shepherd's pie with a rich mushroom-lentil filling and golden herb-topped mashed potatoes. This vegetarian recipe (vegan), ready in about 65 minutes, layers brown lentils, cremini mushrooms, carrots into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 390 calories and feeds 6, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup, cooked brown lentils
- 1 cup, chopped cremini mushrooms
- 1/2 cup, diced carrots
- 1/2 cup, diced onion
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 large (about 1.5 lbs), peeled russet potatoes
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large skillet, cook 1/2 cup diced carrots, 1/2 cup diced onion, and 2 minced garlic cloves in 1 tsp olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes until softened.
- Step 2: Add 1 cup chopped cremini mushrooms and cook for 7 minutes until mushrooms release liquid and brown slightly. Stir in 1 cup cooked brown lentils, 1/2 cup vegetable broth, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 1 tbsp nutritional yeast. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened, then remove from heat.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, boil 2 peeled large russet potatoes (about 1.5 lbs) in salted water for 20 minutes until fork-tender. Drain, then mash with 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary until smooth.
- Step 4: Spread mushroom-lentil filling evenly in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spoon mashed potatoes over filling, spreading into an even layer. Use a fork to create texture on the surface.
- Step 5: Bake for 25 minutes until the top is golden and edges are bubbling. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.









