Hearty Skillet Stroganoff Bake

Is there anything better than a warm, comforting skillet meal? We certainly don’t think so! Our Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff Pie seamlessly blends the rich, creamy flavors of classic beef stroganoff with the hearty, satisfying topping of shepherd’s pie. Imagine tender ground beef and mushrooms swimming in a savory, tangy sauce, all crowned with a fluffy layer of mashed potatoes, baked to golden perfection in a single skillet. This all-in-one culinary marvel is designed to bring warmth and joy to your dinner table, making it the ultimate comfort food for family dinners, cozy nights, or any occasion when you crave a truly satisfying meal. Its effortless preparation and irresistible taste make it a staple, especially as the weather turns chilly.

If you cherish the harmonious combination of creamy potatoes, tender sautéed mushrooms, and the savory depth of seasoned ground beef, this Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff Pie is destined to become a beloved family favorite. It’s the kind of hearty, soul-satisfying dinner that leaves everyone eager for seconds, yet it’s simple enough to prepare even on the busiest weeknights. What’s more, its make-ahead potential makes it an absolute lifesaver: you can assemble it the night before and simply pop it into the oven when you’re ready to bake and serve. Convenience meets incredible flavor in this delightful dish!

For optimal results, we highly recommend using a cast iron skillet for this Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff Pie. Its ability to transition smoothly from stovetop to oven is unparalleled, ensuring even cooking and a beautifully browned topping. However, any large, oven-proof skillet you own will work perfectly – no need for specialized or expensive cookware!

Why You’ll Love This Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff Pie

This recipe isn’t just another dinner; it’s a celebration of comfort food. It takes two beloved classics—the rich, umami-packed flavors of Beef Stroganoff and the hearty, layered goodness of Shepherd’s Pie—and combines them into a single, sensational dish. The result is a meal that’s both familiar and exciting, offering layers of texture and taste that delight with every bite. From the creamy, savory ground beef base to the light and airy mashed potato topping, every component contributes to an unforgettable dining experience. It’s truly a one-pan wonder, minimizing cleanup while maximizing flavor, making it a dream for busy cooks and hungry families alike.

Key Ingredients for Your Skillet Stroganoff Pie

Crafting the perfect Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff Pie begins with selecting quality ingredients that build layers of flavor. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is essential for this comforting dish:

• Potatoes: The foundation of our fluffy topping. Unpeeled gold potatoes are highly recommended for their naturally buttery flavor and creamy texture, making them ideal for mashing. Russet potatoes also work beautifully, yielding a light and airy mash. Ensure they are cooked until very tender for the best results.
• Ground Beef: The heart of the stroganoff filling. We use 80/20 ground beef for a perfect balance of flavor and moisture. The fat renders down, providing richness to the sauce, which you can drain if preferred. Leaner ground beef can also be used, but may require a bit more butter or oil for browning.
• Salted Butter: Divided for use in both the savory beef filling and the creamy potato topping, butter adds an essential depth of flavor and richness that elevates the entire dish.
• Onion: Diced finely, onions provide a sweet, aromatic base for the beef stroganoff, sautéing until soft and fragrant to release their subtle sweetness.
• Garlic: Freshly chopped garlic is indispensable for its pungent, savory notes, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the beef filling.
• Dried Thyme: This earthy herb brings a classic, slightly peppery aroma that complements the beef and mushrooms beautifully, adding a touch of rustic charm to the stroganoff.
• Mushrooms: Cleaned and sliced, mushrooms are a signature ingredient in stroganoff. They add an earthy, umami depth and a tender texture to the filling. Baby bella (cremini) mushrooms are an excellent choice for a richer flavor, but white button mushrooms also work well.
• Salt and Ground Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that bring all the flavors into balance. Adjust to your taste preferences throughout the cooking process.
• Dijon Mustard: A critical ingredient for authentic stroganoff flavor, Dijon mustard adds a subtle tang and a slight kick that cuts through the richness of the beef and cream.
• Worcestershire Sauce: This savory condiment is a secret weapon, imparting a complex, umami-rich flavor that deepens the beef stroganoff base.
• All-Purpose Flour: Used as a thickening agent for the stroganoff sauce, creating a velvety, smooth consistency that coats the beef and mushrooms perfectly.
• Water: Helps to create the luscious sauce base for the stroganoff, dissolving the flour and combining with other liquids to form a rich gravy.
• Frozen Peas: Bright green frozen peas add a pop of color, a touch of sweetness, and a soft texture to the beef filling, making the dish even more appealing.
• Sour Cream: The hallmark of any good stroganoff, full-fat sour cream is crucial for its creamy texture and distinctive tangy flavor. Using full-fat helps prevent curdling when incorporated into the warm sauce.
• Milk: Added to the mashed potatoes, milk contributes to their creamy, smooth consistency, making the topping light and delightful.
• Fresh Parsley: A garnish that adds a burst of fresh flavor and vibrant color, brightening the finished pie.

Mastering the Skillet Stroganoff Pie: Step-By-Step

Creating this comforting Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff Pie is a straightforward process. Follow these detailed steps to achieve a perfectly balanced and utterly delicious meal:

1. Prepare the Potatoes: Begin by preparing your potatoes. Prick each potato several times with a fork. You can bake them in the microwave for 10-12 minutes until just soft, or roast them in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for about 45 minutes until tender. Allow them to cool slightly until they are comfortable to handle, then carefully peel off their skins. This initial baking method helps ensure your mashed potato topping isn’t too watery, leading to a richer, creamier texture.
2. Brown the Ground Beef: In your chosen oven-proof 10-inch skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat. Use a spoon to break up the meat as it cooks, ensuring it browns evenly and no pink remains. Once fully browned, drain any excess fat from the skillet. This step is crucial for developing the foundational flavor of your stroganoff.
3. Sauté Aromatics: Add half of the salted butter to the skillet with the browned ground beef. Stir in the diced onion, chopped garlic, and dried thyme. Continue to cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and becomes translucent, and the garlic releases its fragrant aroma. This aromatic base is key to the stroganoff’s depth.
4. Cook the Mushrooms: Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet. Season generously with salt and ground black pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms have softened significantly and have begun to release their juices. The moisture from the mushrooms will add to the richness of the sauce.
5. Build the Stroganoff Sauce: Stir in the Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce, ensuring they are well combined with the beef and mushroom mixture. Next, sprinkle the all-purpose flour evenly over the ingredients and stir thoroughly for about a minute to coat everything. This creates a roux that will thicken your sauce. Slowly pour in the water, stirring constantly and vigorously to prevent lumps, until a smooth, thick sauce begins to form. Let it simmer gently for a few minutes to further thicken and meld the flavors.
6. Finish the Filling: Remove the skillet from the heat. Fold in the frozen peas and the full-fat sour cream, mixing gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and the sauce is creamy. Allow the mixture to cook for just another minute over very low heat (or off the heat entirely) to warm the peas and integrate the sour cream without curdling, then remove from heat.
7. Prepare the Mashed Potato Topping: While the stroganoff filling cools slightly, place your baked and peeled potatoes into a large bowl. Add the remaining salted butter and half of the milk. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Using a potato masher or a fork, mash the potatoes until smooth and creamy. Stir in the fresh parsley. If the potatoes are too stiff, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time, until your desired creamy consistency is achieved.
8. Assemble the Pie: Evenly spread the mashed potatoes over the beef stroganoff filling in the skillet. Use the back of a spoon or a spatula to smooth the potato layer across the entire surface, ensuring it covers the filling completely and creates an even crust.
9. Broil to Golden Perfection: Carefully transfer the skillet to your preheated oven. Broil for a short period, typically 3-5 minutes, keeping a close eye on it, until the mashed potato topping turns a beautiful golden brown and appears bubbly and slightly crispy around the edges. This step adds a fantastic textural contrast.
10. Serve and Enjoy!: Remove the skillet from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the pie to set slightly, making it easier to serve. Garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.

Step-By-step Process

Expert Tips for the Perfect Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff Pie

Achieving a truly exceptional Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff Pie is easy with a few expert insights:

• Potato Perfection: For the creamiest, most flavorful mashed potato topping, opt for gold potatoes. Their naturally buttery taste and smooth texture shine through beautifully in this dish. Baking your potatoes instead of boiling is a crucial step; it ensures the potatoes are not waterlogged, resulting in a lighter, fluffier, and more flavorful mash that won’t make your pie soggy.
• Mushroom Choices: While white button mushrooms are perfectly fine, using baby bella (cremini) mushrooms will impart a deeper, more earthy, and robust flavor to your stroganoff filling. This subtle change can elevate the complexity of the dish significantly.
• Sour Cream Savvy: Always use full-fat sour cream when making the stroganoff sauce. Lower-fat versions are more prone to curdling when heated, which can affect the texture and appearance of your sauce. Full-fat sour cream provides a luscious, stable, and perfectly tangy finish.
• Don’t Skimp on the Sear: When browning your ground beef and sautéing your mushrooms, allow them to get a good sear. This caramelization process, known as the Maillard reaction, develops incredible depth of flavor that is essential to a rich stroganoff.
• Broiling with Care: When broiling the mashed potato topping, never walk away from the oven. Broilers can quickly go from perfectly golden to burnt in a matter of seconds. Keep a close eye on it, and remove the skillet as soon as it reaches your desired level of golden crispness.
• Make-Ahead Magic: This skillet pie is fantastic for meal prep! You can fully assemble the pie (both the beef filling and the potato topping) up to 24 hours in advance. Cover it tightly with foil and refrigerate. When ready to bake, remove it from the fridge 30 minutes before baking to allow it to come closer to room temperature, then bake as directed (you might need a few extra minutes in the oven before broiling if baking from cold).

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Make It a Meal: Perfect Pairings

While Skillet Stroganoff Pie is undeniably hearty and fulfilling on its own, it also pairs beautifully with a variety of side dishes to create a well-rounded and delightful meal. For a fresh contrast, serve it alongside a crisp green salad tossed with a light vinaigrette, such as your favorite creamy balsamic dressing. Roasted green beans or asparagus make an excellent vegetable accompaniment, adding vibrant color and a healthy crunch. If you’re looking to make the meal even heartier, consider serving slices of warm, crusty garlic bread or a simple French baguette to soak up every last drop of the rich, creamy stroganoff sauce. Any of these pairings will elevate your Skillet Stroganoff Pie dinner into a truly memorable experience.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

One of the many benefits of this Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff Pie is how wonderfully it stores and reheats, making it ideal for planned leftovers or meal prep. If you find yourself with extra servings:

Refrigeration: Allow any leftover pie to cool completely to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Stored in the refrigerator, it will remain fresh and delicious for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions gently in the microwave or cover with foil and warm in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, about 20-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Freezing: This dish also freezes exceptionally well, providing a convenient option for future meals. For best results, allow the entire skillet pie to cool completely. You can either freeze the entire pie in its oven-safe skillet (ensuring the skillet is freezer-safe) tightly wrapped in multiple layers of foil, or divide it into individual portions. Wrap individual portions tightly in heavy-duty foil, then place them into freezer-safe bags or containers. The Skillet Stroganoff Pie can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheating from Frozen: To reheat a frozen portion or an entire pie, first thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Once thawed, cover the pie with foil and warm it in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until it is heated through and bubbling, typically 30-45 minutes for individual portions and longer for a whole pie. Remove the foil for the last 10 minutes if you prefer a crispier topping.

Skillet Stroganoff Pie Recipe

A fun twist on shepherd’s pie, this meaty Skillet Stroganoff Pie features creamy ground beef with its signature sour cream tang, and a pillowy potato topping. It’s quick, easy, and delish, and it’s the kind of meal the family can really dig into!

Course: Casseroles, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef stroganoff, skillet meal

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 436 kcal
Author: Chef Jenn

Ingredients

• 2 pounds potatoes (unpeeled gold potatoes or russet work great)
• 1 pound ground beef (I use 80/20)
• 2 tablespoons salted butter (divided)
• 1 cup onion (diced)
• 2 tablespoons garlic (chopped)
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 8 ounces mushrooms (cleaned and sliced)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup water
• ¾ cup frozen peas
• ¼ cup sour cream (use full fat so it doesn’t curdle)
• 1 cup milk
• fresh parsley (to garnish)

Instructions

1. Bake the potatoes in the microwave or oven. Prick them all over with a fork and cook for 10-12 minutes or until just soft in the microwave, or bake them in a 400-F oven for about 45 minutes until soft. Let cool enough to handle, then peel the skins off.
2. Cook the ground beef over medium heat in your oven-proof 10-inch skillet until browned and no pink remains, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
3. Add half the butter then add the diced onion, chopped garlic, and dried thyme to the skillet with the ground beef. Cook for 6-7 minutes until the onion softens and the garlic is fragrant.
4. Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet, and season with salt and black pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms are soft and start to release their juices.
5. Stir in the Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce, then sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir well to coat everything. Slowly pour in the water, stirring constantly, until a thick sauce forms. Let it simmer for a few minutes to thicken.
6. Fold in the frozen peas and sour cream, mixing well to combine. Let it cook for another minute, then remove from heat.
7. While the filling cools slightly, mash the baked and peeled potatoes in a large bowl. Add the butter and half the milk and season with a bit of salt and pepper. Stir in the parsley then stir until smooth and creamy. Add more milk if needed until your potatoes are creamy.
8. Spread the mashed potatoes over the beef stroganoff filling in the skillet, smoothing it out with the back of a spoon.
9. Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
10. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

For additional tips, please refer to the “Expert Tips for the Perfect Skillet Ground Beef Stroganoff Pie” section above.

Nutrition

• Serving: 1.5 cups
• Calories: 436 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 39g
• Protein: 21g
• Fat: 23g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 74mg
• Sodium: 566mg
• Potassium: 1161mg
• Fiber: 5g
• Sugar: 7g
• Vitamin A: 393IU
• Vitamin C: 41mg
• Calcium: 118mg
• Iron: 4mg

A Note on Nutritional Information: Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.