Shepherd’s Pie is a traditional English dish. In Britain it is generally made with lamb or mutton; in this recipe I have made a simple ground beef shepherd’s pie and added bacon for extra flavor.
Shepard’s pie is often referred to as “cottage pie,” by the English; it is a casserole made of cooked meat and vegetables that is then topped with mashed potatoes and baked. I have made this dish into a Paleo casserole by using Mashed Cauliflower for the topping. This reduces the glycemic index of the dish and increases the nutritional content, since cauliflower is a super food.
I based my recipe for ground beef Shepherd’s Pie, on this Shepherd’s Pie recipe from functionalfoodie.com. As you can see, I made some adjustments. First, I eliminated the tomato sauce, as research from Dr. Loren Cordain points to the possibility that tomatoes contain immune disrupting lectins (I have therefore eliminated them from my diet as I have MS). I also did not use coconut milk in the mashed cauliflower topping, and skipped the Worcester sauce (since I’m too lazy to read ingredients and prefer to use the simple spices in my spice rack).
I hope you enjoy this gluten free comfort food as much as I have!
Paleo Shepherd's Pie
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 pound turkey or pork bacon, cut into ½-inch slices
- 2 cups diced carrots
- 2 cups diced celery
- 1 pound organic grass fed ground beef
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup Chicken Stock or Kettle & Fire Bone Broth
- 2 large heads cauliflower, trimmed, chopped and steamed until very soft
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a very large frying pan
- Sauté onion for 15 minutes until soft
- Add bacon pieces to pan and sauté until cooked, about 10 minutes
- Add carrots and celery to pan and sauté in bacon fat for 10 minutes until soft
- Add ground beef to pan and sauté until brown, just a few minutes
- Season with salt, pepper and smoked paprika
- Add chicken broth and cook down broth until 60% evaporated
- Place cauliflower in food processor and puree with olive oil until smooth
- Pour ground beef mixture into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish
- Pour mashed cauliflower over beef mixture
- Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes
- Serve
I found that in my fridge this Shepard’s Pie kept for close to a week. I ate it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
What is your favorite gluten free comfort food?
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Kassidy says
Just wanted to let you know that the last part of step is missing from the new website.
Elana says
Kassidy, thanks so much! We’ve updated that :-)
Rachel says
This recipe looks yum. Traditionally though in the UK Shepherds pie is made with lamb, hence the name, and cottage pie is a completely different dish madewth beef. Both are yum though but have completely different tastes.
Elana says
Thanks Rachel!
Rena says
I made this for dinner for my family tonight. It was a hit. My husband said it’s the best shepherd’s pie he’s ever had. Such a blessing to find a great recipe that fits my dietary restrictions (specific carbohydrate diet).
Elana says
Rena, thanks for letting me know this was a hit and that your husband said it’s the best shepherd’s pie he’s ever had :-)
Kathryn says
Im so appreciate of this recipe. I’ve made it many, many times. It’s a wonderful comfort food dish for chilly nights, and a great way to get my toddler to eat her veggies. Thank you!
Elana says
Kathryn, I’m so happy to hear that you and your little one are enjoying this dish!
Bridget Hickey says
Dear Elana
I am 80 years old and all my life I have been searching to make changes, being my own Doctor and trusting in my own intuition A few years ago I found your website and now I find the Keto recipes YOU make are very nourishing and satisfying.
Words can not cover my appreciation of your generosity in giving to the many
So I will simply say Thank You
Sincerely
Bridget Hickey
Elana says
Bridget, thank your for your truly incredible comment!
Kristy says
I just made this tonight, with a couple of small changes, and it was absolutely DELICIOUS! (I skipped cooking the onion in oil and instead cooked uncured Natural Directions pork bacon, straining some of it, then setting it aside. I then cooked the onion and veggies in the bacon grease and proceeded with the recipe. I also substituted ground turkey for the beef.) I can’t believe how delicious it was! My husband also liked it and did not know the cauliflower wasn’t potatoes.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. :-)
Elana says
Kristy, thanks for letting me know you and your husband are enjoying this recipe!
Kristy says
My grown children have all tried this recipe now too (but ground turkey instead of beef) and it has become a new family favorite. Thanks again!
Elana says
Kristy, thanks for letting me know this is a family favorite!
Susan Z. says
This is my go-to comfort food when I’m feeling cranky and in need of some quick cheer. Page 71 of your cookbook is so dog-eared, it opens to the page just by being picked up:) I just love this!
Susan Z. says
PS I especially appreciate that it’s very helpful when trying to keep Keto numbers in the range, while satisfying my idea of a cozy family dish.
Elana says
Susan, that’s so awesome! I love your comments :-)
Elana says
Susan, I’m so happy to hear this your go-to comfort food!
Sonia says
In Argentina this is also a traditional dish, we call it Pastel de Papas (potatoe pie) one of my favorites dishes!!!! I will make this version this weekend!!!!
Elana says
Sonia, thanks so much! I love learning new things :-)
Danielle says
This was my first shepherd pie (eating and making) and it was amazing and simple to make. Thank you!
Elana says
Danielle, thanks for letting me know this recipe is amazing!
Susan Brown says
‘Shepherd’s Pie is a traditional English dish. In Britain it is generally made with lamb or mutton; in this recipe I have made a simple ground beef shepherd’s pie and added bacon for extra flavor.
Shepard’s pie is often referred to as “cottage pie,” by the English; it is a casserole made of cooked meat and vegetables that is then topped with mashed potatoes and baked.’
As an English person I have to clear up the information you have supplied above. Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb mince and Cottage Pie is made with beef mince. Shepherds look after sheep and the only reason I can explain for why the beef version is called Cottage Pie is that farmers generally lived in cottages!
I also make a lovely version with turkey mince topped with sweet potato mash and in our house we call this Gobble Pie as turkeys make a noise that sounds like ‘gobble gobble’!!
Elana says
Susan, I really enjoyed your comment. Thanks so much for all of these simple explanations :-)