A classic shepherd's pie is a fulfilling, tasty, and comforting dish that keeps the entire family happy! Try my Ground Turkey Shepard’s Pie using a staple in my house, my favorite Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey, and you'll never want to go back to your regular version!
This post is sponsored by Honeysuckle White Turkey. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
Warm, filling, and oh-so-delicious, Shepherd's pie has been loved since the late 1700s - when it was known as the cottage pie! Once you give this turkey variation a spin, you just might have a new favorite weeknight dinner on your hands...
And if you love cozy, comfort food for those busy weeknights you’ll also want to try my One-Pot Italian Chickpea Soup and Creamy Sage Pumpkin Pasta Sauce.
Why You'll Love The Ground Turkey Shepard's Pie
Ground turkey is a lean protein choice. It’s lighter and more lean than traditional ground beef, so you won't feel like you over ate! And so, ground turkey recipes are a hit in my family!
It's a veggie-packed meal. You don't have to be a mom to appreciate sneaking those veggies in your family's meals. This dish is packed with healthy vegetables like carrots, celery, and peas.
It's perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers. No more turkey sandwiches over and over again! Yep, you can use your leftovers in this dish and serve it up with a Leftover Turkey Quesadilla!
It's a happy freezer meal! Yes, you can go ahead and freeze it for those lazy nights!
There are mashed potatoes in there! And with that, I rest my case...who can resist a comforting spoonful of garlic mashed potatoes?!
Ingredient List for Ground Turkey Shepards Pie
Mashed Potatoes
- Potatoes - Russet potatoes are the best pick here. They have a whole lot of starch content, which will give you fluffy mashed potatoes. Peeling and cubing will reduce your cooking time!
- Butter - Use salted butter for the recipe.
- Whole Milk - Need creamy mashed potatoes? Don't skip whole milk. No skim milk!
- Seasonings - You'll need salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to flavor your mashed potatoes.
Pie Filling
- Olive Oil - Other oils like canola oil or avocado oil will work as well.
- Yellow Onion - Add a hint of sweetness with yellow onion. Chop up into small pieces!
- Carrots - They'll bring a nice touch of red to the dish. Diced carrots cook faster.
- Frozen Peas - These add color and texture to your dish. You can also use fresh ones, but that will take longer.
- Celery Stalks - Want a crunchier bite? Don't leave this one out.
- Corn Starch + Water Slurry - You'll need this to thicken the mixture. Make sure you add it gradually as the mix simmers.
- Whole Milk - That's my number 1 choice for the recipe. It's creamy, more flavorful, and, of course, healthy.
- Chicken Stock - This will keep your dish moist and juicy. You can also add chicken broth. If you're more of a beef lover, beef broth will do, too.
- Seasonings - No one likes a bland shepherd's pie. So add some salt, black pepper, thyme, and parsley to taste.
Of course, you need ground turkey as well. I use Honeysuckle White Turkey for my recipe. They have options for fat-free turkey and even different percentages of fat content! So, it's easy to pick the one that suits your preference.
Variations To Try…
There's a lot you can do to add a touch of you to the dish!
For instance, you can add tomato sauce to the filling and make it a bit tangier.
You can also try cheesy turkey shepherd's pie by adding some cheddar or mozzarella over the mashed potatoes before baking it.
Add Worcestershire sauce or red wine to the pie filling for an extra kick.
You can also replace mashed potatoes with cauliflower mash for an even healthier version of shepherd's pie.
Making the Turkey Shepherd's Pie
Don't get intimidated by the number of steps you see. They are pretty easy to follow and don't require too much effort…
Mash The Potatoes
Step 1. Add diced potatoes to salted water in a dutch oven. Boil for 25 minutes until tender.
Step 2. Drain the water and roughly mash the potatoes with a potato masher.
Step 3. Add the butter and milk to the mashed potatoes.
Step 4. Stir until fully combined and smooth. Set aside.
Prep the Pie Filling
Step 1. Brown the ground turkey until there is no pink remaining. Drain the fat and set aside on a plate.
Step 2. Add onion, celery, and carrots to the hot skillet and sauté for 3-5 minutes.
Step 3. Add the broth and corn starch slurry to the hot pan and cook for 5 minutes until it begins to thicken.
Step 4. Add in the frozen peas, milk, and cooked ground turkey. Stir to combine.
Step 6. Add the filling to a baking dish and top with the mashed potatoes.
Step 7. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes until the top of the potatoes are browned. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Make it a hearty meal for the whole family by pairing it with homemade dutch oven bread, corn on the cob, green beans, or jalapeno corn casserole. You can also drizzle some cranberry sauce for a fun Thanksgiving twist!
Yes, why not? They'll add a nice, sweet touch to the dish. Follow the same procedure. Watch the cooking time, though. Sweet potatoes cook faster than russets.
It sure can! Let the dish completely cool before putting in in an airtight container and into the freezer. This will safely store for 3-5 months. Defrost completely before reheating in an oven safe dish.
Related Ground Turkey Recipes
If you tried this Ground Turkey Shepherd's Pie recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
Ground Turkey Shepherd's Pie Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 large skillet
- 1 baking dish
Ingredients
- 3 lbs russet potatoes peeled & cubed
- ¼ cup butter salted
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 carrots diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 cup frozen peas
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup chicken stock
- parsley for topping
Instructions
- Prepare the mashed potatoes by placing the cubed potatoes in a large pot and fill with enough water to cover the potatoes.
- Place over medium high heat and add the salt to the water. Bring this to a boil.
- Boil the potoatoes for 15 minutes, or until you can break them apart with a fork.
- While the potatoes are cooking, make the filling by heating the olive oil and browning the turkey in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once it's not pink anymore, add the salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Set aside on a paper towel lined plate.
- To the same skillet Saute the onion, carrot, and celery for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the turkey back to the skillet.
- Pour in the cornstarch mixture and chicken stock then bring to a gentle boil and cook for 5-7 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and stir in the milk and peas.
- At this point you can leave it in the skillet or transfer it to a 9x13 baking dish.
- Drain the potatoes and add them back to your large pot. To the potatoes add the pepper, and garlic powder.
- Use a potato masher to break apart the potatoes and combine the ingredients.
- Once the potaotes are mostly smooth, stir in the butter and milk. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
- Top the turkey mixture with the mashed potato mixture and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Remove and top with chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
- you can add tomato sauce to the filling and make it a bit tangier.
- You can also try cheesy turkey shepherd's pie by adding some cheddar or mozzarella over the mashed potatoes before baking it.
- Add Worcestershire sauce or red wine to the pie filling for an extra kick.
- You can also replace mashed potatoes with cauliflower mash for an even healthier version of shepherd's pie.
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