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Easy Cast Iron Shepherd’s Pie Skillet

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This Cast Iron Shepherd’s Pie Skillet is a quick take on classic shepherd’s pie. To start, a ground beef base is seasoned and vegetables are added but it is the store bought {or leftover} mashed potatoes that make it so simple. It is the perfect recipe for dinner tonight!

The finished shepherd's pie skillet in a cast iron skillet with a spoon.
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What is a Shepherd’s Pie?

Traditionally a shepherd’s pie is a casserole made with a meat mixture that is topped with mashed potatoes and baked in the oven.

The dish comes from England where it is traditionally made with lamb. However, in the United States we use ground beef because it is more readily available at grocery stores.

When you get a bite of it you taste a rich meat mixture with vegetables and golden mashed potatoes. It is comfort food at its finest.

What’s the difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie?

The difference between a shepherd’s pie and a cottage pie is the kind of meat you use in the filling.

A shepherd’s pie is traditionally made with ground lamb while a cottage pie is made with ground beef.

Of course, this may seem confusing because I am calling this recipe a shepherd’s pie and it is made with ground beef. The reason being that in the states, ground lamb can be harder to find than in other countries. It is also the name that I associate with this recipe.

What goes into this Recipe

A photo of all of the ingredients needed to make Shepherd's Pie Skillet.
  • Lean Ground Beef– A mixture of 93/7 ground beef or leaner works great.
  • Tomato Paste- This ingredient adds a wonderful and rich underlying tomato flavor to the filling.
  • Steak Seasoning- This generally has a mixture of kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. It is a great way to get awesome flavor with one ingredient.
  • Brown Gravy Mix– This can be found in the grocery store by the taco seasoning. It gives the dish great flavor without adding a lot of extra ingredients.
  • Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes– They can be found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Leftover mashed potatoes work great too!

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions/Variations

One of my favorite parts about this recipe is that you can customize it. Put your own spin on it and create something that you can’t get enough of.

  • Use ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef.
  • Instead of store bought mashed potatoes, add instant potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes or cauliflower mash.
  • Change up the frozen vegetables to whatever it is that you prefer. You could also add your favorite fresh vegetables that have been steamed. OR make it a vegetarian dish by substituting the hamburger for hearty vegetables like mushrooms.
  • If you don’t have a packet of brown gravy use a turkey gravy packet with beef stock instead of water.
  • Add an upscale touch by piping the mashed potatoes to the top. This creates a wonderful texture and beautiful finished look.

How to make a Cast Iron Shepherd’s Pie Skillet

1. Add 1/2 cup of shredded cheese to the mashed potatoes and mix to combine. Set aside.

2. Brown the ground beef in a cast iron skillet with onion until the meat is cooked through and the onions are translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Photos of both steps 1 & 2 of making shepherds pie skillet.  #1, mixing cheese into mashed potatoes and #2 browning the ground beef with onion.

3. Next add the frozen vegetables, tomato paste, worcestershire sauce and steak seasoning. Stir to combine and cook for about a minute.

4. Then add the brown gravy mix and water to the ground beef mixture. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the gravy has thickened.

Photos of steps 3 & 4 of making shepherd's pie skillet.  #1, adding the seasoning and vegetables.  #2, adding the water and brown gravy packet.

5. Finally, add the mashed potatoes to the top of the ground beef and vegetable mixture. Top with remaining 1/4 cup of shredded cheese.

6. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Top with chopped parsley or chives for a finished look.

Photos of steps 5 & 6 of making a shepherds pie skillet.  #5, adding the mashed potatoes and cheese. #6, baking the sheperd's pie skillet.

Expert Tips

  • Use lean ground beef. Doing so will keep you from having to drain a lot of fat from the mixture before adding the garlic. It works great in this Doritos Ground Beef Casserole too.
  • If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, use an oven proof skillet. A skillet that can withstand the oven can easily be used in place of cast iron. In fact, I use an oven proof skillet for this Enchilada Skillet and it works great.
  • Brown the ground beef in the same pan you bake it in. This will give the pie amazing flavor and keep it one dish.
  • Get mashed potatoes from the refrigerator section of the grocery store. This simple ingredient makes this recipe so simple to make.
  • Top with chopped parsley or chives. Adding chopped fresh herbs to the top of the finished skillet dinner will add color and great flavor.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this skillet dinner ahead of time?

Absolutely! This skillet meal can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 2 days.

To bake after refrigeration, add an extra 10 minutes to the bake time. This will give the cold ingredients time to heat through.

What size skillet should I use?

I suggest using a 10″ skillet but a 12″ skillet could also be used. NOTE: If you use a 12″ skillet the pie will be thinner.

Does the cast iron need to be preheated?

There are a lot of recipes that want you to preheat cast iron ahead of time. With this recipe you do not have to because it has already been heated by the stove top.

Do you spray cast iron before baking?

If you have a cast iron pan that is nicely seasoned you will not have to spray the pan with nonstick spray.

However, if your cast iron is not well seasoned you may need to grease it slightly. This post on how to season your cast iron skillet might help.

Why do people put ketchup on shepherd’s pie?

Ketchup can add a great flavor to the beef mixture. It is also an ingredient that tastes good with mashed potatoes.

In this case we are adding tomato paste to the mixture which is a concentrated tomato flavor. So you shouldn’t need ketchup.

A close up photo of the cast iron shepherd's pie with a spoon in it for serving.

Do you love skillet dinners? Try these awesome recipes…

Did you try this recipe?
Leave a ⭐️ review below and tag @practicallyhomemade on Pinterest!

A finished Shepherd's Pie in a cast iron skillet being served with a spoon.

Easy Cast Iron Shepherd’s Pie Skillet

All of the traditional Shepherd's Pie flavors are combined with short cut ingredients and made in a cast iron skillet for the ultimate one pot dinner.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 379kcal
5 from 2 votes
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups refrigerated mashed potatoes
  • ¾ cup shredded cheese {divided}
  • 1 pound lean ground beef {I used 93/7}
  • ¼ cup onion {diced}
  • 2 cloves garlic {minced}
  • 1 ¼ cups frozen vegetables {I used peas & carrots}
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
  • ½ tablespoon steak seasoning
  • 1 package brown gravy mix {0.87 ounces}
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  In a medium bowl combine 1/2 cup of shredded cheese with mashed potatoes. Stir until it is evenly incorporated. Set aside.
  • In a 12" cast iron skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until meat is cooked through, drain.  Add minced garlic to the drained meat and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
  • Reduce heat to medium, add frozen vegetables, tomato paste, worcestershire sauce and steak seasoning.  Stir to combine and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.  Next, add brown gravy packet and water. Stir until well blended and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until it begins to thicken.
  • Remove from heat and spread refrigerated mashed potato mixture over the beef mixture.  Top with remaining cheese and bake for 20- 25 minutes or until heated through. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, use an oven proof skillet. A skillet that can withstand the oven works great in place of cast iron.
  • Use ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef.
  • Brown the ground beef in the same pan you bake it in. This will give the pie amazing flavor and keep it one dish.
  • If you don’t have a packet of brown gravy use a turkey gravy packet with beef stock instead of water.
  • Instead of store bought mashed potatoes, add instant potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes or cauliflower mash.
  • Change up the frozen vegetables to whatever it is that you prefer. You could also add your favorite fresh vegetables that have been steamed. OR make it a vegetarian dish by substituting the hamburger for hearty vegetables like mushrooms.
  • Add an upscale touch by piping the mashed potatoes to the top. This creates a wonderful texture and beautiful finished look.
  • Top with chopped parsley or chives. Adding chopped fresh herbs to the top of the finished skillet dinner will add color and great flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 388mg | Potassium: 997mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3172IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 158mg | Iron: 4mg
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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love the way you photo shot the ingredients! I know exactly what to gather up to make your Shepards pie.
    Good job June!

    1. I am so glad it was helpful. I have been trying to do this on new recipes. 🙂

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