• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Jo Cooks

Simple - Easy - Comfort

Join my free recipe email club!
Free eBook
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
    • The Big Book of Jo’s Quick and Easy Meals
    • 30-Minute One-Pot Meals
  • ABOUT JO
  • Contact
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • One Pot
  • Desserts
Home / Recipes

Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

1 hour 25 minutes
4.47 from 539 votes
285 Comments
Jump to RecipePrint RecipeJump to Video
  • 13290
  • 530
by: Joanna Cismaru
03.16.19

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Skillet Shepherd’s Pie recipe, also known as cottage pie, is loaded with flavorful beef and veggies, topped with fluffy and creamy mashed potatoes, then baked to perfection!

a spoon taking a big scoop out of a skillet full of shepherd's pie

Shepherd’s pie is the epitome of simple and homely comfort food. It’s an easy and quite basic dish to put together, that’s been around for a very long time and there are probably hundreds of variations of it. It’s a homey, comforting casserole that we all love that combines ground meat, peas, carrots and corn, then topped with a mountain of mashed potatoes!

The great thing about my recipe is that it’s all make in a skillet which means only one pot to clean! Not to mention it’s super easy to make and can easily be done any night of the week!

What’s The Difference Between Shepherd’s Pie And Cottage Pie

Shepherd’s pie is also commonly referred to as cottage pie and there is a difference. Cottage pie is usually made with beef and Shepherd’s pie is usually made with lamb.

You’re probably wondering why I’m calling this Shepherd’s pie when it should be called cottage pie. It’s because I’ve always known it as Shepherd’s pie. Ground lamb is not something you’ll see in many grocery stores here in North America. Even in restaurants here, the beef version is always called Shepherd’s pie.

Another interesting fact to note about Shepherd’s pie is that Scotland usually makes these pies with a pastry instead of mashed potatoes, which actually sounds great and I will definitely have to try this soon.

A Classic

But let’s talk about my recipe for a bit because the best compliment a cook gets is when the food is gone quickly and that’s what happened when we made this. It was gone within minutes. As mentioned, I used ground beef for the pie and lots of frozen veggies.

I decided to go with a mix here of peas, carrots, green beans, and corn. You can actually find this mix in the frozen food section. I then flavored this with Worcestershire sauce, a package of dry onion soup mix and beef broth.

The end result was incredibly tasty and flavorful, just make sure you don’t add too much salt as the onion soup mix already has some sodium in it.

A serving of shepherd's pie on a plate topped with parsley and with a fork

Ingredients

For this nice and easy dinner, you will need:

  • Olive oil (avocado, vegetable, sunflower, etc. oil will work as well)
  • Ground beef
  • Salt & pepper
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Onion soup mix
  • Beef broth
  • Frozen veggies

I used frozen veggies here, but you can use fresh or canned if you like. Just make sure to drain all the excess liquid from any canned veggies. This recipe is also great for doing a fridge/ freezer clean out! You can toss any veggies you want in here.

But wait, I can’t find any onion soup mix! That’s totally okay. Here’s a super easy version that you can make yourself:

  • 3 tbsp minced onion flakes
  • 2 tbsp beef bouillon powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp parsley flakes
  • 1/8 tsp ground celery seeds
  • 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste

You can use your own mashed potato recipe, or you can try out mine. Not to toot my own horn, but this recipe is killer! You will need:

  • Potatoes
  • Butter
  • Milk
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Salt
  • White pepper

How To Make Shepherd’s Pie

Start out by cooking the potatoes. Depending on how big you cut the chunks, it will take about 15 minutes for them to cook until fork tender. This is perfect amount of time to cook up your meat mixture!

Heat the oil in a large skillet and cook the ground beef with some salt and pepper. I used lean ground beef for this recipe, but you can leave out the oil if you are using ground beef with a higher fat content. Once the ground beef is nicely crumbled and no longer has pink pieces, you can add the onion and garlic. Let this cook down until the onion turns translucent.

Add the red pepper flakes, Worcestershire, onion soup mix, beef broth, and frozen veggies. Stir everything together well.

Drain the potatoes and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter; I like to cut my butter into pieces to make it easier to mash everything together evenly. Add the milk, cheese, and season with salt and the white pepper until you’re happy with the taste. Mash until the potatoes are nice and smooth.

Now you can spoon the potatoes over the meat mixture right in the skillet. Smooth the potatoes with a spoon, and run a fork over the potatoes to create ridges. Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

a skillet loaded with shepherd's pie topped with parsley

How To Serve

My favorite part about Shepherd’s pie is that it includes all your typical dinner items in one easy dish. You got meat, potatoes, and veggies all together living in harmony. The thing about Shepherd’s pie, though, is that it’s hard to create a stunning plating presentation. All I have to say is, embrace the mess! Top it wish some chopped parsley. That always makes a meal look fancy.

How To Freeze And Reheat

You can transfer this shepherd’s pie to an airtight container to store leftovers, or you can leave it right in the skillet and cover it well with foil, which will make re-heating much easier. Keep it covered with foil, and bake for about one hour at 350F, or until heated all the way through. You can remove the foil for the last 10-15 minutes to crisp the potatoes up.

This shepherd’s pie will last for about 2 months stored in your freezer.

Some tips

  • Shepherd’s pie is easy enough to make, but you can simplify your life even further by buying some shortcuts. If you use frozen veggies, you’re saving chopping time. Choose a bag of mixed vegetables from the freezer.
  • While you can use store bought mashed potatoes, homemade is always better, so focus your efforts on this. You can boil the potatoes while you’re making the beef mixture. This way you’ll end up with creamy and fluffy mashed potatoes.
  • Brown the beef in the same skillet you’ll be serving from. This will ensure maximum flavor in your pie.

Other St. Patrick’s Day Recipes:

  • Irish Lamb Stew
  • Skillet Irish Soda Bread
  • Guinness Braised Short Ribs
  • Guinness Brownies
  • Shepherd’s Pie

More Delicious Skillet Recipes:

  • Fiesta Chicken Skillet Cobbler
  • Skillet White Chicken Lasagna
  • Skillet Pizza Dip

Looking for more recipes? Follow on… My Newsletter Pinterest Facebook Instagram

side view shot of a serving spoon taking a scoop of skillet shepherds pie

Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

4.47 from 539 votes
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 1 hr 10 mins
Total: 1 hr 25 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 8
Print Pin Rate
This Skillet Shepherd’s Pie recipe, also known as cottage pie, is loaded with flavorful beef and veggies, topped with fluffy and creamy mashed potatoes, then baked to perfection!

Ingredients

For Meat Mixture

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 1/4 lb ground beef lean
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp pepper or to taste
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1.9 oz onion soup mix I used Knorr, 55g pkg
  • 1 cup beef broth low sodium
  • 2 cups frozen veggies I used mix of peas, carrots, green beans and corn

For Mashed Potatoes

  • 6 large potatoes peeled and cut into cubes
  • 4 tbsp butter softened
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper or to taste
  • 1 tbsp parsley fresh, for garnish
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Boil the potatoes: Start by first cooking the potatoes in boiling water for about 15 minutes or until fork tender. While the potatoes are cooking, you can prepare the meat mixture.
  • Prepare the meat mixture: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet, season it with the salt and pepper and cook it for abut 5 minutes or until it’s no longer pink, breaking it up as you go along.
  • Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 more minutes until the onion softens and becomes translucent. Add the pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, onion soup mix, beef broth and stir. Stir in the frozen veggies and cook for a couple more minutes. Set aside.
  • Preheat the oven 350 F degrees.
  • Prepare the mashed potatoes: Drain the potatoes then add them to a large bowl. Add in the butter and using a potato masher, mash until smooth. Add the milk, Parmesan cheese, salt pepper and mash a bit a more until smooth.
  • Finish assembling the shepherd’s pie: Spread the potatoes over the meat and smooth with a spoon. Take a fork and rough up the top a bit and garnish with a bit of parsley.
  • Bake: Place the skillet on a baking sheet, then place it in the oven and bake for 40 minutes until golden brown on top.
  • Garnish with more parsley and pepper and serve warm.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. How do I store leftovers: Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, cover the pie with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  2. Can I freeze this: Yes you can! After baking, let the skillet cool to room temperature. Transfer the shepherd’s pie to an airtight container and place in the freezer for up to 2 months. You can also cover the skillet tightly with foil, or plastic wrap, just make sure it’s tightly covered.
  3. Can I use store bought mashed potatoes: Yes, you can. Store bought mashed potatoes can be used or leftover mashed potatoes.
  4. Can I use fresh veggies: Yes, of course. I used frozen veggies to save time, but feel free to use fresh veggies, such as carrots, peas and corn.
  5. I don’t have onion soup mix, what can I use instead: You can make your own onion soup mix by combining: 3 tbsp minced onion flakes, 2 tbsp beef bouillon powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp parsley flakes, 1/8 tsp ground celery seeds, 1/2 tsp sweet paprika, salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
 

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 252kcal (13%)Carbohydrates: 14g (5%)Protein: 19g (38%)Fat: 12g (18%)Saturated Fat: 6g (38%)Cholesterol: 63mg (21%)Sodium: 1165mg (51%)Potassium: 494mg (14%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 2g (2%)Vitamin A: 2620IU (52%)Vitamin C: 7.7mg (9%)Calcium: 100mg (10%)Iron: 2.6mg (14%)
Course:Main Course
Cuisine:American
Keyword:cottage pie, shepherd’s pie, skillet shepherd’s pie
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

30 recipes from around the world cover.

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

side view shot of a serving spoon taking a scoop of skillet chicken pot pie
Previous Post
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
side view shot of a baking dish full of classic dinner rolls
Next Post
Classic Dinner Rolls

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rate Recipe Cancel reply

Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Diana says

    March 18, 2021 at 5:49 pm

    5 stars
    Made this on St. Patrick’s Day!! It was a HIT!! Everyone Loved it!!

    Reply
  2. Lady S says

    March 10, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    5 stars
    This was a hit. New family favorite!

    Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Joanna Cismaru

Hey there!

I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More…
cover for the big book of jo's quick and easy meals.

My Cookbook

Pre-Order Now: Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

Sign me up

Dinner Recipes

a wooden spoon lifting a salisbury steak out of the skillet

Salisbury Steak

closeup of beef stew in a dutch oven with a ladle inside.

Beef Stew

overhead shot of zucchini lasagna in a baking dish

Zucchini Lasagna

a white bowl full with american goulash and a fork inside stacked on top of an empty bowl

American Goulash (Chop Suey)

two plate with sloppy joes and buns next to a greens salad

Sloppy Joes

beef barley soup in a white bowl with a spoon inside.

Beef Barley Soup

overhead shot of chicken broccoli and rice casserole in a pot

One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

creamy chicken lazone in a skillet garnished with parsley.

Chicken Lazone

Popular Now

a hand dipping a chicken tender in ranch dressing

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

a fork stabbing a garlic butter steak bite in a skillet full of them

Garlic Butter Steak Bites

a prime rib roast sliced on a plate

Prime Rib Roast

side view shot of a cinnamon bun with a bite taken out of it on a plate

Cinnabons Cinnamon Rolls

side view shot of a hand dipping a piece of naan bread into the bowl of chicken tikka masala

Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

close up of the layers on the homemade croissant

Homemade Croissants

overhead shot of crusty bread loaf

No Knead Bread

side view shot of two halves of a chicken salad sandwich stacked on a plate exposing the centers

The Best Chicken Salad

Jo Cooks...

Flavors from around the world

No matter what household we have all grown up in, there is something that has brought us all together here and that is a love and appreciation of food. Food that is from cultures and cuisines across the world has always been a staple of the blog. I'm excited to bring you all a taste of each corner of the earth, every last bite seasoned to perfection and served up with love - from my kitchen to yours.
honey soy chicken in a baking dish fresh out of the oven garnished with parsley.

Asian

closeup of italian mac and cheese in a white bowl with a big serving spoon.

Italian

a stack of homemade tortillas

Mexican

chocolate magic cake slices sprinkled with cocoa powder and garnished with garnish.

Romanian

a bunch of naan on a cutting board garnished with parsley.

Indian

red lentil hummus in a big black bowl garnished with a bit of smoked paprika.

Middle Eastern

Trending Now

overhead shot of oven baked chicken breasts in a baking dish

Baked Chicken Breast

overhead shot of oven baked chicken thighs in a pan

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

a whole roast chicken surrounded by potatoes

Roast Chicken

a prime rib roast sliced on a plate

Prime Rib Roast

Browse All
  • Easy Dinners
  • Instant Pot
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Recipe Index

Featured On

today logo.
huffpost logo.
the washington post logo.
jezebel logo.
countryliving logo.
good housekeeping logo.
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • About Jo
  • Contact
  • visit my other site: Craving Home Cooked
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
© 2021 · All Rights Reserved · Back to Top
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe and get a free dinner recipes ebook!

228793shares
  • 13290
  • 530