Easy Shepherd’s Pie With Ground Turkey Recipe
This Easy Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Turkey is a lighter twist on the classic comfort food, featuring lean ground turkey and a creamy cauliflower or potato topping. Packed with vegetables and seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices, this hearty casserole is perfect for a family dinner. The recipe combines stovetop cooking for the filling with a final bake to create a bubbly, golden top that is both satisfying and delicious.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 lb ground turkey (85% lean, 15% fat)
- 8 oz white mushrooms (or baby bella mushrooms), chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 2 cups frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, and corn)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
Topping
- 2 lbs cauliflower (or potatoes), cut into florets or peeled and chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 tsp salt (for boiling water)
- 1/3 cup milk (1% milk recommended)
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get it ready for baking the shepherd’s pie.
- Prepare the topping: In a large pot, place the cauliflower florets or peeled potatoes along with 3 peeled garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are fork-tender. Drain well in a colander.
- Make mashed topping: Return the drained cauliflower or potatoes to the pot. Add milk and sour cream, then blend until smooth using an immersion blender or mash thoroughly with a potato masher. Mix in shredded cheddar cheese and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook the turkey: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground turkey and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Remove the turkey from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté vegetables: Add butter to the same skillet. Cook onions and celery until softened, about 5 minutes. Add chopped mushrooms and minced garlic, cooking further for 3-5 minutes until mushrooms soften.
- Make filling sauce: Sprinkle flour over the vegetable mixture and stir well to combine. Add tomato puree, frozen vegetables, cooked turkey, Worcestershire sauce, and chicken broth. Stir to mix thoroughly and reduce heat to low. Simmer until the mixture thickens, approximately 10 minutes.
- Assemble the pie: In a casserole dish (such as a 9×12 ceramic or cast iron dish), spread the turkey and vegetable mixture evenly across the bottom.
- Add mashed topping: Place blobs of the mashed cauliflower or potatoes over the filling and spread evenly with the back of a spoon to cover completely.
- Bake: Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the filling is bubbly. Optionally, broil for a few minutes at the end to crisp and brown the top.
- Serve: Allow the shepherd’s pie to cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can use either cauliflower or potatoes for the topping depending on your preference or dietary needs.
- If you don’t have an immersion blender, a potato masher works well to create the mashed topping.
- Using lean ground turkey helps keep the dish lighter but still flavorful and filling.
- Broiling at the end is optional to achieve a crispy top layer, but watch closely to prevent burning.
- Frozen mixed vegetables are convenient and work perfectly, but fresh vegetables can be substituted depending on availability.
Keywords: shepherd's pie, ground turkey, cauliflower topping, easy dinner, comfort food, baked casserole, healthy shepherd's pie
