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Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie is a healthy Shepherd’s pie with cauliflower mash broiled with cheese on top, and filled with ground turkey, corn, peas and chickpeas.

Cozy and healthy comfort food like lazy cabbage rolls and chicken pot pie are often the answer to a “bad day”.

Healthy Shepherd’s Pie

Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie is essentially a dog pile of veggies, ground turkey and topped with cauliflower mash. Then broiled until cheese becomes golden and forms a crust. It is a healthier take on traditional Shepherd’s pie with beef or lamb (actually!) and mashed potatoes.

And just to forewarn you – I’m not a potato hater but rather a lover. Just to be clear there is absolutely nothing unhealthy about original Shepherd’s pie. How can I be Ukrainian and hate potatoes when we ate them every day?! Potatoes are not bad for you. I just wanted to have fun with cauliflower.

Kids loved the cauliflower version of Shepherd’s pie more than sweet potato Shepherd’s pie.

Ingredients You Will Need

Cauliflower: I used a whole head of cauliflower to make my most popular recipe – cauliflower mashed potatoes. It makes low carb faux potato crust. Easy peasy.

I used a whole head of cauliflower to make my most popular recipe – cauliflower mashed potatoes. It makes low carb faux potato crust. Easy peasy. Ground turkey: In the filling, I used half ground turkey and half chickpeas. You can use canned or if you have magic Instant Pot, cook your own to save money and avoid BPA and sodium. The philosophy behind this step is to eat less meat. You can sub extra ground turkey for the beans though.

In the filling, I used half ground turkey and half chickpeas. You can use canned or if you have magic Instant Pot, cook your own to save money and avoid BPA and sodium. The philosophy behind this step is to eat less meat. You can sub extra ground turkey for the beans though. Frozen vegetables: Bagged frozen mix of peas, corn and carrots is perfect to make Shepherd’s pie.

Bagged frozen mix of peas, corn and carrots is perfect to make Shepherd’s pie. Cheese: Grated mozzarella or cheddar go on top of cauliflower mash to make golden irresistible crust.

How to Make Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie

I used wide and deep cast iron skillet/Dutch oven or any ovenproof skillet works. You can also cook meat sauce in regular skillet and then assemble pie in a baking dish for broiling.

Cook chopped cauliflower and whole clove of garlic (adds flavor!) in a pot with water for 10 minutes after it came to a boil.

(adds flavor!) in a pot with water for 10 minutes after it came to a boil. Cook ground turkey while cauliflower is simmering by sauteing garlic first and then ground turkey, stirring often and breaking meat into pieces.

while cauliflower is simmering by sauteing garlic first and then ground turkey, stirring often and breaking meat into pieces. Make the sauce by whisking cold (!) stock and milk, cornstarch, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Then pour over turkey and let it simmer until thickened, for 5 minutes.

by whisking cold (!) stock and milk, cornstarch, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Then pour over turkey and let it simmer until thickened, for 5 minutes. Make cauliflower mash while meat is simmering away in yummy sauce. Drain cooked cauliflower (do not discard garlic), add butter, salt and pepper and puree until smooth with an immersion blender.

while meat is simmering away in yummy sauce. Drain cooked cauliflower (do not discard garlic), add butter, salt and pepper and puree until smooth with an immersion blender. Now add frozen (!) veggies and chickpeas to the skillet with meat sauce. Garbanzo beans are a perfect candidate to innocently blend in with delicious sauce, corn, peas and meat.

to the skillet with meat sauce. Garbanzo beans are a perfect candidate to innocently blend in with delicious sauce, corn, peas and meat. Dollop cauliflower mash on top of filling, spread with spatula and it’s OK if it doesn’t cover entire skillet.

on top of filling, spread with spatula and it’s OK if it doesn’t cover entire skillet. Sprinkle with cheese and broil for 5 minutes.

How to Store, Freeze, Reheat and Make Ahead

Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days in an airtight container. To reheat, simply transfer casserole to a small baking dish and bake at 375 degrees F until warmed through, about 10-15 minutes.

Freeze in portions. Simply cook, cool, divide between containers and freeze for up to 3 months. This healthy Shepherd’s pie is perfect for Sunday meal prep. Thaw on a counter overnight before reheating.

To make ahead, cook cauliflower mash and filling. Refrigerate separately for up to 2 days. When ready to enjoy, you will have to bake the casserole because ingredients will be cold straight from the fridge. Assemble in a casserole dish or cast iron skillet and bake at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes. Then sprinkle with cheese and broil until golden brown.

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