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Keto Shepherds Pie

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This Keto Shepherd's Pie Recipe (a.k.a keto cottage pie) is the ultimate in low carb comfort food. Ground beef and pork, cooked with carrots, peppers, onions, garlic, and peas in a savory tomato sauce, topped with a layer of sharp cheddar cheese and finished with a layer of creamy cauliflower puree and then baked to perfection. (low carb, keto, gluten free, sugar free, diabetic friendly)

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Ingredients in Keto Shepherds Pie

Ingredients all laid out in individual bowls to make a low carb and gluten free shepherds pie recipe.

Ingredients Notes

  • Meat: For this low carb shepherds pie recipe, I used a combination of beef and pork. But you can also use ground lamb, bison, sirloin, turkey, or even chicken. Or use any combination of these that sounds good to you. (Try these Keto Shepherds Pie Meatballs)
  • Vegetables: This low carb cottage pie recipe calls for carrots, peas, and red bell peppers. However, you can use any lower vegetables you may have on hand. Some of my favorites are broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, celery, mushrooms, or asparagus,
  • Worcestershire sauce: If you do not have Worcestershire sauce, you can substitute soy sauce or coconut aminos.
  • Tomato Paste: If you do not have tomato paste, you can also use ketchup.
  • Cheese: For the melty, cheesy layer on this keto shepherds pie, I used shredded sharp cheddar cheese. You could also use mozzarella, smoked gouda, provolone, or gruyere.
  • Cauliflower mash: I topped this gluten free shepherds pie with my Sour Cream and Chive Cauliflower Mash recipe, but you could also use this Creamy Cauliflower Mash, Caramelized Onion Cauliflower Mash, or Herbed Goat Cheese Cauliflower Mash.

How to Make Keto Shepherds Pie

Step by step photos of how to make low carb sour cream and chive cauliflower mash.

Step by Step Instructions

STEP 1: Fill a large saucepot with 1 inch of water and place it over high heat. Steam the cauliflower, whole and uncovered, until fork tender, about 15 minutes.

STEP 2: Once the cauliflower is finished cooking, drain the water from the pot. Leave the cauliflower in the hot pot, cover and put back on the stove. Let sit for 5 minutes to help draw out any excess moisture. This is an important step. If you skip this step, you could end up with cauliflower soup.

STEP 3: Fork mash the cauliflower in the pan.

STEP 4: Add the garlic, butter, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, chives, mustard, onion flakes, salt and pepper. Mash until the cauliflower reaches a potato-like consistency and all the ingredients are well incorporated.

Step by step directions for how to make the filling for a low carb shepherds pie.

STEP 5: Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, heat the butter and olive oil. Add the onion and garlic. Cook until the onion is translucent, and the garlic is fragrant.

STEP 6: Add the ground beef and ground pork. Cook until the meats are browned and drain any excess grease. Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, salt and pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes.

STEP 7: Add the carrots and bell pepper to the pan and sauté for 10 minutes. Then mix in the peas.

STEP 8: Transfer the meat mixture to a large casserole dish. Top with a layer of Cheddar cheese. Spoon the cauliflower mash into a large plastic zip top bag (or pastry bag). Snip off the corner and pipe a thick layer of the cauliflower mash on top of the cheese layer.Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the top is golden browned and crisped up in places.fe

An enameled cast iron skillet full of shepherds pie, made with beef, veggies, tomato sauce, and topped with cauliflower mash.

Recipe Tips and Variations

  • Make ahead: The cauliflower mash and the filling can both be made ahead of time to create a shorter cook time when you are ready to assemble and bake the shepherds pie. (Try this Herbed Goat Cheese Cauliflower Mash Recipe)
  • Storage: Store leftover low carb shepherds pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. These are my favorite meal prep containers
  • Reheating: Reheat in the microwave, oven, or in a pan on the stove top.
  • Protein: In place of the ground beef or ground pork in this keto shepherds pie recipe, you could also use ground lamb, bison, sirloin, turkey, or even chicken. Or use any combination of these that sounds good to you. (More Keto Ground Beef Recipes)
  • Toppings: It is also delicious topped with some crispy fried onions. They add a pop of flavor and a nice contrasting texture. 
  • Amp up the veggies: This recipe is a great way to use up leftover vegetables, or any vegetables you have in the fridge that might have reached the "use it or lose it stage" Some of my other favorite vegetables to use are mushrooms, green beans, broccoli, celery, and Brussels sprouts. (Vegetarian Keto Recipes)
  • Use mashed potatoes: If you are not concerned with keeping things low in carbs, this is excellent topped with creamy mashed potatoes. 
An enameled cast iron skillet full of shepherds pie, made with beef, veggies, tomato sauce, and topped with cauliflower mash.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is shepherds pie?

Shepherds pie is a casserole made with a layer of meat, vegetables and sauce, topped with whipped potatoes. Or in this case, cauliflower mash to keep it low carb.

How do you make keto shepherds pie?

Turning a traditional shepherds pie recipe into a keto friendly version is as simple as using cauliflower mash on top as opposed to mashed potatoes.

An enameled cast iron skillet full of shepherds pie, made with beef, veggies, tomato sauce, and topped with cauliflower mash.

More Keto Recipes

An enameled cast iron skillet full of shepherds pie, made with beef, veggies, tomato sauce, and topped with cauliflower mash.

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An enameled cast iron skillet full of shepherds pie, made with beef, veggies, tomato sauce, and topped with cauliflower mash.

Keto Shepherds Pie

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  • Author: Kyndra Holley
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

This Keto Shepherd's Pie Recipe (a.k.a keto cottage pie) is the ultimate in low carb comfort food. Ground beef and pork, cooked with carrots, peppers, onions, garlic, and peas in a savory tomato sauce, topped with a layer of sharp cheddar cheese and finished with a layer of creamy cauliflower puree and then baked to perfection. (low carb, keto, gluten free, sugar free, diabetic friendly)

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Shepherds Pie Filling

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 8 ounces ground pork
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Sea salt and black pepper
  • ½ cup diced carrots
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • ½ cup diced red bell pepper
  • ¾ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

For the Sour Cream and Onion Cauliflower Mash Topping

  • 1 large head cauliflower, cleaned and trimmed
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup butter (½ stick)
  • ¾ cup sour cream
  • ¾ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, grated
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh chives
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
  • Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

For the Cauliflower Mash

  1. Fill a large saucepot with 1 inch of water and place it over high heat. Steam the cauliflower, whole and uncovered, until fork tender, about 15 minutes.
  2. Once the cauliflower is finished cooking, drain the water from the pot. Leave the cauliflower in the hot pot, cover and put back on the stove. Let sit for 5 minutes to help draw out any excess moisture. This is an important step. If you skip this step, you could end up with cauliflower soup.
  3. Fork mash the cauliflower in the pan. Add the garlic, butter, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, chives, mustard, onion flakes, salt and pepper. Mash until the cauliflower reaches a potato-like consistency and all the ingredients are well incorporated.

For the Filling and Assembling

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, heat the butter and olive oil. Add the onion and garlic. Cook until the onion is translucent, and the garlic is fragrant.
  3. Add the ground beef and ground pork. Cook until the meats are browned and drain any excess grease. Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, salt and pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes.
  4. Add the carrots and bell pepper to the pan and sauté for 10 minutes. Then mix in the peas.
  5. Transfer the meat mixture to a large casserole dish. Top with a layer of Cheddar cheese.
  6. Spoon the cauliflower mash into a large plastic zip top bag (or pastry bag). Snip off the corner and pipe a thick layer of the cauliflower mash on top of the cheese layer.
  7. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the top is golden browned and crisped up in places.

Notes

  • Make ahead: The cauliflower mash and the filling can both be made ahead of time to create a shorter cook time when you are ready to assemble and bake the shepherds pie. 
  • Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
  • Reheating: Reheat in the microwave, oven, or in a pan on the stove top.
  • Protein: In place of the ground beef or ground pork in this keto shepherds pie recipe, you could also use ground lamb, bison, sirloin, turkey, or even chicken. Or use any combination of these that sounds good to you. 
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Dinner Recipes
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Irish

Keywords: keto shepherds pie, keto cottage pie, low carb shepherds pie, keto cottage pie, low carb meat pie, keto casserole recipes, keto comfort food recipes

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  1. Landis Brown says

    Is the cauliflower steamed in a steamer or put directly in the pot of one-inch water?
    Thanks!

    Reply

  2. Teala says

    This looks delicious and I'd love to try it! Do you by chance have the nutritional information? I can't seem to find it on the page. Thanks 🙂

    Reply