The Humble Shepherd

Ground turkey stands in for ground beef or the more traditional lamb in this simple version of shepherd's pie. Frozen vegetables make assembly simple; you can even use instant mashed potatoes instead of making your own to cut down on preparation time.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Calories: 567 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• cooking spray
• 6 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 ½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch thick slices
• 2 (1 ounce) packages instant chicken gravy mix
• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen peas and carrots, thawed
• 2 cups shredded cheese of choice

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.

Step 2

Cover potatoes with water in a saucepan and boil for 20 to 30 minutes, or until fork-tender. Drain and beat until smooth with an electric mixer. Add butter, milk, and salt and pepper to taste; beat to desired consistency.

Step 3

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook and stir turkey and onion until turkey is fully cooked. Add gravy mix and water; stir often, until gravy is thick and bubbly. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 4

Add turkey mixture to the baking dish. Next, layer the peas and carrots, and top with the mashed potatoes. Top with a layer of shredded cheese.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and the potatoes are golden on the top.