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Skillet Shepherd's Pie

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 8, 2011

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Skillet Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

8 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (see note)4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, dividedSalt and pepper 1 ½ pounds 85 percent lean ground beef 1 onion, chopped fine1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh thyme ¼ cup all-purpose flour 2 cups low-sodium beef broth 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 2 cups frozen peas and carrots mix, thawed

Before You Begin

Be sure to purchase shredded hash brown potatoes (sometimes labeled “country style”) rather than the cubed variety. Ground lamb can be substituted for the beef.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat broiler. Toss potatoes with 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in large bowl. Wrap tightly with plastic and microwave until potatoes are tender, 7 to 10 minutes.
  2. While potatoes are cooking, cook beef and onion in large heatproof skillet over medium-high heat until beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain beef mixture in colander.
  3. Return drained beef mixture to pan. Stir in thyme and flour and cook until incorporated, about 1 minute. Stir in broth and Worcestershire and cook until sauce is thickened, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in pea and carrot medley and simmer until heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Scatter cooked potatoes over beef mixture and brush with remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter. Broil until potatoes are golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve.
Skillet Shepherd's Pie

Skillet Shepherd's Pie

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

8 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (see note)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided
Salt and pepper
1 ½ pounds 85 percent lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped fine
1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh thyme
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups low-sodium beef broth
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups frozen peas and carrots mix, thawed

Ingredients

8 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (see note)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided
Salt and pepper
1 ½ pounds 85 percent lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped fine
1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh thyme
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups low-sodium beef broth
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups frozen peas and carrots mix, thawed

Ingredients

8 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (see note)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided
Salt and pepper
1 ½ pounds 85 percent lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped fine
1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh thyme
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups low-sodium beef broth
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups frozen peas and carrots mix, thawed

Why This Recipe Works

We browned the beef with onions for rich flavor and color. Briefly cooking the flour used to thicken our Skillet Shepherd’s Pie removed its starchy flavor. A bit of Worcestershire sauce added savory depth to the filling. To streamline the recipe, instead of the traditional mashed potato topping, we use frozen hash browns, heating them in the microwave first so they only needed minutes to brown in the oven.

Before You Begin

Be sure to purchase shredded hash brown potatoes (sometimes labeled “country style”) rather than the cubed variety. Ground lamb can be substituted for the beef.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat broiler. Toss potatoes with 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in large bowl. Wrap tightly with plastic and microwave until potatoes are tender, 7 to 10 minutes.
  2. While potatoes are cooking, cook beef and onion in large heatproof skillet over medium-high heat until beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain beef mixture in colander.
  3. Return drained beef mixture to pan. Stir in thyme and flour and cook until incorporated, about 1 minute. Stir in broth and Worcestershire and cook until sauce is thickened, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in pea and carrot medley and simmer until heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Scatter cooked potatoes over beef mixture and brush with remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter. Broil until potatoes are golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve.

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