With no place to go and the weather most days have been chilly for April and May we have been doing lots of cooking these past 8 weeks. Tonight was a new favorite, even for me. Rustic Skillet Shepard’s Pie!
Its such a classic comfort food. I will admit, it’s not usually not one of my favorites but a favorite of my husband. This recipe changed that for me. I love this version and it came out so tasty that our 8 yr old even ate it and wanted seconds. This version starts out on the stove top with sauteing some savory seasoned ground beef, veggies and then topped with creamy mashed potatoes baked in the oven. If you don’t own a cast iron skillet any skillet will do as long as it can go into an over at 400 degrees.
Cast Iron Cooking
There are so many benefits to Cast Iron Cooking and you use it on the stove top, oven, grill , camp fire to table and last a lifetime if taken care of properly. You can make everything from a cake, biscuits ,Pizza, frying a pan of bacon to searing a nice juicy steak. Recently there has been a resurgence of cast iron cooking and collecting of Cast Iron. You can find several Facebook groups for Cast iron cooking and collecting. I love finding new recipes and see what other cook in their cast iron.
Years ago I had some old cast iron pans that got rusted. I didn’t know then what I need to do now to save them. The biggest tip is do not use soap and it holds true! So if you have some old cast iron that needs some TLC it can be saved and if you buy a new skillet be sure to clean it properly and it will last for years. Check out how to care and clean yours here.
My favorite cast iron and where to get it
I received a Lodge 12″ Cast Iron Skillet like the one below for a Christmas gift as well as a magazine subscription to Cast Iron cooking which I love. Both can be purchased on Amazon. I think this is the perfect size skillet, you can do so much with it.
I am now a fan and have so many more things to try and new pieces of cast iron pots to get. One thing on my list is a camp dutch oven like this one. Its amazing what people cook in these.
I want to try to cook chili, or stew outside sometime over a fire. I will also come in handy for my son’s Boy Scout camp outings as well.
Back to the Shepard’s Pie
This recipe is my own version I came up with from several different recipes but filled with the flavors and veggies everyone in my house likes. We skip the cheese, not by choice, so feel free to change it up. Feel free to add other veggies such as mushrooms or make your mashed potatoes your favorite way! If you don’t do mashed potatoes from scratch go for the instant. It will all work.
The first step once you have all your ingredients is to heat your skillet over medium- high heat. It is time to make the filling for the pie. Cook the ground beef with salt and pepper until browned, about 5 minutes. Be sure the drain the fat and place cooked beef on the side in a bowl.
Next add the olive oil and saute the a onion, celery and garlic. until onions are translucent about 7 minutes. Add back in the ground beef and frozen bag of veggies and saute until soften. Stir in the tomato paste until well combined.
Add in your herbs. try to use fresh herbs if you are able and save some fresh herbs for garnish. Next add the Worcestershire sauce and beef broth and stir until all combined. Sprinkle in flour to thicken it and cook for 10 minutes.
In the mean while you are cooking your pie filling prepare you mashed potatoes. I only make mashed potatoes one way anymore. The stove top way takes too long. I have a super easy mashed potatoes recipe if you own an Instant pot. Just follow this super easy Instant Pot mashed potato recipe while you are preparing your pie filling, I also put it in this recipe as well scaled down for this recipe. If you don’t have an instant pot just prepare the potatoes on the stove top with I listed in the notes.
Do you own a cast iron pot. Let let me know what you like to cook in it? I think I will be adding more cast iron recipes as I experiment and find my favorites.
If you love your Instant Pot be sure to check out my recipes here.
Rustic Skillet Shepard’s Pie
Savory beef and veggies topped with creamy fluffy Potatoes.
Ingredients
Pie Filling
- 2 lbs Ground beef
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Large Onion chopped
- 2 Celery Stalks chopped
- 4 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 24 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 tbsp Fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp Fresh Rosemary
- 1 tbsp Fresh Oregano
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 1/2 cup beef broth
- 3 tbsp flour
Mashed Potatoes
- 4-5 Russet or red skin potatoes
- 4 tbs butter
- 1/8 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
Pie filling
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
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Heat Cast Iron skillet on medium-high heat. Add ground beef, salt and pepper until browned. About 5 minutes.Drain and set to side.
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In heated skillet add olive oil. Saute onions, celery until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
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Add in ground beef to skillet with onion, celery and garlic.
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Next add frozen veggies and saute until soft ( 3 minutes)
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Stir in tomato paste, beef broth, herbs and Worcestershire sauce. Mix.
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Sprinkle flour and mix until well combined.
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Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes so the flavors come together.
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Spread mashed potatoes on top of pie filling in skillet.
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Place skillet on cookie sheet.
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Place in a 400 Degree oven for 25 minutes.
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To brown the top place oven on broiler for 2 minutes.
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Garnish with fresh herbs.
Easy Mashed Potato topping (Instant pot Recipe)
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peel and cut up potatoes in even quarters
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Place Instant pot rack in bottom of pot.
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Add in cut potatoes
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Add 1 cup of water to pot.
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Place lid on in locked sealed position. Set on Manual pressure for 6 minutes.
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When timer goes off do a quick release.
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Drain out water from pot.. Add Butter, salt and milk.
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With a hand mixer beat the potatoes until whipped.
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Add more salt if needed.
Recipe Notes
- Use a cast iron skillet or skillet that can go from stove top to oven.
- Feel free to add different vegetables such as mushrooms
- If making Mashed potatoes on stove top boiled potatoes in a pot of water. When tender add the rest of the ingredients and mix.
- Make it cheese by adding cheddar cheese to your mashed potatoes and sprinkle some on top of pie before baking.
