Ground turkey shepherd’s pie is a hearty, comforting dish made with a flavorful veggie-packed filling and topped with a layer of fluffy mashed potatoes. It’s a satisfying meal the whole family will love—and a great way to switch things up from the classic beef version.
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Ingredients
🫒 Oil – Olive oil, or use your favorite oil that’s suitable for sautéing.
🧅 Produce & Aromatics – Onion, carrots, celery, and garlic build the flavorful base for the filling. Parsley or other fresh herbs make a nice garnish.
🍗 Turkey – Use lean ground turkey (we used 93/7). You can also use 85/15, which has a little more fat for extra flavor—both options work well. Avoid turkey breast—it’s too lean and can turn out dry.
🧂 Seasoning – Salt, dried oregano, cumin, and black pepper season the filling without overpowering it.
🥫 Tomato Sauce & Water – A small amount of tomato sauce and a splash of water bring everything together.
🌱 Peas – Frozen peas are easy and convenient—just defrost and drain before using.
🥔 Mashed Potatoes – You’ll need about 4 to 4½ cups of prepared mashed potatoes. You can make them ahead or use leftovers. Try our mashed potatoes recipe for a classic, creamy option. Short on time? A refrigerated option like Simply Potatoes or Bob Evans mashed potatoes works well too and adds extra convenience.
📖 See the recipe card for quantities and preparation.
You’ll also need a 1.5-quart casserole dish and a large baking sheet to catch any spills during baking.
Make the filling
Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or pot over medium heat; add the onions, carrots and celery. Cook the vegetables for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute, stirring often.
Raise the heat to medium-high. Add the ground turkey, salt, oregano, cumin, and black pepper. Stir to combine and break up any large pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula.
Cook for about 7–8 minutes, until the turkey is browned and the liquid has cooked out, stirring occasionally.
Add the tomato sauce and 2 tablespoons of water. (I like to pour the water into the empty sauce can and give it a swirl to catch every last bit.) Stir to combine.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.
Stir in the peas, cover again, and cook for 3–4 more minutes.
Taste the ground turkey and add salt if needed. As a reference we added ¾ teaspoon of kosher salt to ours.
Preheat the oven to 350°F
Build and bake
Add the ground turkey mixture to a large ovenproof casserole dish. Spoon the mashed potatoes evenly over the top, spreading them out to cover the entire surface.
Place the dish on a large baking sheet to catch any spills, and bake for 30 minutes.
Garnish with chopped parsley or other fresh herbs if desired. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Recipe tips and notes
- Choose the right ground turkey: Use lean ground turkey like 93/7 or 85/15. Avoid turkey breast—it’s too lean and can make the filling dry and bland.
- Break up the meat before cooking: Ground turkey often comes in tightly packed strings that are hard to break apart once they hit a hot skillet. Use a fork to gently press and fold the meat before adding it to the pan to make it easier to brown evenly.
- Build color and flavor: Ground turkey can look pale and unappetizing on its own. This recipe gets a boost from tomato sauce and colorful vegetables like carrots and peas to add both flavor and visual appeal.
- Prevent spills: Place the casserole dish on a baking sheet to catch any drips or spills while baking—especially helpful when the filling reaches a simmer.
If you like this ground turkey shepherd’s pie, give some of our other turkey recipes a spin! I love subbing in ground turkey in place of beef—it’s a great way to cut down on red meat or try a more budget-friendly option. Try our turkey meatloaf, check out this flavorful turkey picadillo, warm up with a bowl of turkey chili, or go for something lighter like our turkey taco soup.
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📖 Recipe
Ground Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 Medium Onion finely diced
- 2 Large Carrots peeled and diced
- 1 Celery Rib diced
- 2–3 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 pound Ground Turkey use 93/7 or 85/15; avoid turkey breast
- 1 teaspoon Salt we used kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano
- ¼ teaspoon Cumin
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 (8 ounce) can Tomato Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Water
- ¾ cup Frozen Peas defrosted and drained (partially cooked per package instructions)
- Chopped Parsley or other fresh herbs for garnish (optional)
- 4 to 4½ cups Prepared Mashed Potatoes Use homemade, leftover, or store-bought mashed potatoes like Simply Potatoes or Bob Evans.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. You’ll also need a casserole dish (at least 1.5 quarts) and a large baking sheet.
Make the Turkey Filling
- Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, and celery. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Raise the heat to medium-high. Add the ground turkey, salt, oregano, cumin, and black pepper. Stir to combine and break up any large pieces. Cook for 7–8 minutes, or until browned and most of the liquid has evaporated.
- Stir in the tomato sauce and water. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the peas, stir gently, cover again, and cook for 3–4 more minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Assemble and Bake
- Add the ground turkey mixture to a large ovenproof casserole dish.
- Spoon the mashed potatoes evenly over the top, spreading to cover completely.
- Place the dish on a baking sheet to catch any bubbling, and bake for 30 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley or herbs if desired. Let rest for 10–15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
Lynn
This shepherd's pie is delicious! My kids and I had seconds. I followed the recipe exactly as written. The flavors were great and it was the perfect comfort dinner for a cold Jan. evening.
Elizabeth
I'm glad you all enjoyed it!