Need a hearty meal that warms you up but doesn’t weigh you down? Keto Shepherd’s Pie coming right up! It has all the hallmarks of the classic dish but with a fraction of the carbs. That creamy smooth mashed cauliflower topping will make you forget all about those potatoes.
The term comfort food exists for a reason. When the weather turns chilly and wet, we all start craving hearty dinners like keto beef stew and slow cooker keto chili. They warm us up from the inside out. And this low carb shepherd’s pie brings that same cozy comfort to the table.
I grew up making Shepherd’s Pie with my mum, so I know my stuff when it comes to this classic Irish dish. I found it easy to adapt to a keto lifestyle by replacing the carrots with red peppers and the potatoes with cauliflower.
And I promise that even if you aren’t fan of cauliflower, you will enjoy this recipe. It has the same rich lamb flavor and creamy, airy topping. But it doesn’t fill you up nearly as much, so you don’t walk away feeling as if you just consumed a bowling ball.
Which means there is more room for dessert!
Reader’s Thoughts
“This turned out really well. It’s incredibly rich, so I was completely satisfied just eating a small portion which is great! Thank you for all your creative recipes. I have been inspired to cook again after a long hiatus and really motivated to stick with a low carb diet.” — Molly
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Cozy flavor: Just like the classic, this keto shepherds pie is full of comforting flavor.
- Wholesome ingredients: Plenty of protein and low-carb vegetables for a nourishing dinner.
- Straightforward method: It’s really no different than making a conventional meat pie. They take some time to assemble but each step is simple.
- Make ahead recipe: You can assemble the pie and freeze it unbaked, or you can freeze the baked pie and re-warm it.
- Low carb and gluten-free: There is no flour in the meat filling, so it’s entirely gluten- and grain-free.
Ingredient Notes
- Cauliflower: You need one pound of cauliflower florets, but you can use fresh or frozen. They both cook up the same way.
- Sour cream: Sour cream helps make the mashed cauliflower extra smooth and creamy. You can swap in 2 ounces of softened cream cheese, if you prefer.
- Ground lamb: Classic shepherd’s pie is made with lamb, but you can use ground beef if you prefer. Technically, that’s called a cottage pie.
- Dry red wine: Wine helps deglaze the pan and create a rich, flavorful sauce. If you do not want to use alcohol, swap with some beef or chicken broth.
- Fresh rosemary: I love the aroma and flavor from fresh rosemary. Dried rosemary isn’t quite the same but you can use it if it’s what you have.
- Glucomannan: Classic Shepherd’s Pie uses flour to thicken the meat filling. But a little glucomannan stirred into the sauce before baking helps achieve the proper texture.
- Cheddar cheese: A sharp Irish cheddar goes perfectly with this Irish casserole. But other cheeses, such as Gruyere or Swiss pair nicely as well.
- Kitchen staples: Onion, garlic, salt and pepper.
How to Make Keto Shepherd’s Pie
- Cook the cauliflower: Steam the cauliflower and garlic cloves until cauliflower is very tender. Transfer the cauliflower to a sieve and drain well.
- Purée the cauliflower: Transfer to a blender or food processor. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Cook the lamb: Brown the lamb until almost cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, remove to a large casserole dish.
- Sauté the veggies: Add the onion, red pepper, salt, and pepper to the hot pan and cook until onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Make the sauce: Add the red wine and cook until reduced by about half. Stir in the chopped rosemary, then whisk in the glucomannan. Pour over the lamb in the pan and stir to combine.
- Assemble and bake: Spread the cauliflower mixture over the filling in the casserole dish and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until the filling is bubbling and the cheese is melted.
Tips for Success
Keto Shepherd’s Pie doesn’t take any more time or effort than the conventional version. Just make sure to drain your cauliflower very well so that it sets up properly. You can also add an egg yolk, if you want it to set even more.
If you don’t like lamb, feel free to use ground beef or a mixture of ground beef and turkey. Technically, that turns it into a Cottage Pie, but I won’t tell if you don’t. No matter what you do, this is a great meal.
Don’t skip the thickener in the sauce, as it helps hold the filling together better. Keep in mind that it will still be more loose than the original because it lacks gluten.
Keto Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Ingredients
Topping
- 1 lb (453.59 g) cauliflower florets
- 2 cloves (2) garlic
- 1/3 cup (57.5 g) sour cream
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
- 1/4 tsp (0.25 tsp) pepper
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) grated cheddar cheese
Filling
- 2 lbs (907.18 g) ground lamb
- 1/4 cup (40 g) chopped onion
- 1/2 medium red pepper, finely chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup (120 g) dry red wine, or broth
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
- 1/2 tsp glucomannan, or xanthan gum
Instructions
Topping
- Set a steaming basket into a large stockpot and add water to the bottom. Add the cauliflower and garlic cloves and steam until cauliflower is very tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Drain the cauliflower well and transfer to a blender or food processor, along with the garlic cloves. Add the sour cream, salt, and pepper and blend until smooth. Set aside.
Filling
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the lamb until almost cooked through, about 10 to 12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove to a large casserole dish.
- Add the onion, red pepper, salt ,and pepper to the pan. Cook until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more.
- Add the red wine and cook until reduced by about half. Stir in the chopped rosemary, then whisk in the glucomannan. Pour the mixture over the lamb and stir to combine well.
To assemble and bake
- Spread the cauliflower mixture over the filling in the casserole dish and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the filling is bubbling and the cheese is melted.
- Turn the broiler on high and broil for 2 to 4 minutes to brown the cheese. Remove and let sit a few minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re looking for a lighter, lower carb Shepherd’s Pie, try topping it with mashed cauliflower rather than mashed potatoes. As long as you drain the cooked cauliflower well, it won’t be watery or runny. You can also try mixing in an egg yolk before baking to help it set even more.
You can prepare and assemble this Shepherd’s pie a day before and bake it the next day. Just cover it tightly and refrigerate overnight. Bring it to room temperature before baking.
This Keto Shepherd’s Pie recipe has 5g of carbs and 1.8g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3.2g net carbs per serving.
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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I made it for my family today for St. Patrick’s Day and we all loved it!! It will definitely be a favorite I will make again soon.
one of my favs!
God recipe except for the cauliflower. It causes unpleasant side effects. 😒
Just bought your new book. I’ve been following your website for months now and every recipe is so well crafted and tastes delicious! I’ve frozen bagels and lemon poppyseed muffins to take on an out of town wedding to supplement travel options. Your suggestions and creations are so very much appreciated! This cottage pie is one of my favorites. Your recipes have enriched my life!
I really appreciate receiving your recipes by email. This allows me to transcribe to 4 x 6 cards when I have more time. Thanks for this convenience !!!
Confession: I didn’t make this, BUT–I just made your keto biscuits (https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/easy-keto-biscuits/#recipe)with cheddar, and I thought that THAT recipe would make an amazing topping for a keto Shepherd’s Pie. Then I saw you had a recipe, already, but it has a cauli top. So…YOU should try mashup of your pie filling with your biscuit topping. I used cheddar to make my biscuts (along with some lamb stew)…and they were bready and cheesy and SO satisfying!
This is the best keto Shepards pie !
I rarely splurge on lamb, but I had to try this. Worth it!
Hooray!
Lovely recipe, especially with the rosemary!! I opted to change up the topping as I’m not a mashed cauliflower fan, so I kept the florets whole, par-cooked them, and covered them with a keto cheeese sauce. It was absolutely yum!
Thank you!
I have been noticing lately that you have been using glucomannan more. I have never heard of it before now and wonder if its better for the gut? Curious because I am trying to stop using the xanthan gum because of its effects on my digestion. Any thoughts or resources you would recommend?
Thanks
You can substitute the glucomannan or xanthan gum for psyllium (same amount).
@ Diana S: glucomannan is made from the konjac root and is probiotic, meaning it is good for the gut.
Fantastic! My family loved this recipe!
Just wondering if xanthan gum would do instead of glucomannan? I don’t have any but it looks like something I’d like to try. Thanksbunch
You can get it on AMAZON! it is konjac root, commonly used in asian cooking. VERY soothing for the gut along with lots of other healthy benefits. Better than Zanthum gum.
I just made half the recipe as I cook for one. What a treat! I didn’t have fresh rosemary so I used fresh parsley. I just loved it. It takes a little time to prepare and cook for just me but whenever I have time it is so worthwhile to make something delicious from your Everyday Ketogenic Kitchen. I freeze leftovers for days when I am feeling lazy! Thank you for all your hard work!
Best keto shepard pie I ever tasted. I hate cauliflower bc makes me bloating and the taste … iarrr… awfull…
I did this shepard pie crust with half of tamole recipe crust, cause I didnt have enough almond flour, and half of cauliflower smash whatever… https://www.liveeatlearn.com/fluffy-mashed-cauliflower/
Carolyn, thank you so mux for your time, teaching us and amazing keto recepies.
🥰
I was searching for ground lamb recipes that comply with Keto restrictions and was very pleased to find this one. I am a huge fan of lamb, as it has more flavor, more protein and less cholesterol per oz than beef.
I made this “close” to the directions, but used a whole red bell pepper and 1/2 a large onion. Even with the extra vegetables, I thought the filling was a bit crumbly, so I also added 1/2 C beef broth and an additional tsp of zanthan gum to give it more cohesion. The result was wonderful. My husband gave it 2 thumbs up, even though I am the only one who wants to eat a Keto meal plan, he enjoyed it too.
Made this last night as cottage pie as neither my husband or I are fans of lamb 🤔 Followed the recipe as written. it was absolutely amazing!!! Made enough for the 2 of us for a lunch and another dinner. Served with green beans and slivered almonds.