Skillet Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
This skillet shepherd’s pie recipe is hearty, cozy, and perfect for camping — savory beef, tender veggies, and cheesy mashed potatoes all in one pan!
This skillet shepherd’s pie makes a delicious meal for the whole family — add it to your camping meal planning!
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We have been making all kinds of delicious grilled recipes this summer, like this southwest skillet steak recipe and yummy skillet pizza recipe.
If you think that this shepherd’s pie looks amazing, then you should check out this skillet blackened salmon recipe too! It’s our favorite way to cook a fish. So moist and delicious!
Skillet Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- Russet potatoes, peeled and diced – These starchy spuds mash up fluffy and creamy, creating the perfect topping.
- Ground beef – Hearty, filling, and packed with flavor, this is the backbone of the whole meal.
- Olive oil, if needed – Helps everything cook up smoothly without sticking, especially when camping cookware gets cranky.
- Carrots, peeled and diced – Add a touch of sweetness and a pop of color to balance the savory beef.
- Celery stalks, diced – Brings a subtle crunch and classic savory depth to the filling.
- Onion, diced – The flavor starter that makes everything smell amazing and taste even better.
- Salt and pepper, to taste – Simple seasonings that pull all the flavors together without fuss.
- Fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried thyme) – Adds a cozy, herby note that makes this dish taste slow-cooked (even when it’s not).
- Garlic cloves, minced – Because every good skillet meal needs a little garlicky goodness.
- Beef broth – Creates a rich, savory sauce that keeps the filling juicy and delicious.
- Tomato paste – Adds depth and a slight tang that boosts the beefy flavor.
- Frozen green peas – Easy, colorful, and a sneaky way to add veggies the kids won’t complain about.
- Worcestershire sauce – The secret ingredient that adds bold, savory umami flavor.
- Butter – Makes those mashed potatoes extra rich and comforting.
- Milk – Helps create smooth, creamy mashed potatoes that spread beautifully.
- Cheddar cheese, shredded – Melty, cheesy goodness that takes the potatoes over the top.
Pro tip: Cook the beef and mashed potatoes at home, before you go camping. This makes assembling and creating this meal super easy later on!
Instructions
1. Peel and dice potatoes and place in a large pot of water.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 10-15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium-heat and, once hot, add the ground beef.
4. Cook until well-browned and no pink remains, about 5-6 minutes.
5. Remove beef to a clean plate, then add the diced carrots, celery, and onion to the skillet. Add additional oil if needed.
6. Cook vegetables until softened, then stir in salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic.
7. Return the beef to the skillet, then add the tomato paste, green peas, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth.
8. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium until liquid is reduced by half.
9. Remove from heat.
10. Once the potatoes are done cooking, drain off the water and return potatoes to the pot (off heat).
11. Mash potatoes, then beat in the butter, milk, and cheddar cheese.
12. Scoop the potatoes overtop of the beef and smooth down to create an even layer to cover the skillet.
13. Cover the skillet with aluminum foil and place in the coals of the fire until the top of the potatoes are slightly browned.
Makes 4-6 servings.
Doesn’t this skillet meal look delish?! We love hearty recipes like this for when we are camping!
Tips for Cooking With Cast Iron
- When cooking with cast iron, be sure to season the surface first.
- Always use gloves or oven mitts while cooking, as the surface of the iron will be hot.
- Cook the recipe over an open fire using hot coals, not open flames. A fire that is too hot will burn the outside of your recipe and not cook the inside. Learn how to make a campfire for cooking.
- Be sure to clean the cast iron with a rough vegetable scrubber, rinse, and dry thoroughly before storing.
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Camping Essentials for Grilled Recipes
- I love using these Lodge cast iron skillets for all of my outdoor cooking.
- These silicone tongs are perfect for flipping and grasping food.
- This 9QT Overmont Dutch Oven is my favorite for one pot-style meals over the fire.
- These long handled wooden utensils make stirring easy and they don’t melt or get too hot!
- This cast iron scrubber set is perfect for safely cleaning your cast iron.
- This Henckel Knife is my favorite for slicing and dicing in the camp kitchen.
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Skillet Shepherds Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb russet potatoes peeled and diced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 Tbsp olive oil if needed
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 1 small onion diced
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup frozen green peas
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Peel and dice potatoes and place in a large pot of water.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium-heat and, once hot, add the ground beef.
- Cook until well-browned and no pink remains, about 5-6 minutes.
- Remove beef to a clean plate, then add the diced carrots, celery, and onion to the skillet. Add additional oil if needed.
- Cook vegetables until softened, then stir in salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic.
- Return the beef to the skillet, then add the tomato paste, green peas, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth.
- Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium until liquid is reduced by half.
- Remove from heat.
- Once the potatoes are done cooking, drain off the water and return potatoes to the pot (off heat).
- Mash potatoes, then beat in the butter, milk, and cheddar cheese.
- Scoop the potatoes overtop of the beef and smooth down to create an even layer to cover the skillet.
- Cover the skillet with aluminum foil and place in the coals of the fire until the top of the potatoes are slightly browned.
Notes
- Cook the beef and mashed potatoes at home, before you go camping. This makes assembling and creating this meal super easy later on!
Skillet Recipes
This Skillet Taco Camping Recipe is one of my most requested recipes for camping with the kids. With just a bit of preparation you can make this yummy taco recipe for your next trip.
