Turkey Shepherd’s Pie: the ultimate hug in a bowl. This dish is great for a family dinner with kids or for making ahead for a tasty lunch during the week. Turkey shepherds pie features ground turkey and sautéed vegetables topped with creamy mashed potatoes, baked to perfection. Turkey shepherds pie is comfort food that you can feel good about eating. It’s easy to store and reheat.
Shepherd’s pie is the ultimate comfort food. With its savory meat filling and creamy mashed potato topping, it’s no wonder this classic dish has remained a staple for generations. But sometimes you want a lighter, healthier version without sacrificing any of that cozy, hearty flavor. That’s where this amazing turkey shepherd’s pie recipe comes in!
As a shepherd’s pie enthusiast myself, I decided to develop a recipe using ground turkey rather than beef. The result is a nourishing, protein-packed shepherd’s pie that still delivers on the delicious flavors you crave. I’ve made this turkey shepherd’s pie countless times for my family, and it never fails to satisfy. Keep reading for my easy-to-follow recipe, as well as tips for making the perfect turkey shepherd’s pie every time!
Benefits of Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
There are several excellent reasons to give this turkey shepherd’s pie a try:
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Lower in fat and calories – Ground turkey is leaner than beef meaning your shepherd’s pie will be lower in saturated fat and calories.
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Higher in protein – Turkey provides more protein ounce for ounce than ground beef Great news if you’re looking to up your protein intake!
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Budget-friendly – Ground turkey is an affordable alternative to pricier grass-fed beef
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Delicious flavor – Turkey makes an incredibly moist, savory pie filling. Your taste buds won’t miss the beef!
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Comforting and satisfying – All the cozy, hearty flavor you love remains with a healthier twist.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Part of what makes this turkey shepherd’s pie so tasty is using high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the mashed potato topping:
- Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
- Butter
- Milk
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheese like cheddar or Monterey Jack
For the savory turkey filling:
- Ground turkey (I prefer lean 93% lean)
- Olive oil
- Onion, carrots, parsnips
- Garlic
- Fresh herbs like thyme and sage
- White wine
- Chicken or turkey broth
- Flour to thicken
- Chopped parsley for garnish
That’s it – simple ingredients transformed into the ultimate comfort food!
Step-By-Step Cooking Instructions
Follow these simple steps for shepherd’s pie success:
1. Prepare the mashed potato topping
Peel and dice potatoes, then boil until fork tender. Drain and mash with butter, milk, sour cream, and shredded cheese until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Cook the savory turkey filling
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onion, carrots, parsnips, garlic, and herbs until softened. Add ground turkey and cook until no longer pink.
3. Make the gravy
Stir flour into turkey to coat, then add white wine and broth. Simmer until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Assemble and bake
Pour turkey filling into a casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes and sprinkle with extra cheese. Bake at 400°F until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
5. Finish and serve
Turn on the broiler to brown the potatoes if desired. Garnish with chopped parsley. Enjoy your hearty and delicious turkey shepherd’s pie!
Recipe Variations You’ll Love
Once you master the classic, try these fun turkey shepherd’s pie variations:
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Mix in frozen peas and carrots for extra veggies.
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Add pan-fried mushrooms or shredded spinach to the filling.
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Use a mixture of sweet and russet potatoes for the topping.
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Top with roasted garlic mashed potatoes for extra flavor.
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Swap sage for rosemary or thyme for the herbs.
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For spicy pie, add hot sauce or chili powder to filling.
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Make individual turkey pot pies for fun serving style.
The possibilities are endless! This versatile recipe is so easy to adapt to your tastes.
Serving Suggestions and Side Dishes
Part of the joy of shepherd’s pie is that it’s a complete meal in one dish. But if you want to round it out, here are some tasty serving suggestions:
- Steamed green beans or broccoli
- Roasted root vegetables like parsnips or carrots
- Fresh side salad or coleslaw
- Quick dinner rolls or biscuits
- Irish soda bread for an authentic touch
For beverages, I like to serve this comforting turkey shepherd’s pie with hot tea, coffee, or a pint of beer – perfect for chilly nights!
Storage and Reheating Tips
Like any casserole, this turkey shepherd’s pie tastes even better as leftovers! Store covered in the fridge for 3-5 days. To reheat, cover loosely and bake at 350°F until hot, about 30 minutes. Add a pat of butter on top if the potatoes seem dry. Leftover turkey shepherd’s pie also reheats beautifully in the microwave or toaster oven.
Why I Love This Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
I never get tired of whipping up this turkey shepherd’s pie. Here are just a few reasons why it’s become a regular rotation meal in my home:
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It’s lighter and healthier than classic beef shepherd’s pie but just as comforting.
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The flavorful turkey filling is so juicy and savory.
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The herbs add wonderful aroma and freshness.
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The creamy mashed potato topping is pure cozy perfection.
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It’s budget-friendly and makes great leftovers.
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This recipe is flexible and easy to customize.
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It brings me back to my childhood but with a lightened up twist.
All about turkey shepherd’s pie
I had never had shepherd’s pie before I made this recipe, but I thought the idea was good: ground meat and vegetables covered in mashed potatoes? Yes please!
You might see a recipe like that and just assume it could never be healthy. I mean, mashed potatoes? Those aren’t “healthy,” right?.
Wrong. As I always preach, everything in moderation. Just by making a few easy substitutions (i. e. ground turkey, fat free half and half) this recipe is easily lightened up. And let me tell you, it is certainly not lacking any flavor.
This recipe is so delicious and makes for a perfect meal prep. It stores really well in the fridge, and reheats so easily. My kids also really enjoy it, so it’s totally kid-friendly and approved for the family. You can’t beat it.
So, let’s get to cooking!
How to prep the mashed potato topping
I always start this process first, since it takes the longest to prep and boil the potatoes.
Start by peeling the potatoes. For this recipe, I use 30 oz of potatoes (weighed raw). This equated to about three medium-sized russet potatoes, which yielded about 3 1/2 cups when chopped.
Peel the potatoes and chop them roughly into large chunks.
Fill a small pot with water and bring the water to a boil, then add the potatoes.
Cook the potatoes until they are fork tender. Then, strain them.
While the potatoes are cooking, you can make the shepherd’s pie filling. But let’s finish this part now for the sake of teaching!
It’s best to use a fork to break up any lumps. Next, add the half-and-half, garlic salt, and onion salt. Stir to combine until they are creamy, like mashed potatoes. Set them aside until you’re ready to use them.
Leftover Turkey Shepherds Pie
How do you cook a Turkey Shepherd’s pie?
This turkey shepherd’s pie makes a healthy twist on an old favorite. Start the topping: Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. While the potatoes are cooking, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
How do you make a Turkey Shepherd’s pie gluten free?
Herbs and spices. Marjoram, sage, and garlic add tons of flavor to the turkey shepherd’s pie without being overwhelming. Flour. A bit of flour helps thicken the sauce but you could swap in a corn starch slurry to make this recipe gluten free. Worcestershire. Worcestershire sauce adds great savory flavor.
What can I add to a Turkey Shepherd’s pie?
Veggies. This recipe uses onion, carrot, celery, mushrooms, and frozen peas but you could also add in other veggies like diced potato, green beans, or corn. Herbs and spices. Marjoram, sage, and garlic add tons of flavor to the turkey shepherd’s pie without being overwhelming.
What is a Turkey Shepherd’s pie?
We love a one-pan dinner in our household and this Turkey Shepherd’s Pie is so easy to throw together on a busy night. Ground turkey is cooked down with veggies in a savory beef broth sauce and topped with mashed potatoes before getting a quick bake/broil in the oven. You’re going to love how quick and easy it is to get this recipe on the table.
How do you make a shepherd’s pie?
Here’s a look at how make this shepherd’s pie recipe (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post): Step 1: Cook the vegetables. Sauté the onions, bell peppers, carrots, and celery in a large oven safe pan. Add the garlic and sauté 30 more seconds. Step 2: Make the sauce.
Can you use ground turkey in a shepherd’s pie?
Use ground turkey: Similar to a traditional shepherd’s pie or cottage pie, you can use ground meat in this recipe—just cook it before using it! Swap in cooked ground turkey for the cubed turkey, then prepare the recipe as directed. You can also try this winter vegetable shepherd’s pie with ground turkey.