This ground turkey Shepherd's Pie is a lighter take on the traditional recipe, which usually uses lamb. It is made with ground turkey and a mix of veggies covered in a yummy gravy. The dish is topped with a layer of smooth mashed potatoes.
Serve this with our Copycat Popeyes Biscuits Recipe.
Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
When you want both Shepherd’s Pie and Turkey Pot Pie, why not mix them into the ultimate comfort food?
This recipe is perfect for using ground turkey and leftover mashed potatoes.
Serve this with Copycat Popeyes Biscuits Recipe and your family will love it so much they'll clean their plates!
Why You'll Love This Ground Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
- It uses ingredients you likely have at home. This recipe is great because it mostly calls for ingredients from your pantry and fridge, saving you a trip to the store.
- It's very comforting. If you're looking for a warm and cozy meal, this is the one.
- You can freeze it. Cook a double portion and freeze half for later. This way, you'll have a ready meal for a busy night.
You'll Need
- Unsalted Butter: Used for sautéing. You can substitute with olive oil or any cooking oil for a dairy-free option.
- Onion: Adds flavor. Yellow or white onions are best.
- Celery: Contributes to the base flavor. Can be omitted if unavailable.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is preferred for the best flavor. Garlic powder can be used as a substitute, but the taste might differ slightly.
- Lean Ground Turkey: The main protein. Ground chicken or even lean ground beef can be used as alternatives.
- Seasonings (Onion Powder, Dried Thyme, Dried Rosemary, Dried Sage, Black Pepper, Salt): These spices add depth. Feel free to adjust according to taste or substitute with Italian seasoning or poultry seasoning.
- Flour: Thickens the filling. For a gluten-free option, use a gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch.
- Chicken Broth: Provides moisture and flavor. Vegetable broth or even water with extra seasoning can be used as substitutes.
- Half and Half: Adds creaminess. Whole milk, light cream, or a dairy-free milk alternative can be used. For a richer filling, you could use heavy cream.
- Chicken Bouillon Cube/Better Than Bouillon: Enhances flavor. If not available, adjust the salt and seasonings to compensate.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a unique savory flavor. You can use soy sauce or tamari, but the flavor profile will change.
- Frozen Veggies (Frozen Peas, Carrots, Corn, Green beans): Add color and nutrition. You can use any mix of vegetables you like or have on hand, including fresh vegetables.
- Mashed Potatoes: The topping. For a healthier twist, try our Mashed Cauliflower.
- Garnish (Parsley or Thyme): Fresh herbs add color and freshness. You can omit or substitute with other fresh herbs like chives or rosemary.
How to Make Shepherd's Pie with Ground Turkey
Look at the recipe card below this post for the amounts of ingredients and complete instructions.
For this dish, use 5 cups of our Boursin Cheese Mashed Potato Recipe. While the potatoes are boiling, start making the filling.
Melt the butter in a big pan on medium-high. Add in the chopped onions and celery, and cook them for 3 minutes. After that, add the garlic and cook for one more minute.
Turn the heat up to high and add the ground turkey and the seasonings (onion powder, dried thyme, rosemary, sage, black pepper, and salt) to the pan. Cook and break it up until it's completely cooked.
Lower the heat to medium-high. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir everything.
Slowly pour in the chicken broth and half and half, whisking all the time.
Add in the chicken bouillon cube and Worcestershire sauce, and mix them in. Let the turkey mixture simmer until it becomes thicker.
Add the frozen vegetables, stir to mix and warm them up. Then, remove the pan from the heat.
Let the filling cool a little, then carefully put the warm potatoes on top. Use a silicone spatula to evenly spread the potatoes over the filling, making sure it's smooth. Be careful not to press too hard so the potatoes stay on top. If you want, you can use a fork to create a 'raked' pattern on the potatoes. After that, place the dish in the oven that's already hot and bake it without a cover for 10 minutes.
Make-Ahead Method
- To store in the fridge: Keep the filling in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, warm the filling on the stove or cover it and heat it in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes. Then, add warm mashed potatoes on top and bake as directed.
- To store in the freezer: Make the filling and place it in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge for 24 hours before using. Reheat the filling on the stove or cover it and heat in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes. Add warm mashed potatoes on top and bake as directed.
Pro Tips
- You can sprinkle some grated cheese over the mashed potatoes if you want it cheesier.
- For quick mashing of potatoes, use a potato masher or mixer.
- If you don't like regular potatoes, try using mashed sweet potatoes or mashed cauliflower for the top layer.
- Don't have a cast-iron skillet? A casserole dish works too.
- Add other veggies like mushrooms, spinach, and more if you like.
- Put the mashed potatoes over the filling any way you prefer. For a more decorative look, pipe the potatoes on top using a piping bag and a large tip.
Storage
Keep it in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
More Delicious Ground Turkey Recipes
Ground Turkey Soup with Vegetables
Egg Roll in A Bowl Ground Turkey
Baked Turkey Pesto Meatballs with Sun Dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce
If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I will be happy to hear from you!
Turkey Shepherds Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ medium onion diced about 1 cup
- 2 ribs celery diced about 1 cup
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 pounds ground turkey
- ½ teaspoon EACH: Onion Powder dried thyme, dried rosemary, dried sage
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- ⅓ cup flour
- 2 ¾ cups chicken broth
- ½ cup Half and half
- 1 chicken bouillon cube or 1 tsp better than bouillon
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
- 5 cups warm mashed potatoes
- Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the Potatoes
- Use 5 cups of our Boursin cheese mashed potato recipe for this dish. As the potatoes are boiling, start preparing the filling.
Prepare the Filling
- Melt the BUTTER in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the diced ONIONS and CELERY, and sauté them for 3 minutes. Then, add the GARLIC and cook for an additional minute.
- Increase the heat to high and add the GROUND TURKEY together with the SEASONINGS ( onion powder, dried thyme, rosemary, sage, black pepper and salt) to the pan. Cook and crumble it until it's fully cooked. Then, drain off any excess grease.
- Reduce the heat to medium-high. Sprinkle FLOUR over the mixture and stir to coat.
- Gradually add the CHICKEN BROTH and HALF and HALF, whisking continuously.
- Add chicken BOUILLON CUBE and WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE, and stir to combine. Allow to simmer until the mixture gets thicker.
- Mix in the FROZEN VEGETABLES, stirring to combine and heat them through. Then, take the pan off the heat.
Assemble
- If your skillet isn't safe for the oven or broiler, transfer the filling to a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Allow the filling to cool a bit, then gently scoop warm potatoes on top. Use a silicone spatula to spread the warm potatoes into an even, smooth layer over the filling. Be gentle and avoid pressing down too hard to keep the potatoes on top.
- If you like, you can use a fork to make a 'raked' design on top of the potatoes. Then, put the dish in the preheated oven and bake it uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Turn the broiler to high (550 degrees) and let the top of the dish brown for about 4 minutes. Keep a close eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn. Avoid using glass or Pyrex baking dishes for this step.
- Take it out of the oven and garnish with fresh thyme or parsley. Let the dish sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Emily says
Such a comforting, hearty dish! The turkey filling was perfectly seasoned, and the mashed potatoes were heavenly. Perfect for chilly nights.
Tatiana says
Thank you, Emily! Shepherd’s pie is the ultimate comfort food. Glad you enjoyed it!