Skillet Shepherd's Pie (Printable Version)
# What You'll Need:
→ For Meat Mixture
01 -
1 tablespoon olive oil
02 -
1¼ pound lean ground beef
03 -
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
04 -
½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
05 -
1 large onion, finely chopped
06 -
1 clove garlic, minced
07 -
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
08 -
2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 -
55g (1.9 ounce) packet onion soup mix (Knorr recommended)
10 -
1 cup low sodium beef broth
11 -
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, green beans, corn)
→ For Mashed Potatoes
12 -
6 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
13 -
4 tablespoon softened butter
14 -
½ cup milk
15 -
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
16 -
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
17 -
½ teaspoon white pepper, or to taste
18 -
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
# Step-by-Step Directions:
01 -
Place peeled and cubed potatoes in a large pot with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook for approximately 15 minutes until fork-tender. While potatoes cook, proceed with preparing the meat mixture.
02 -
Heat olive oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 5 minutes until no longer pink, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
03 -
Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef. Cook for 3 minutes until onions become translucent. Stir in red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, onion soup mix, and beef broth. Add frozen vegetables and cook for 2 additional minutes. Set aside.
04 -
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
05 -
Drain cooked potatoes thoroughly and transfer to a large bowl. Add butter and mash until smooth. Incorporate milk, Parmesan cheese, salt, and white pepper, continuing to mash until creamy and smooth.
06 -
Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat mixture in the skillet. Use a fork to create texture on the surface by dragging it lightly across the potato topping.
07 -
Place the skillet on a baking sheet to catch any overflow. Transfer to preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes until the top is golden brown.
08 -
Remove from oven, garnish with fresh parsley, and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving warm.
# Helpful Notes:
01 -
Be cautious with salt as the onion soup mix contains significant sodium.
02 -
For creamier mashed potatoes, ensure potatoes are completely drained and butter is fully incorporated before adding milk.
03 -
Traditional shepherd's pie uses lamb, while cottage pie uses beef - this recipe follows the cottage pie tradition despite the name.
04 -
Using the same skillet from browning the meat through baking maximizes flavor development.
05 -
If using higher fat ground beef, the initial tablespoon of olive oil can be omitted.