Shepherd’s pie is a classic mashed potato and meat dish originally from the UK. Traditional shepherd’s pie was made with lamb, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows what a shepherd is (a herder or “sheepman”). When the recipe crossed the pond, it became more Americanized and lamb was swapped out for beef. As it circulated further inland and south, even more iterations were made to the recipe, especially when it arrived in southern kitchens. As more ingredients were retired (like Worcestershire sauce), a slew of new ingredients was added to the dish, including black beans, Jack cheese, and corn muffin mix. These additions gave the recipe new life.

Today, cowboy shepherd’s pie bears so little resemblance to nouveau or old-fashioned shepherd’s pie, that “shepherd” was completely dropped from the name of the recipe. Cowboy pie has taken on a life all its own.

For our cowboy pie recipe, we personalize the dish even more. We suggest using black beans, tomatoes and Hillshire Farm smoked sausage, made with pork, turkey, and beef. These ingredients are distinctly southwestern flavors. Plus, garlic, chili powder, and jalapeno add a dash of heat to each bite. Since this cowboy pie recipe evolved so much, there’s no reason why you couldn’t make your own tweaks. You can try using Hillshire Farm chicken smoked sausage with roasted garlic or even lite smoked sausage. It’s the classic Hillshire Farm sausage recipe, but with lower-fat and fewer calories.