Individual Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Healthy lean turkey and sharp cheddar cheese elevate this individual turkey shepherd’s pie to a comforting favorite you’ll always want in your weeknight dinner rotation. It’s delicious with a crisp green salad, buttered green beans, a glass of light red wine, warm dinner rolls; in fact most things.

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Individual Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 carrot, finely diced
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 8 ounces ground turkey
• 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth or stock
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1 pound red-skinned potatoes, cubed
• 1/2 cup warm 2% milk
• 1/3 cup shredded sharp Cheddar
• 1 scallion, chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Nonstick cooking spray

How To Make Individual Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

1. Sauté the aromatics and meat: Preheat your oven to 220ºC/425ºF. Heat the olive oil in a medium ovenproof skillet over a medium-high heat. Toss in the minced garlic, diced carrots, and onions, cooking them for about 5 minutes until they are tender and just beginning to turn a beautiful golden brown. Add the ground turkey and fresh thyme, continuing to cook while breaking the meat up with a spoon until it is fully cooked through and lightly browned.
2. Build the savory gravy: Stir the ketchup into the turkey mixture and cook for a minute or two until it is lightly caramelized and fragrant. In a small bowl, whisk the chicken broth and flour together until smooth, then pour it into the skillet. Simmer the mixture for about 2 minutes until the sauce has thickened into a rich gravy, then stir in the thawed peas and a pinch of salt.
3. Mash the potato topping: While the turkey is cooking, place the cubed red-skinned potatoes in a pot and cover them with cold salted water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot over a low heat for a couple of minutes to steam off any excess moisture. Add the warm milk, shredded cheddar, and chopped scallions, then mash until the mixture is perfectly smooth and creamy.
4. Assemble and brown: Swirl the cheesy mashed potatoes over the top of the turkey filling in the skillet (or divide the filling into individual ramekins before topping). Lightly mist the potatoes with nonstick cooking spray to help them crisp up.
5. Bake to perfection: Slide the skillet or ramekins into the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll know they are ready when the potato peaks are lightly browned and the savory turkey filling is bubbling enticingly around the edges.

Recipe Tips

• How to get the best mash texture: Returning the drained potatoes to the hot pot for a minute or two before mashing is the secret to a fluffy topping; it removes the excess water that can otherwise make your mash feel heavy or gummy.
• Why caramelize the ketchup: Cooking the ketchup for a minute before adding the broth creates a deeper, “umami” flavor profile that mimics a long-simmered sauce in a fraction of the time.
• How to make it truly “individual”: While this can be made in one skillet, you can easily spoon the turkey base into four 8-ounce ramekins before topping with potatoes for a beautiful, restaurant-style presentation.
• Best potato choice: Using red-skinned potatoes with the skins left on adds a lovely rustic texture and extra nutrients, though you can peel them if you prefer a perfectly white, uniform mash.

What To Serve With Individual Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe?

This Individual Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe is a wholesome, balanced meal that needs a fresh or buttery finish! A side of Garlic Butter Green Beans is the classic choice for a vibrant, crunchy contrast. For a lighter touch, a crisp Garden Salad with a lemon vinaigrette adds a lovely acidity that cuts through the rich cheddar mash! A glass of Light Pinot Noir or a warm Honey Wheat Roll pairs wonderfully with the savory, herb-infused turkey.

How To Store Individual Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Warm individual portions in the oven at 350 F for 15 minutes to keep the potato topping crisp, or use the microwave for a quicker option.
• Freeze: You can freeze the assembled pies (before the final bake) for up to 2 months. Cover tightly with foil and bake directly from frozen, adding an extra 15-20 minutes to the cooking time.

Individual Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 290 kcal
• Total Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg
• Sodium: 370 mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Protein: 19 g
• Sugar: 7 g
• Fiber: 4 g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

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