Ground Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

This 30-minute recipe for ground turkey shepherd’s pie is a cozy weeknight dinner the entire family is going to love. Try it once; make it on repeat!

Sautéed veggies and meat in a light and easy gravy, topped with hearty mashed potatoes and cheese… epic meal that also reheats great the next day!

Turkey Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage Pie?

Classic shepherd’s pie is made with ground lamb, while cottage pie uses ground beef or turkey. That said, the name Shepherd’s pie is used interchangeably today since lamb isn’t as commonly used (in the US, anyway).

What Goes in Turkey Shepherd’s Pie?

Shepherd’s pie is made of ground meat cooked down with vegetables and spices then topped with a hearty dose of cheesy mashed potatoes. Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients you’ll need to make it: 

• russet potatoes
• butter
• lean ground turkey
• veggies: onion, carrots, and garlic
• tomato paste
• Worcestershire sauce
• all-purpose flour or tapioca starch
• chicken broth
• dried thyme or poultry seasoning
• salt & pepper
• green peas
• milk
• grated cheese
• fresh chives

If you want to reduce the carbs, you can swap the potatoes for a batch of mashed cauliflower. That recipe is in my grain-free cookbook, The Best Homemade Grain-Free Meals on the Planet. It tastes incredible, and no one even misses the potatoes!

As the seasons change, so does our craving for certain flavors and foods. This Shepherd’s Pie is the epitome of a healthy comfort food meal you want to warm up with during cooler weather. 

I’m a big fan of making seasonal dishes we can enjoy for everyday meals, and that’s something I like to carry over into my family meal plans.

You’ll find the weekly recipes are centered around what’s in season and the time of year. Soups and salads in the summer, stews and heartier fairs in the winter. It’s a simple way to learn how to make incredible meals with the freshest ingredients year-round. 

How to Make Ground Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

Compared to other recipes, this shepherd’s pie is prepared a little differently. Instead of baking for an additional 30 minutes, the pie is topped with the mashed potatoes and cheese, then simmered long enough for the cheese the melt. 

With this method, the flavors are still the same, and dinner is ready in a fraction of the time. Here’s how to make it: 

Boil the potatoes
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook for 15 minutes or until tender. 

Brown the meat
While the potatoes boil, melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the turkey and onion. Brown for 6 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula as it cooks. 

Add the veggies
To the browned meat, add carrots, tomato paste, Worcestershire, and garlic. Season with salt and cook until the carrots are tender. 

Make a slurry
In a small bowl, whisk the flour or tapioca starch with the broth until it’s dissolved. Add the mixture to the meat and veggies along with the green peas and thyme. Stir to combine and simmer until thickened. 

Mash the potatoes
Drain the potatoes, then add the milk, 3 tablespoons butter, cheese, salt, and black pepper. Mash to combine and set aside. 

*Since no baking is involved, you want the potatoes to be starchier. Use only enough milk to help the potatoes mash and bind, about ½ cup. 

Top it off! 
Spread the mashed potatoes over the meat and veggie mixture, top with cheese, and simmer on medium heat for 3 minutes or until the potatoes are heated through. Remove from heat, top with chives, and serve. 

If you’d prefer for the cheese to be browned and slightly crispy, you can broil the entire dish in the oven for 3 minutes if using an oven-safe skillet.

This entire dish can also be pre-assembled. Just cook the meat and veggies as directed, prepare the mashed potatoes, and refrigerate both separately for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to serve, assemble and reheat on the stove-top. 

Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

If you’re making this shepherd’s pie around the holidays, you can also use leftover roasted turkey that’s been cubed or shredded in place of ground meat. Of course, the texture is different from ground turkey, but the roasted turkey flavor fits right in with the rest of the ingredients, and it’s easy to add.

Here’s how to substitute roasted turkey for ground turkey in this shepherd’s pie: 

1. Skip browning the meat. 
2. Sauté the carrots and garlic in 1 tablespoon butter for 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and cook until the carrots are tender. 
3. In a small bowl, whisk the flour or tapioca starch with the broth until it’s dissolved. 
4. Add the mixture to the veggies along with the green peas, thyme, and roasted turkey. Stir to combine and simmer for 5 minutes or until the turkey is heated through. 
5. Top with mashed potatoes and proceed with the recipe. 

You can also use the same method above with leftover beef roast or stew meat.  

How to Reheat Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

When it comes to reheating turkey shepherd’s pie you can use three options: the oven, stove-top, or microwave.

If making a single-serving, go for the microwave. Add a portion to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 2 minutes or until heated through.

If you’re reheating the entire skillet, you can bake it in a 375F oven for 10 minutes (if you made it in an oven-safe skillet) or reheat it on the stove-top for 10 minutes or until the potatoes and ground turkey are piping hot.

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