A low carb and keto Shepherd’s Pie, using Parmesan mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. This easy casserole dish is very comforting and a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
This low carb Shepherd’s Pie recipe is a tasty way to celebrate the holiday. I subbed out the traditional mashed potatoes crust with my parmesan mashed cauliflower. I also sprinkled more parmesan cheese over the mashed cauliflower crust before baking it.
This came out so tasty, filling, and comforting. I didn’t miss the potatoes at all and I think making mashed cauliflower is easier than making mashed potatoes.
I love to make corned beef for St. Patrick’s Day, too, but this keto Shepherd’s pie is a great option if you’re not a fan of corned beef and want a hearty meal to celebrate the holiday.
Shepherd’s Pie Filling Ingredients
Shepherd’s Pie is traditionally made with lamb, but ground lamb is not as readily available in the US so ground beef is often used as a substitute. You can use either one for this recipe. I love lamb but my husband doesn’t, so I used ground beef.
For my vegetables, I used fresh carrots and frozen peas. I would have loved to use English peas but they are harder to find. If you are on a keto diet, you can replace peas and carrots with other vegetables like green beans and celery.
The rest of the filling ingredients are onions, broth, rosemary, thyme, Worchester sauce and tomato paste. The filling comes together quickly and is very flavorful.
How to Make Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower
I make my mashed cauliflower topping in a food processor.
First, you need to boil the cauliflower until it is very soft. Then you pat dry the cauliflower before adding it to your food processor to prevent your cauliflower mash from tasting watery.
The cauliflower is mixed with cream cheese and heavy cream to achieve a creamy cauliflower mash consistency.
Parmesan cheese gives the mash a delicious flavor and help to mask the cauliflower flavor.
What is the difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie?
In the UK, cottage pie is made with beef and shepherd’s pie is made with lamb. In the US, the names cottage pie and shepherd’s pie are often used interchangeably to refer to a beef and vegetable filling topped with mashed potatoes.
I’ve always known this beef version as shepherd’s pie but you can use the same amount of ground lamb if you want to make it the traditional way.
Can you use ground turkey?
For a leaner version, you can use the same amount of ground turkey for the shepherd’s pie filling. Turkey has a mild flavor, so you may want to add some Worcestershire sauce when you brown it which will add a savory flavor.
If you’re craving comfort food but want something lighter, this keto shepherd’s pie recipe is a great recipe to try. I hope you enjoy it!
More Keto Comfort Food
Low Carb Keto Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients
Mashed Cauliflower
- 1 lb cauliflower florets
- 3 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 2-4 oz heavy cream
- salt to taste
Meat Filling
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb
- 1/2 cup carrots cut into small cubes
- 1/2 cup frozen or fresh peas
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp rosemary finely chopped
- 1 tsp thyme finely chopped
- 2 tsp Worcester sauce
- 2 tsp tomato paste
- salt to taste
Toppings (optional)
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 1/2 tsp rosemary or thyme finely chopped
Instructions
Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower
- Cook cauliflower in boiling water until soft. Drain and remove cauliflower and pat dry. Add to food processor. Add in Parmesan cheese and cream cheese and blend until cauliflower is completely mashed.
- Slowly add in heavy cream, 1 oz at a time, and blend until mashed cauliflower becomes creamy. You do need to be careful to not add too much liquid or the mashed cauliflower may become too thin. Season with salt as needed.
Meat Filling
- In a large skillet, add onions and ground beef. Bring skillet to medium high heat. Stir and crumble the ground beef as it cooks. Cook until onions are translucent and beef is browned.
- Add in carrots, peas, broth, rosemary, thyme, Worcester sauce and tomato paste. Stir to evenly blend tomato paste and Worcester sauce. Add salt if needed. Bring mixture to a simmer and lower heat to medium. Allow mixture to simmer until broth has been reduced and slightly thickened.
Assembling the pie
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread filling across a 7 x 11-inch casserole or baking pan.
- Spread mashed cauliflower over meat filling. If desired, spread 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese across mashed cauliflower.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes in preheated oven until edges of the mashed potatoes start to brown. Then set oven to low broil and cook a few more minutes until the cheese and surface is lightly browned. This should only take about 2-4 minutes, so I recommend watching the oven carefully.
- If desired, top with 1/2 tsp rosemary or thyme before serving.
Notes
- You can use dried rosemary or dried thyme in place of fresh rosemary and thyme.
- Make sure you use a full one pound of cauliflower florets. This is after the outer leaves have been discarded. Otherwise you will not have enough mash to spread across the entire baking pan.
- Nutrition facts are calculated with 85/15 ground beef and 2 oz of heavy cream. It does not include salt.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Can not have pes and carrots on low carb diet!!!!
It depends on the person and their dietary restrictions. There is a huge range of the number of carbs allowed on various low carb diets
I took some short cuts for time using frozen veggies and pre mashed cauliflower but the combination of ingredients that make the actual saucy flavor was TO DIE FOR! I’m still nibbling on it as we speak!!
We’re so glad it worked for you!
Very surprised at how absolutely gorgeous this is… Delicious!
We’re so glad you loved it!
In England ‘Shepherd’s Pie’ made with beef is called ‘Cottage Pie’.
I have heard that. In the US, it is not as commonly served with lamb since lamb isn’t as available and is pricier, so most version just use beef and still call it Shepherd’s Pie
I made this last night and it was amazing! I used ground beef and the only changes I made were to omit the carrots and peas, which aren’t super keto-friendly and added 2 zucchinis. Otherwise I followed the recipes as it’s written. I will definitely make this again!
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Wouldn’t this freeze well?
I have not tried freezing. I think it would freeze okay but it will likely be a little watery when you reheat because of the moisture retained by the cauliflower