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SKILLET VEGETABLE SHEPHERD’S PIE

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie – A wonderful whole food, plant-based version of shepherd’s pie made in a skillet with lots of vegetables and kidney beans. It’s a hearty and comforting meal that always hits the spot!

top down view of vegetarian shepherd's pie with portion removed.

When craving something savory with that old homestyle feel, this healthy, veggie-filled vegetarian shepherd’s pie always hits the spot!

Full of flavor, it’s the type of comfort food I can really get into. I love potatoes in all forms, and they go so well with all the veggies and savory gravy!

This recipe for vegetable shepherd’s pie is fairly quick and easy to make. It can be on the table in about 45 minutes and the leftovers are even better!

top down view of ingredients used to make skillet vegetarian shepherds pie.

Ingredient Notes

For this vegetable shepherd’s pie, I added a lot more veggies than are really needed, but they all go together well and help make it a hearty meal with lots of color and textures.

Feel free to change any vegetables to suit your taste, adding or subtracting as you like. For instance, omit the asparagus and/or green beans and add more mushrooms. You almost can’t go wrong!

Here is everything I used:

  • Potatoes – Russet or Yukon
  • Unsweetened, plain almond milk – or your favorite plant milk
  • Vegan butter – my favorite is Miyoko’s or sub with olive oil
  • Mirapoix – The usual mix of onion, carrots, and celery offers a delicious base.
  • Garlic – Fresh or garlic powder will do.
  • Mushrooms – Use pre-sliced for ease.
  • Asparagus – Fresh or frozen.
  • Green beans – Fresh, canned or frozen.
  • Corn – Fresh, canned or frozen.
  • Spinach – Fresh or frozen (thawed).
  • Kidney beans – Canned or freshly made.
  • Vegetable broth – Low sodium preferred. We like to use a Better Than Bouillion Veg Paste with water (I use 1/2 to 1 tsp). A vegetable cube would be great too.
  • Tamari – Substitute with soy sauce, coconut aminos, or Namu Shoyu.
  • Herbs – Thyme and rosemary – fresh or dried.
  • Flour – Can sub with cornstarch (see recipe notes)
  • Salt + pepper – To taste (since some like less and some like more!)
top down view showing the process of making skillet vegetable shepherd's pie.

How To Make Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

  • You can make the mashed potatoes using the directions in the recipe card, or make these easy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
  • In a cast iron skillet, warm oil over medium heat, add onions and saute for 5 minutes.
  • Add garlic, carrots, celery, and mushrooms, and sauté for 4 more minutes.
side by side photos showing the process of adding flour and tamari to filling.
  • Add the tamari and flour and mix well until flour is incorporated and no white streaks of flour are left.
top down view of showing the process of adding vegetable broth to shepherd's pie filling in skillet.
  • Add the corn, kidney beans, green beans, asparagus, herbs, and vegetable broth, simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until vegetables are tender.
top down view of vegetarian shepherd's pie filling freshly cooked in skillet.
  • Add the spinach in the last 5 minutes, and let wilt. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
top down view of mashed potatoes being spread on shepherds pie filling.
  • Once the vegetables are done, top with the potatoes. Either set the skillet under the broiler to brown the potatoes (shown below) or eat as is.

However you like, serve warm and enjoy this homestyle meal!

That’s it, vegetarian shepherd’s pie is super easy to make, well-balanced, gluten-free and one of my favorite comfort foods!

Top Tips

  • Veggies: Change up the vegetables, adding or subtracting your favorite frozen, canned, or fresh, using about 7 – 8 cups.
  • Free and easy: I love making these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes. It frees up space on the stove and is so easy with no draining required. It’s seriously simple and locks in all the potato flavor!
  • Skillet size: I used a 10-inch skillet, and it was the perfect size. A 12-inch will work, too, but will result in a slightly thinner shepherd’s pie.

top down view of freshly made vegetable shepherds pie.

How To Store

  • Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep for 5 – 6 days in the refrigerator, stored in a covered container.
  • Freezer: This vegetarian shepherd’s pie is freezer-friendly and freezes well for up to 2 – 3 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer-safe containers (affiliate link), leaving 1/2 inch head space for expansion. Let thaw before reheating.
  • Reheat: To reheat, simply warm in a preheated oven set at 350 degrees F. for 10 – 15 minutes until warmed through. You can also zap individual portions in the microwave for 2 – 3 minutes, stopping to check every 45 – 60 seconds.

Serving Suggestions

This savory shepherd’s pie is hearty on its own but can be made even heartier with a little something on the side. Here are a few of my favorite options:

top down view of vegetarian shepherds pie with portion removed.

More Comfort Food Recipes!

Because you can never have too many comfort recipes to try! Take a look at these other comfort food recipes, you just may find a new favorite!

side angle view of bowl with serving of vegetable shepherds pie with fork.

If you try this vegetable shepherd’s pie recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

Print

VEGETARIAN SHEPHERD’S PIE

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 4 reviews

A flavorful vegetable shepherd’s pie is made in a skillet with lots of veggies and protein rich kidney beans. It’s easy to make and a hearty, comforting meal that always hits the spot!

  • Author: Julie | The Simple Veganista
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 35 min
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4 – 6 1x
  • Category: Entree
  • Method: simmer
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

Mashed potatoes

  • 2 1/2 pounds potatoes ( I used Yukon gold)
  • 1/41/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 24 tablespoons olive oil or vegan butter
  • mineral salt + pepper, to taste

Filling

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or 1/4 cup water
  • 1 small onion (about 1 cup), chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 large carrots (about 1 cup), chopped
  • 2 stalks celery (about 1 cup), sliced
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 tablespoon flour
  • 2 tablespoons tamari, soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 1 cup asparagus, sliced in 1 inch pieces
  • 1 cup green beans, cut in 1 inch pieces
  • 1 fresh corn (about 1 cup), cut off the cob
  • 2 cups baby spinach, loosely packed
  • 1 can (15oz) kidney beans (1 1/2 cups), drained and rinsed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme (or 1 tsp. fresh)
  • 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced (or 1 tsp. dried)
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  • mineral salt + pepper, to taste

Instructions

Potatoes: Cut potatoes into 1 inch cubes. Add potatoes to a large pot and cover with water (I added a few sprigs of thyme to the water.) Bring to a boil and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain potatoes, add butter/oil, mash into potatoes to melt, add milk and stir until desired consistency. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste and set aside in a warm place.

Filling: In a cast iron skillet, warm oil over medium heat, add onions and saute for 5 minutes. Add garlic, carrots, celery and mushrooms, sauté for 4 more minutes. Add the tamari and flour, mix well until flour is incorporated and no white streaks. Add the corn, kidney beans, green beans, asparagus, herbs, and vegetable broth, simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Add the spinach in the last 5 minutes, and let wilt. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble: Spoon the potatoes evenly over the top of the filling and add a few sprigs of thyme or paprika for color. Place the skillet under the broiler, about 3 – 4 inches away, for 5 minutes to let the potatoes brown.

Let set a few minutes and serve warm. Gravy will thicken upon standing.

Serves 4 – 6

Notes

Change up the veggies adding or subtracting your favorite frozen, canned or fresh vegetables, using about 7 – 8 cups.

Free up space on the stovetop with this Instant pot Mashed Potatoes recipe. Plus, it requires no draining!

Flour sub: Feel free to sub the flour with a cornstarch slurry of mixing 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water, add when adding the vegetable broth.

Sometimes when I make this, I tend to just fill my bowl with the veggies and top with the potatoes and garnishes. Seems simpler to me for this party of one.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 455
  • Sugar: 11.7 g
  • Sodium: 395.9 mg
  • Fat: 12.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 76.2 g
  • Fiber: 13.9 g
  • Protein: 15.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Updated: Skillet Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie was originally published in July 2012. It has been updated with new photos and helpful tips in March 2020.

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6 Comments

  1. Melissa Birmingham says:

    It was delicious but my prep took much longer than 10 minutes. I wish I started cooking earlier.






  2. I have made this quite a few times and love it. It’s so easy and a great way to eat up the farmer’s market veggies whatever they may be for the week. I have recently discovered arrowroot which is a great substitute for cornstarch.
    Thanks Julie for this wonderful recipe it is quickly becoming a staple in our house.






  3. I made this tonight as written except for substituting some veggies for others I had on hand. (cauliflower and zucchini and peas instead of beans, asparagus, and celery. Delicious, and easier to make than the version I used to make. This will be my new favourite recipe this winter.






  4. Anonymous says:

    YUM… I am so making this this week. :) Thanks for the beautiful recipes and the beautiful food. The Lentil loaf was so yummy!

    1. julie@thesimpleveganista says:

      I hope you love it! Thank you, your so welcome. :)

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