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A cast-iron skillet filled with Shepherd’s Pie featuring a rich ground beef base, a thick layer of creamy mashed potatoes with decorative peaks, melted cheddar cheese, and a garnish of fresh green herbs.

Simple Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

A cozy, one-skillet shepherd’s pie made with savory ground beef, vegetables, creamy mashed potatoes, and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for an easy comfort dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: British
Calories: 480
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Beef Filling
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup carrots diced
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
Topping
  • 3 cups mashed potatoes prepared and warm
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped

Equipment

  • Large Skillet

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add ground beef and cook for 5–6 minutes, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Add onion and garlic; cook for 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
  4. Stir in carrots and cook for another 3 minutes.
  5. Add tomato paste, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper; stir to coat evenly.
  6. Sprinkle flour over the mixture, stir well, and cook for 1 minute.
  7. Slowly pour in beef broth, stirring constantly until a thick sauce forms.
  8. Add peas and simmer for 5 minutes until vegetables are tender.
  9. Spread mashed potatoes evenly over the beef mixture.
  10. Top with cheddar cheese, cover, and cook on low heat for 5–7 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.
  11. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve directly from the skillet.

Notes

This shepherd’s pie is perfect for busy weeknights and can be customized with corn, mushrooms, or leftover vegetables.