13 Healthy Shepherd's Pie Recipes to Warm You Up

January 16, 2020

Cold days call for comfort food and while the layers of meat and potatoes in shepherd’s pie might seem a bit heavy, there are plenty of delicious ways to lighten it up. From vegetarian shepherd's pie with lentils to shepherd's pie with creamy chicken and mushrooms, these are a few of our favorite shepherd’s pie recipes with a healthy twist.

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Chicken & Mushroom Shepherd's Pie

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The creamy chicken filling is spiked with sherry and the potatoes are mashed with olive oil in this healthy shepherd's pie recipe. To make individual pies, use six 10-ounce ramekins. Serve with a green salad with balsamic vinaigrette and crusty bread.

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Quick Shepherd's Pie

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In this simple shepherd's pie recipe, we call for flavorful lean ground lamb, which isn't always easy to find. You can use lean ground beef or turkey instead. If you want to use lamb, ask your butcher to grind it for you or, to make your own ground lamb, start with a lean cut of lamb, such as leg or loin, trimmed of any excess fat and cut into 3/4-inch pieces. Pulse briefly in a food processor just until uniformly ground.

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Taco Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

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Revamp traditional shepherd's pie with this Tex-Mex take on the classic comfort food with taco seasoning, black beans and a little jalapeño. The flavor- and veggie-packed filling gets topped with cilantro-lime sweet potatoes for a satisfying and healthy dinner recipe.

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Turkey & Leek Shepherd's Pie

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The mashed potato-covered shepherd's pie was originally created to use up the leftovers from a festive roast. This version blends peas, leeks and carrots with diced turkey, all in a creamy herb sauce. The dish is a perfect way to create a second meal with the holiday turkey but if you like, use leftover roast chicken, duck or goose.

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Vegetarian Shepherd's Pies

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These mini vegetarian shepherd's pies feature lentils, carrot and corn, crowned with a velvety mashed potato topping. The recipe can also be made in a broiler-safe casserole dish. Serve with a spinach salad with oranges, walnuts and red-wine vinaigrette.

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Vegan Shepherd's Pie

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Lentils take the place of ground meat and vegan butter adds creaminess to the mashed potatoes in this easy vegan shepherd's pie recipe. If you want to cut down on the cooking time, use precooked lentils and omit most of the vegetable broth, adding some in only if the mixture seems dry.

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Tofu Shepherd's Pie

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This vegetarian makeover of Shepherd's Pie may be missing the meat, but it's not missing the protein, thanks to the sneaky but undetectable addition of tofu. Our version has an abundance of vegetables and the mashed potato topping blended with tofu is delicious and lighter-feeling than the original. 

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Shepherd's Pie

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This lower-fat version of the classic hamburger casserole is made with ground turkey, more vegetables, and fewer potatoes than the traditional version.

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Shepherd's Pie with Cauliflower Topping

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In this easy shepherd's pie recipe, we keep the carbs in check by using creamy mashed cauliflower in place of mashed potatoes. The ground beef filling is cooked in the same skillet used for baking the pie, making assembly (and cleanup) a breeze.

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Lentil & Veggie Shepherd's Pie

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The classic shepherd's pie recipe gets a makeover--by replacing traditional meat with root vegetables and greens, we've taken a comfort food, packed it with nutrients and pleased vegetarians far and wide! 

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Italian Shepherd's Pie

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The mashed potatoes and cheese topper makes this beef, sausage, and veggie pie stick-to-the-ribs delicious. Serve it with fresh fruit for dessert, and your meal is complete.

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Lamb & Lentil Shepherd's Pie

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This twist on a traditional Shepard's Pie recipe uses lentils and is garnished with fresh mint.

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Turkey-Green Bean Shepherd's Pie

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In this simple dish, shredded turkey, green beans and mashed potatoes are layered and topped with reduced-fat Cheddar cheese. It's a great way to use leftovers from your holiday meal! 

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Mini Shepherd's Pies

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In EatingWell's take on Shepherd's Pie, we replace the potato topping with convenient, delicious frozen squash puree. And they're baked in individual ramekins to guarantee perfectly sized servings and help you get it on the table fast.

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