Keto Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower Recipe
This meaty, savory Keto Shepherd’s Pie Recipe with Cauliflower is perfect to make now that Fall is almost upon us. I know that you and your whole family will enjoy this recipe. It’s so delicious, even non-keto dieters will ask for seconds!
This cauliflower shepherd’s pie is an easy classic comfort food recipe that is low carb, keto diet, gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.
So, if you are looking for a hearty and comforting dinner recipe, look no further. I’m so excited to share this low-carb makeover of one of my all-time favorite casserole recipes – Shepherd’s Pie.
After this low carb shepherd’s pie recipe, try my Keto Lamb Stew and Lamb Stroganoff!
Ingredients
Olive oil – You can also use coconut oil or avocado oil as well. These are good healthy fat alternatives.
Onion – Sweet onions and yellow onions are always a good idea.
Cloves garlic – Minced garlic is delicious, and garlic powder is always a viable option also.
Ground beef – My family likes ground beef in this recipe instead of the traditional lamb.
Zucchini – Clean well and slice!
Crushed tomatoes – Canned tomatoes save on prep but you can use fresh tomatoes if you want.
Salt and pepper – To taste.
Cauliflower – You can buy the cauliflower already diced or dice it yourself.
Butter – Adds richness and flavor.
Heavy cream – This adds flavor and thickness to the pie.
Shredded cheese – You can use any type of cheese that you want.
How to Make Keto Shepherd’s Pie
The complete instructions and ingredient quantities are under the photos in the recipe card.
Step One: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and sauté on medium heat until soft and translucent.
Step Two: Add the ground beef and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until it is browned and cooked through.
Step Three: Add the zucchini and tomatoes and stir to combine.
Step Four: Reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
Step Five: In a large pot, add cauliflower to boiling water. Boil the cauliflower until soft, about 8-10 minutes.
Step Six: Drain the cauliflower, allowing all steam to escape. Dry cauliflower will help make a creamier mash.
Step Seven: Transfer the drained cauliflower florets to a food processor. Add the butter, cream, shredded cheese, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth.
Top Tip💡
If you don’t have a food processor you can process the cauliflower in a blender in small batches.
Step Eight: Place the ground beef mixture in the bottom of a large casserole dish. Top with the cauliflower.
Top Tip💡
If you use a cast iron skillet to cook the beef you can leave it right in the skillet and add the mashed cauliflower on top.
Step Nine: Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes and until the filling is bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
Variations
Add a garnish – Adding fresh parsley right on top is a great flavor!
Vegetables – You can boost the vegetables by adding some chopped celery and carrots with the onions. They will increase the net carbs slightly though.
Mix in cream cheese – To get a super creamy cauliflower mash, add cream cheese to the mixture. Sour cream works as well. You can also add an egg yolk to set the cauliflower more.
Bold flavor – If you like a stronger tomato flavor stir some tomato paste into the ground beef. You can also add a dash of worcestershire sauce to boost the flavor of the meat.
Protein source – If you want to cut down on calories and fat content, lower-fat ground turkey, ground venison, or ground chicken works in place of ground beef.
Common Questions
What is in Shepherd’s Pie?
Shepherd’s pie is a traditional dish that most likely originated in Scotland or northern England. It was a recipe developed to use leftover pieces of roast meat. It is usually called “shepherd’s pie” when made with lamb because a shepherd looks after sheep.
Shepherd’s pie is traditionally made with ground lamb. However, I used ground beef in this low carb version because my family prefers it, and it is easier for me to find. This is normally called Cottage Pie. That said, if you love lamb and are able to find it in your local grocery store, please feel free to substitute it for ground beef.
How do you make Shepherd’s Pie keto?
Traditional shepherd’s pie is a casserole made with a layer of cooked meat and vegetables in a savory gravy. Then, the meat is topped with mashed potatoes, and baked in the oven until the mashed potatoes are browned.
This keto shepherd’s pie is made with mashed cauliflower topping instead of mashed potatoes. “Cauli mash” is a great low carb or Trim Healthy Mama alternative to mashed potatoes — and is just as delicious. It has more fiber, nutrition, and a lot fewer carbs than potatoes. I like to use cheddar cheese in my cauliflower for a boost of flavor.
How do I store leftovers?
The leftovers of this hearty dish are the best! Just let the low carb shepherd’s pie mixture cool down and then store it in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave and add some freshly shredded cheese on top, if you’d like!
What goes with Shepherd’s Pie?
This dish is almost a full meal in itself. Meat, veggies, and cauliflower mash come together to make a satisfying meal.
If you are looking to make something to accompany it, I’d suggest garlic broccoli or a simple side salad.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this keto cottage pie up to 2 days ahead of time. Make the meat mixture and mashed cauliflower and assemble the keto shepherds pie casserole. When you are ready to serve it bake it as directed.
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Keto Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
Ground Beef mixture
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb
- 1 small zucchini diced
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- Salt and pepper
Cauliflower Topping
- 1 small cauliflower cut into florets
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Shepherd’s Pie
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and sauté on medium heat until soft and translucent.
- Add the ground beef and cook, stirring frequently, until it is browned and cooked through.
- Add the zucchini and tomatoes and stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
Cauliflower Topping
- In a large pot, add cauliflower to boiling water. Boil the cauliflower until soft, about 8-10 minutes.
- Drain the cauliflower, allowing all steam to escape. Dry cauliflower will help make a creamier mash.
- Transfer the drained cauliflower to a food processor. Add the butter, cream, shredded cheese, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth.
To Assemble
- Place the ground beef mixture in the bottom of a large casserole dish. Top with the mashed cauliflower.
- Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes and until the filling is bubbly and the topping is browned
Notes
Nutrition
This is a guest recipe from Sarah of the low-carb recipe blog, Green & Keto. Visit her for delicious keto recipes, meal plans, and more!
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Originally Published August 16, 2018. Revised and Republished September 3, 2025.
I steamed the cauliflower which not only leaves more nutrients but also more flavor in the cauliflower. I didn’t make the recipe for Keto but for a diabetic with heart disease. I used heart healthy cream of mushroom soup, portobello mushrooms and sodium free beef broth instead of heavy cream.
The cauliflower was excellent (no cheese) but overall the dish was outstanding.
I’ll follow the recipe next time with tomatoes and zucchini as I think it will be really good too.
do you think I could use frozen cauliflower rice instead of fresh?
Yes, that would be fine.
Mine is in the oven as I write this. I’m an experienced enough cook to know this is gonna be amazing. I just want to say thank you – I have been looking for Keto comfort food and this flips the bill nicely. Made it close to your recipe for my first run, but can’t wait to tinker with it! Isn’t that the real “joy of cooking”? 🙂❤️
I didn’t realize that I should have squeezed the water out of cauliflower I’m new at this keto stuff.
Well it depends on how you cook the cauliflower and how wet it is. If you steam it, there is minimal moisture and why I’ve switched to always steaming it. It also keeps more nutrients in the food and less in the water! The recipe mentioned water will make it moister for that reason.
This is probably my favorite keto meal to date and I have been on keto over 2 years! Thank you for posting!
Have had “cottage pie” in Ireland on many occasions. This healthy version isn’t the same but still delicious. Instead of zucchini I used finely chopped carrots. The mash was actually boxed cauliflower mashed potatoes with garlic then cheddar mixed it. Very good – will definitely make again. Only thing to make it better would have been a pint of Guinness!
Good recipe… I used a nut milk bag to squeeze as much water out of cauliflower then mixed it with the butter and heavy cream until thoroughly mixed … 5 minutes, then baked in a portable oven fryer for 20 minutes at 350 degrees … perfect texture and perfect taste
I used a little bbq sauce in my meat and veggies and it was awesome. My family loves it.
Also, when I make tge cauliflower I cook it in a steamer basket and after cooking and cooling slightly I squeeze water out using towels or paper towels.
Great recipe but shepherds pie it ain’t as that would involve lamb mince (clue is in the name)! This uses beef which is a completely different thing (cottage pie).
I used cauliflower pieces in a keto cheese sauce for the topping which was delicious – mashed cauliflower is a little too much for me and I enjoyed the texture ore (especially crisped up under the grill)!
Yes, I know this is technically cottage pie. You can use lamb if you prefer. This is mentioned in the blog post.
OMG, this was super delicious! I didn’t have tomatoes so I added celery and red pepper instead. Everyone RAVED! I’ll definitely make it again! Thank you for sharing!
How many ounces or grams in a serving? Thx!
I’m sorry I don’t have that information. If you have a kitchen scale you can weigh your casserole dish empty and after baking this to find that out.
Is the nutrition for 1 serving? How many servings?
Yes. There are 6 servings.
Can we freeze it
Mashed cauliflower freezes ok but not great. If possible I’d suggest freezing the meat portion and then adding freshly mashed cauliflower.
What kind of shredded cheese?
Completely up to you. Mozzarella will be a very mild flavor or use something more flavorful like cheddar or gruyere.
Just made this and it is awesome!!