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Easy Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

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This Easy Shepherd’s Pie is made in a cast iron skillet with a handful of easy to find ingredients. A family favorite that freezes well! This recipe developed in partnership with Pacific Foods.

cooked shepherd's pie in a cast iron skillet on top of a black and white striped linen

EASY SHEPHERD’S PIE RECIPE

Let’s talk about easy dinners. Because you know we ALL need them right now.

The holidays are here and that means a lot of adulting. Dinner doesn’t also need to be complicated.

Shepherd’s Pie is perfect for busy weeknights and weekends. Made with easy to find ingredients and in just a few steps.

Did I mention that this also freezes well and reheats great? Solutions!

WHAT IS SHEPHERDS PIE?

Shepherd’s Pie or “Cottage Pie” is a comfort food dish traditionally made from ground lamb, cooked with peas and carrots in a simple brown gravy and topped with creamy or whipped mashed potatoes before being baked.

HOW DO YOU MAKE SHEPHERDS PIE?

  1. Begin by making mashed potatoes.
  2. Next, you sauté ground meat with vegetables and create a simple gravy.
  3. Once the gravy has reduced, you transfer to a casserole dish.
  4. Top with the mashed potatoes before popping it into the oven.

For this recipe, we are eliminating the third cooking vessel and using a cast iron skillet to both sauté the meat, veggie and gravy mixture as well as bake in the oven. One less thing to clean up!

birds eye view of cast iron skillet filled with cooked easy shepherds pie and wooden spoon. in front of a carton of Pacific Foods Beef Bone Broth and a black and white linen

My husband absolutely LOVES Shepherd’s Pie. I started making this skillet version a few years ago to save having to clean up an additional casserole dish.

When Pacific Foods launched its Organic Beef Bone Broth and sent me some to play around with, one of the first dishes that came to mind was Shepherd’s Pie but to make sure the version I shared would be easy!

I knew that the flavor of the Pacific Foods Organic Beef Bone Broth would be perfect reduced and add so much to the simple gravy that really makes this dish shine!

cooked skillet shepherds pie with a wooden spoon on top next to a carton of beef bone broth

I included some modifications (that I’ve tested over the years) at the end of the recipe to tweak this recipe to be Paleo, Whole30 compliant and Low Carb / Keto so scroll down if that fits you.

I know you are going to love this comfort food classic remade with whole food ingredients and can’t wait to hear from you after you try it!

Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!

Easy Shepherd's Pie
Prep Time: 12 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Baking Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 42 mins
 

This Easy Shepherd's Pie is made in a cast iron skillet with a handful of easy to find ingredients. A family favorite that freezes well! 

Course: Mains
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cast Iron Dinner, easy dinner, Easy Shepherd's Pie, Gluten Free Shepherd's Pie, Paleo Shepherd's Pie, Shepherd's Pie, Skillet Pie
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 467 kcal
Author: Alyssa Brantley
5 from 8 votes
overhead shot of a large cast iron skillet with cooked shepherds pie topped with a long wooden spoon and on top of a black and white linen on a table
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Ingredients
Mashed Potatoes:
  • 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes peeled, cut into evenly sized pieces
  • 4 T butter or GHEE
  • 2 T unsweetened non-dairy milk
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground white pepper optional
Meat and Vegetable Mixture:
Instructions
Mashed Potatoes:

  1. Peel potaotes and cut into evenly sized cubes (about 2" x 2" each). Place in a pot, add 1 T kosher salt and cover with cold water by at least 2".

    Bring to a boil, cover, immediately reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 18 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.

    (begin cooking meat and vegetable mixture below while potatoes are boiling)

    Immediately drain potatoes and use a large fork or potato masher to mash with 4T butter, 2T non-dairy milk, salt and white pepper. Set aside.

Meat and Vegetable Mixture:

  1. Preheat oven to 425.

    Heat a large (12") cast iron skillet over medium heat.

    Once hot, add 2T butter and chopped onion and carrot along with a pinch of kosher salt and black pepper.

    Sauté for 8 to 10 minutes until vegetables have softened and onions are beginning to be translucent.

    adding chopped onion and carrot to a cast iron skillet to make easy shepherd's pie

  2. Add ground beef, kosher salt, black pepper and fresh thyme leaves. Sauté for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until most of pink is gone.

  3. Add Pacific Foods Organic Beef Bone Broth and gluten free Worcestershire sauce.

    Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and add frozen peas.

    Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes or until most of the liquid has cooked off (you want a very thin layer left - maybe 1/2").

    large carton of Pacific Foods Beef Bone Broth in front of cast iron skillet of shepherds pie

  4. Add mashed potatoes to the top of meat mixture using a spatula to smooth out. Use a fork to add some peaks OR if you are feeling adventurous or have more time, use a piping bag to pipe the potatoes on top. 

    Using spatulas, carefully place skillet (uncovered) on center rack of oven.

    Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until top has browned. 

  5. Turn oven to broil and broil for last 5 minutes for an extra brown and crispy crust. Enjoy!!

NOTES:

MODIFICATIONS:

Paleo / Whole30:

  • Use GHEE in place of butter for the mashed potatoes. Use GHEE or olive oil to replace the butter for cooking the meat and vegetables.
  • Omit the peas if doing a Whole30. Replace with chopped green beans, broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
  • Use compliant unsweetened, non-dairy milk of choice.
  • SKIP the gluten free Worcestershire Sauce (it contains tamari and natural sweetener). I suggest adding some finely chopped mushrooms to add some additional Umami flavor!

Low Carb / Keto:

  • Omit the peas. Replace with chopped broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
  • Reduce chopped onion to 1 cup.
  • Reduce carrot to 1 large carrot.
  • Substitute steamed cauliflower florets for Yukon gold potatoes.

 

Nutrition Facts
Easy Shepherd's Pie
Amount Per Serving (0.125 cast iron skillet)
Calories 467 Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g 48%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Cholesterol 103mg 34%
Sodium 1355mg 56%
Potassium 929mg 27%
Total Carbohydrates 21g 7%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Sugars 3g
Protein 24g 48%
Vitamin A 68.1%
Vitamin C 27.2%
Calcium 8.3%
Iron 35.5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.

overhead shot of a large cast iron skillet with cooked shepherds pie topped with a long wooden spoon and on top of a black and white linen on a table

DISCLOSURE:  This post is part of a series of posts sponsored by Pacific Foods. Pacific Foods has compensated me for my time to develop this recipe as their 2018 Brand Ambassador for Broths. Thank you for supporting the brands that make EverydayMaven possible. All opinions are my own.

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EverydayMaven.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Helene says

    January 2, 2019 at 8:11 am

    My husband asked me to make shepherd’s pie the other day. I made it and it tastes great but the time I take to prepare it because of the extra dishes is just crazy. I’m going to try your skillet version soon!

    Reply

  7. Sabrina says

    December 31, 2018 at 7:21 pm

    Thank you for adding all the modification for the different diets. With the new year right around the corner, it’s helpful to adjust to still get to eat this goodness!

    Reply

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