Turkey Shepherds Pie (Printable)

Lean turkey and creamy cauliflower-potato topping combine for a wholesome, comforting main dish with bright seasonings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Mash Topping

01 - 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced
02 - 1 small head cauliflower, cut into florets
03 - 2 tablespoons light cream cheese
04 - 2 tablespoons low-fat milk
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Turkey Filling

07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1 medium onion, diced
09 - 2 carrots, diced
10 - 2 celery stalks, diced
11 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
12 - 1 pound lean ground turkey
13 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
15 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
17 - 1 cup frozen peas
18 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
19 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
20 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cauliflower florets. Cook until tender, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
03 - Mash potatoes and cauliflower with cream cheese, milk, olive oil, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 5 to 7 minutes until softened.
05 - Stir in minced garlic and cook 1 minute. Add ground turkey, cooking until browned and cooked through, approximately 6 minutes, breaking up meat as it cooks.
06 - Stir in thyme, rosemary, smoked paprika, and tomato paste. Cook 1 minute to bloom spices.
07 - Add frozen peas, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes until mixture thickens slightly.
08 - Transfer turkey mixture to a 2-quart baking dish. Spread mash topping evenly over filling.
09 - Bake for 20 minutes, or until topping is lightly golden and filling is bubbling at edges.
10 - Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent and cozy without leaving you in a food coma afterward.
  • The cauliflower hidden in the mash means you get extra vegetables without anyone complaining about it.
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means you can actually pull this off on a weeknight.
02 -
  • Drain your potatoes and cauliflower really thoroughly after boiling, otherwise the mash absorbs water and becomes gluey instead of fluffy and creamy.
  • Don't skip browning the ground turkey properly; it creates flavor through the Maillard reaction, and rushing this step leaves the filling tasting flat and one-dimensional.
03 -
  • Use a skillet large enough that the turkey has room to brown properly instead of steaming in its own moisture.
  • The golden top happens fastest if your baking dish is filled with warm filling when it goes into the oven, so don't assemble it too far in advance.
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