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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Thank you so much for this recipe! I added some chopped carrots and peas to the meat mixture and it turned out great. For anyone wondering how much cauliflower to buy, one large head was just right.
I have made this several times now. It’s fantastic.
Where can I get arrowroot starch and is it a necessary ingredient? I’ve never heard of it. This looks delicious.
Whole Foods carries it, as does amazon. It helps thicken the sauce, otherwise it can get a little soupy.
I made this tonight and my husband and I loved it. So satisfying and straightforward to make!
Carolyn,
Another great recipe! I made it for dinner (for myself) and halved the recipe. I also used bison instead of lamb or burger 🙂 I also added a little bit of light whipping cream to help with the blending of the cauliflower. It was so delicious and I have plenty left over for a couple more nights!
Thank you so much, once again!!
Joyce
Ooooh, Bison! Sounds delish.
Do you know if I can freeze this after everything is cooked, layered, and in the pan?
That is a VERY good question. I know the filling will be fine. But the topping might change consistency a bit. It’s worth a shot, though!
I have frozen regular Shepherds Pie – don’t see why you couldn’t do this also. I will let you know cuz when I make it for two it always turns out to be for four, so I freeze the leftovers and take it out when I am in the mood for something quick and delish!
I made this for dinner last night and it was delicious. I used ground beef and ground pork in place of the lamb because my boyfriend is not a fan of lamb. I also added some red pepper flake and some fresh thyme and oregano to the meat. He loved it. He said if he didn’t see me putting cauliflower in the blender, he never would have known that was cauliflower and not mashed potatoes on top. I will definitely be making this again. I’m going to try it with chorizo and ground beef next time, with shredded pepper jack for the cheese.
I love when we win over a sceptic! 🙂
Thank you for this shepherds pie. Now I can make shepherds pie and eat it too, not just watch my hubs enjoy it.
I was going to make this tonight, bought all the ingredients, and I am having issues at the website as well! It keeps saying file is missing.
Sorry about that, I don’t know what’s going on with their website. For the short term, I have added it to this post.
I am new to the low carb/gluten free lifestyle, but I am so happy to have found your amazing food blog! Thank you for all the amazing work you do for us! I would love to have the recipe for your cheesy shepherd’s pie but am unable to get it by going to the “a sweet life” link-they say that page is no longer available 🙁 would you please post the recipe for your shepherd’s pie on your website so I can try it?
Thanks again, Lisa.
Their site and the specific page appear to be up and running just fine now. Thanks!
I had the same problem just now. I clicked on the recipe on the A Sweet Life page and it comes up with an error message 🙁
Sorry about that, I don’t know what’s going on with their website. For the short term, I have added it to this post.
Sure does look good & great idea. Link not working though.
Sorry about that, I don’t know what’s going on with their website. For the short term, I have added it to this post.
Thank you!
One of my favorites. Delicious!! Catherine
I am all about comfort food right now – it’s so grey and cold! This sounds perfect 🙂
Yummy!
This post is so timely as I just picked up ground lamb from our local farmer and was wondering about doing a shepherd’s pie with it!
Shepherd’s pie is one of our favorites!
Uh, can we all agree this is simply Brilliant??
On the shepherd pie I would use parmesan cheese instead of cream cheese and no cheese on top.
Lol. Okay, but the recipe doesn’t call for cream cheese, it called for sour cream.