Turkey Shepherds Pie (Printable)

Lean turkey filling with a creamy cauliflower and potato mash topping for a wholesome, satisfying meal.

# What You 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, cook until tender, approximately 12-15 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
03 - Mash potatoes and cauliflower with cream cheese, milk, olive oil, salt, and pepper until smooth consistency. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 5-7 minutes until softened.
05 - Stir in 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 for 1 minute.
07 - Add 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.
10 - Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cauliflower-potato mash is secretly luxurious while keeping things light, so no one will guess what you did.
  • Ground turkey browns beautifully and soaks up all those savory flavors without heaviness.
  • The whole thing comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for weeknight dinners that still feel special.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the potatoes and cauliflower thoroughly after boiling, or you'll end up with a gluey mash instead of a fluffy one.
  • The filling needs those 5 minutes of simmering at the end to thicken, so be patient and don't skip this step even though it feels like the turkey is already done.
03 -
  • If you want a crispy top on the mash, brush it lightly with a tiny bit of olive oil before baking; it'll develop a gorgeous golden crust.
  • Tasting the filling before it goes into the oven gives you a chance to adjust seasoning, which makes all the difference between good and truly memorable.
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