Whole30 Shepherd’s Pie (Lightened-Up Paleo recipe)

A Whole30 Shepherd’s Pie, filled with a protein rich beef, carrot and snap pea mixture, and a light cauliflower-potato crust. The perfect spring ground beef casserole!

What is Shepherd’s Pie?

This hearty ground beef casserole is a classic – and can easily be adapted to fit many eating styles!

Traditionally, Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb and Cottage Pie is made with beef. The dish has become so popular, it often is made with beef and still called Shepherd’s Pie.

This lightened-up version is great for anyone following the paleo or Whole30 diet. Instead of the traditional creamy mashed potato topping, I use steamed cauliflower mixed with potatoes. The cauliflower has enough water, there is no need to add butter or milk, and the topping still comes out thick and creamy. (Also see this Thick and CreamyMashed Cauliflower made with parsnips that can also be used as a topping!)

If you’re aiming for a Whole30 meal, use sugar snap peas instead of frozen peas for this meal! If you’re just looking for a lighter dish, frozen peas are a great shortcut.

White potatoes are Whole30 compliant and paleo. Feel free to use sweet potatoes as a sub if you enjoy the sweeter flavor!

What are Whole30 & Paleo Diets?

The paleo diet is a diet that focuses on foods our ancestors would have eaten, such as meats, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

The Whole30 diet is similar to the paleo diet, except it’s supposed to be a 30-day challenge to remove processed and inflammatory foods from your diet. During the Whole30, no “paleofied” desserts or treats are allowed, and paleo sweeteners like honey are also not consumed.

There is some contention over whether or not white potatoes are Whole30 and Paleo compliant. The Whole30 did add white potatoes to the compliance list, but Paleo dieters need to use their own judgement about what foods fit in their lifestyle.

This recipe uses white potatoes. If you’d prefer to skip them, use this Thick and Creamy Mashed Cauliflower (omit butter) instead!

What You’ll Need

• Ground Beef
• Olive Oil
• Onions
• Garlic
• Fresh Rosemary
• Carrots
• Sugar Snap Peas
• Beef Stock (beef bone broth or chicken broth as a substitute)
• Tomato Paste
• Coconut Aminos
• Arrowroot Starch
• Sea Salt and Black Pepper
• Cauliflower
• Potatoes

How to Make this Whole30 Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Step 1: Add a steamer basket to a large pot along with about 1 inch of water at the bottom of the pan. Boil the water, and then add the chopped cauliflower and potatoes to the steamer basket. Lower to medium heat, and add a lid to the pot. Steam the vegetables for 15-20 minutes, until fall-apart tender when pierced with a fork. If your vegetables still have a crunch to them, the mash will turn out lumpy instead of really creamy.

Step 2: Scoop steamed vegetables into a food processor, along with salt and pepper. Process until the vegetables are very creamy. *Tip: Make sure the steamed vegetables are not water logged. Drain excess moisture before adding to the food processor. Set mash aside.

Step 3: Preheat the oven to 400º F. In a large skillet, heat up 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium high heat. Add onion, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper, and saute for 7-10 minutes, until just beginning to brown.

Step 4: Add the ground beef, and brown, while stirring to break up the meat, about 10 minutes.

Step 5: In a small bowl, add beef broth, tomato paste, coconut aminos, and arrowroot powder, and whisk together until combined well.

Step 6: Add the beef broth mixture over the ground beef, and bring to a low simmer over medium heat.

Step 7: Add the carrots and snap peas, and stir to combine, and then remove from heat.

Step 8: Add the beef mixture to the bottom of a 9×9 or 8×10 casserole pan.

Step 9: Top the mixture with the mashed potatoes, spooning out big scoops and placing them on the corners of the casserole. Use a spoon to smooth the potatoes into an even layer.

Step 10: In a 400º F preheated oven, bake the casserole for 25-30 minutes, until the top has begun to brown.

How to Store Leftovers

Once the Whole30 Shepherd’s Pie has fully cooled, wrap the baking dish in foil and refrigerate the casserole for up to 4 days.

To reheat the casserole, leave the dish covered with foil, and bake in a 350º F preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, until the sauce begins to bubble.

A Whole30 & Paleo Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

It’s a healthy meal the whole family will love. Feel free to customize by:

• Swap ground lamb for a more traditional pie, or use ground turkey (& chicken broth) for a lighter one.
• Add additional veggies, like mushrooms, peppers, chopped broccoli, or even use a bag of frozen veggies to save time.

For me, veggie-dense casseroles like this are the perfect one-pan meal. No need to make anything else! If I did, I would add a tossed green salad and call it good!

Other Whole30 Meals You’ll LOVE:

• Whole30 Chicken Salad
• Whole30 Chili
• Dairy Free Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken

Other Casserole Recipes:

• Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole
• Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
• Whole30 Quiche with a Sweet Potato Crust

I’d love to connect with you on social media! Find me on Facebook or Instagram where I post daily healthy eating and lifestyle inspiration.