Skillet Shepherd's Pie
This recipe transforms classic Shepherd's Pie into a convenient skillet meal. Ground beef (or lamb) is simmered with onions, fresh thyme, and vegetables in a savory beef broth, then topped with a crispy hash brown crust. Baked until golden, it offers comforting flavors and textures in about 30 minutes, perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner.
Equipment
- 1 Large Oven-Safe Skillet Preferably cast-iron for even heat
- 1 Large Skillet (for browning meat)
- 1 Wooden Spoon or Heat-Resistant Spatula
- 1 Chef's knife
- 1 Cutting Board
Ingredients
Main
- 8 cups frozen hash brown potatoes not the cubed type
- 4 tablespoons butter melted (divided)
- salt
- pepper
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef or ground lamb
- 1 onion chopped fine
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups frozen peas and carrots
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Press 8 cups of frozen hash brown potatoes into the bottom of a large oven-safe skillet.
- Drizzle the hash brown base with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, season with salt and pepper, and bake for 10 minutes until slightly crispy.
- While the potatoes bake, brown the ground beef (or lamb) in a separate large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion to the browned beef and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the minced fresh thyme.
- Sprinkle the flour over the beef and onion mixture, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly to lightly toast the flour.
- Gradually whisk in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring until the sauce thickens.
- Stir in the frozen peas and carrots, cooking for 2-3 minutes until they are heated through. Season the meat mixture generously with salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove the skillet with the hash brown base from the oven. Carefully spoon the hot meat and vegetable mixture evenly over the hash brown base.
- Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter over the top of the meat mixture.
- Return the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the hash brown topping is golden brown and crisp. Serve hot.
Notes
For an elevated Skillet Shepherd's Pie, ensure the ground beef (or lamb) is deeply browned for maximum flavor development before adding onions. Sautéing the onions until translucent and slightly caramelized will add sweetness. When incorporating the flour, toast it briefly with the beef mixture to eliminate any raw flour taste, creating a richer gravy base. Fresh thyme is crucial here; its aromatic qualities are far superior to dried. Don't shy away from seasoning each component generously with salt and pepper. For the hash brown topping, spreading them evenly and pressing them down creates a cohesive, crispy crust. Finishing in the oven is key to achieving a beautifully golden and crispy potato topping. Consider using ground lamb for a more traditional and robust flavor profile.