This Mashed Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie is the ultimate low carb comfort food! It uses ground beef and a few other simple ingredients and is topped with cheese and a creamy and delicious cauliflower mash.
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If you are a meat and potato lover, Shepherd’s Pie has to be one of the very best casserole dishes. Traditionally, a Shepherd’s Pie consists of lamb, combined with other ingredients such as peas and carrots, and it’s topped with mashed potatoes.
A Shepherd’s Pie that uses beef, such as our recipe here, is actually called a Cottage Pie. But you’ll find that Shepherd’s Pie name is used quite often, even if it is made with beef.
Our recipe today is breaking all sorts of “rules” because not only do we call this ground beef recipe a Shepherd’s Pie, but it’s not topped with mashed potatoes.
This Shepherd’s Pie is topped with creamy and delicious mashed cauliflower instead. By using cauliflower instead of potatoes, you get all the comforting goodness of a Shepherd’s Pie, but in low carb casserole instead.
Ingredients Needed for Mashed Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie:
- Olive Oil (3 Tablespoons)
- Onion (1)
- Ground Beef (1 Pound)
- Garlic Cloves (2)
- Diced Tomatoes (14oz Can)
- Beef Stock (1/4 Cup)
- Small Carrots (3)
- Cauliflower (1 Small Head)
- Butter (1/4 Cup)
- Heavy Cream (2 Tablespoons)
- Salt & Pepper (To Taste)
- Shredded Cheese (1/2 Cup – Whatever cheese you want. We used Sharp White Cheddar)
Cooking Equipment Needed for Mashed Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie:
Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients
The ingredients in this Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie recipe is
For the cauliflower mash topping, you’ll need cauliflower, butter, salt, pepper, and heavy cream. You’ll also want some shredded cheese for the top of Shepherd’s Pie. Traditional Shepherd’s Pie doesn’t have cheese on it, but we think it makes it extra delicious!
Get the full list of ingredients at the end of this post!
Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie Instructions
To make this Low Carb Shepherd’s Pie recipe, you’ll cook the meat up first and then add the beef stock, diced tomatoes, and carrots. You let that mixture simmer to thicken, but while that is happening, you get started on your mashed cauliflower topping.
Making the cauliflower mash is easy — just boil the cauliflower until soft, drain and allow all the steam to escape, because you don’t want your cauliflower to be watery. Then you add the butter, salt, pepper
After both the meat mixture and the mashed cauliflower are finished, you’ll place the meat mixture in the bottom of a large casserole dish. Then, top with the cauliflower mash and then sprinkle on the cheese before baking.
For the full instructions, visit the recipe at the end of this post.
Mashed Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
PrintMashed Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Description
This Mashed Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie is the ultimate low carb comfort food! It uses ground beef and a few other simple ingredients and is topped with cheese and a creamy and delicious cauliflower mash.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 pound ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced
14 ounce can diced tomatoes
1/4 cup beef stock
3 small carrots, grated or finely chopped
1 small head cauliflower, cut into florets
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons heavy cream
salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup shredded cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a casserole dish.
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion until softened, but not browned. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain off any grease, if necessary. Stir in the beef stock, diced tomatoes, and carrots. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 10 minutes to allow the mixture to thicken.
Boil the cauliflower until soft, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and allow ALL the steam to escape so the mash won’t be too watery. Add the butter, cream, and salt and pepper. Using a stick blender or a food processor, puree until smooth.
Place the meat mixture in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Top completely with the cauliflower mash and then sprinkle on the cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
Notes
–Cauliflower head should weigh about 10 ounces. If yours weighs more or less, you may need to adjust the butter, cream, salt, and pepper.
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Wanda says
Is it possible to freeze this and cook it later?
Kristin says
Made this yesterday for my best friend who needs to follow a keto diet. it was SO good I’ll be making it for my family as a “ comfort food casserole “! It’s as delicious as the photos imply- thank you for sharing!
frugal hausfrau says
Oh my gosh but that spoonful with the cheesy cauliflower just created a craving! Yum! Thanks for linking up to us at Fiesta Friday!
Mollie
Miz Helen says
Healthy comfort food, this looks delicious! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
Looks so good. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Scarlet says
This recipe sounds perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. I am always amazed to see how many ways cauliflower can be used. So clever!
Kat @ Kat's 9 Lives says
Yum! I’ve been trying to eat more beef recently to get more heme iron, and this recipe looks like a great option! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
This looks totally delicious! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner Party – hope your week is fantastic!