Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (2024)

by Traci ·

5 from 105 votes

Total 1 hour hour

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Chicken Shepherd’s Pie is the best way to put leftover chicken or turkey into a family-approved comfort meal! This scrumptious casserole dinner is loaded with fresh veggies in a creamy white gravy topped with mashed potatoes and baked to perfection.

Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (1)

This shepherd’s pie recipe has all the comfort of a pot pie, minus the flour crust. Instead, it's topped with a creamy layer of mashed potatoes which makes it completely irresistible. Make this entree with rotisserie style chicken, holiday leftover turkey, or Instant Pot shredded chicken.

Chicken Shepherd's pie ingredients

Ingredient amounts are in the printable recipe card below.

  • butter⁠ - or preferred cooking oil
  • onions, carrots, and celery - budget-friendly aromatics that also add volume
  • garlic⁠ cloves - can sub with garlic powder (but fresh is recommended)
  • all-purpose flour⁠ - or preferred flour
  • chicken broth⁠ - or vegetable broth
  • half and half⁠ - or preferred dairy or nondairy liquid
  • thyme, salt, and pepper⁠
  • peas⁠ - fresh or frozen
  • chicken - use leftover baked chicken, air fryer chicken, or roast turkey
  • mashed potatoes⁠. Use cooked ground chicken, if preferred.
  • cheddar cheese⁠ - or use your favorite shredded cheese
  • fresh parsley⁠ - optional garnish
Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (2)

How to make this recipe

Step 1. Saute the veggies. I used onion, celery, and carrots, otherwise known as mirepoix in the culinary world.

Step 2. Make gravy right in the pot with veggies. In this recipe, we're making a simple roux with the veggies, fat, and flour, followed by whisking in cream to make a white sauce.

Step 3. Add peas, chicken or leftover turkey, and seasonings, then transfer everything to a baking dish.

Step 4. Spread the potatoes on top. The most efficient way to do this is transfer warm potatoes to the top of the pie in small amounts. I use a portion scoop to transfer, then gently spread them over the surface, and garnish with shredded cheese and chopped parsley.

Step 5. Bake 30 minutes until sauce is bubbling. Allow to rest for 10 minutes and serve warm.

The best mashed potatoes for chicken shepherd's pie

I make this easy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipe with Russet potatoes. They have a high starch content, so they're fluffy and smooth when mashed. You can use any mashed potatoes for this recipe.

Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (3)

What’s the difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie?

Traditionally, this is a hearty Scottish dinner that earned its name because it had minced lamb and shepherds look after the sheep. If the dish was made with beef instead of lamb, it was called cottage pie. This is because potatoes were inexpensive, and the peasants who made it lived in cottages. However, the two names are often used interchangeably.

Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (4)

Can you freeze this entree?

This is a great choice for a meal prep dinner! You can definitely make it, bake it, and freeze it. To do this after it has cooked, allow it to cool completely. Portion into servings, place into freezer-safe containers, and freeze up to two months, or longer if vacuum sealed.To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or stove.

Entrees that use cooked shredded chicken

  • Chicken Fried Rice
  • Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • One-Pot Chicken Broccoli and Rice
  • Chicken Tacos

📖 Recipe

Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (5)

Chicken Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Chicken Shepherd’s Pie is the best way to put leftover chicken (or turkey) into a family-approved comfort meal! This scrumptious casserole dinner is loaded with fresh veggies in a creamy white gravy topped with mashed potatoes and baked to perfection.

Prep TimePrep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook TimeCook Time: 40 minutes mins

Total timeTotal Time: 1 hour hr

Yield 8 1-cup servings

Author Traci Antonovich

5 from 105 votes

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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
  • ½ medium Onion diced (about 1 cup)
  • 2 ribs Celery diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 large Carrot diced (about 1 cup)
  • 4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 3 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 cup Chicken Broth
  • ¼ cup Half and Half or milk
  • 1 teaspoon Fresh Thyme or ½ teaspoon Dried Thyme
  • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1 cup Peas fresh or frozen (no need to thaw)
  • 2 cups Shredded Cooked Chicken
  • 4.5 cups Mashed Potatoes
  • 2 ounces Cheddar Cheese shredded (about ½ cup)
  • Fresh Parsley for garnish

Equipment

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Heat BUTTER in a 3-quart skillet or sauce pot over medium-high.

  • Add ONION, CARROT, CELERY, and GARLIC. Sauté a few minutes until tender, stirring as needed.

  • Add FLOUR and stir until vegetables absorb the flour.

  • Add CHICKEN BROTH and HALF and HALF in small amounts, whisking until a creamy sauce develops.

  • Remove from heat. Stir in PEAS, SHREDDED CHICKEN, THYME, SALT, and PEPPER.

  • Transfer mixture to baking dish and spread evenly.

  • Distribute MASHED POTATOES across the surface.

    Note: I use a portion scoop for this.

  • Gently spread mashed potatoes evenly over the surface. Sprinkle CHEDDAR CHEESE and PARSLEY over the top.

  • Bake 30 minutes (uncovered) until sauce is bubbling. Carefully remove from oven and allow to set up for 10 minutes. Serve warm.

Final step

Click stars to vote. Please visit 'Comments' below for reviews.

5 from 105 votes

Video

Recipe Notes

Can you make Chicken Shepherd's Pie ahead and bake later?

Yes! You can assemble the entire dish, cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days in advance. To bake, follow baking instructions above. Since it's chilled, you'll need to increase bake time by about 15 minutes, or as needed to heat the pie through.

Use any of these recipe leftovers to make this chicken shepherd's pie recipe

  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
  • Baked Chicken Thighs
  • Air Fryer Whole Chicken
  • Baked Chicken Legs
  • Roast Turkey Breast

Did you make this recipe? I'd love to see it!Follow @thekitchengirl on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag #thekitchengirl. This always makes my day!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 405mg | Potassium: 624mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2953IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 1mg

Course Dinner Recipes, Main Course

Cuisine American, English, Irish

Diet Gluten Free

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Comments

  1. Caroline says

    Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (6)
    This was a hit! The roux is the secret here with half & half cream, yum! I added italian seasoning as it goes in everything with a sprinkle of onion and garlic power. I also followed the IP chicken (6 minutes + 10 NR) and it was just over 165 degrees.

    What I love about your recipes is that they are easy to follow and execute on a week night. They are also fool-proof and all-around people pleasers! Thanks for making me shine in the kitchen!

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Yay Caroline! Totally agree about the roux. I love it that you used the IP too!

      Thank you SO much for the feedback about how my recipes are helping you. "Making you shine" is the biggest compliment I could get! Much appreciated!

  2. Bridget Bandurski says

    Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (7)
    This dish was excellent!

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Yay!! So glad you went for it and are loving it! I've actually been craving this lately lol. Making it this week! Thanks for the feedback. Enjoy!

  3. Julie says

    Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (8)
    I had leftover roast chicken and mashed potatoes to use so this recipe was perfect. I tweaked it a little - added some chopped rosemary and a dash of cayenne pepper - but have to say this is one of the best shepard's pies I've ever had. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Yay! This really is a great recipe for repurposing those leftovers. I'm so glad you enjoyed and thanks for sharing your experience!

  4. Amanda says

    Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (9)
    I had to make a lot of substitutions, because this was a last minute meal, but it was still so good! Very easy to adapt recipe with very clear and concise directions. I used sour cream for my dairy, and had no carrots so I used minced red bell peppers. I opted to use grated parmesan cheese on top so it would crisp up nicely. I used some veggie cream cheese in my instant potatoes for some flavor and richness since I didn't have any potatoes on hand either. Overall an amazing dish and so pleased with how it turned out in spite of my lack of proper ingredients! Thank you for the fantastic recipe!

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Awesome! I'm so glad you found my directions helpful and it sounds like you made it really work out! Thank you for sharing your experience. Enjoy!!

  5. Debbie says

    can I use frozen mixed veggies - peas, carrots, corn & peas. If so would I add them all when it says to add the frozen peas?

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Hiya! Yes and yes, but I recommend steaming them before adding to the mixture if using a larger volume than the recipe calls for. This will help prevent cold spots in the casserole. Let me know if I can answer any more questions for you. Enjoy!

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Chicken Shepherd's Pie Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (2024)

FAQs

Does Ina Garten have a recipe for shepherd's pie? ›

I tried making Ina Garten's recipe for shepherd's pie. The meal was easy to prepare and was large enough to feed a whole family. The pie's filling was flavorful and savory, while the mashed potatoes were perfectly creamy.

What is Cumberland pie made of? ›

Succulent beef mince combined with carrot, leek, onion, and peas in a thick, richly flavoured gravy. Topped with smooth, creamy mashed potato for a delicious midweek meal.

Why is shepherds pie a pie? ›

Simply put, after making a weekend roast, unused meat was repurposed into a pie using affordable potatoes as a crust. This frugal, albeit clever, meal suggests the name “cottage pie” referred to the consumers of the dish—poor Irish peasants (remember, they lived in cottages).

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

What is traditional shepherd's pie made of? ›

Classic Shepherd's Pie is a comforting casserole that consists of ground lamb, carrots, and peas simmered with Guinness, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs and topped with a cheesy mashed potato layer that's baked until golden and crisp.

What is Elvis Presley pie? ›

Chef Paula Haney shares with Duff the bakery's recipe for the Fat Elvis Pie, which was inspired by Elvis Presley's love of peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches. The pie includes chocolate pastry cream, peanut butter filling and slices of banana in a crust made of graham cracker crumbs, dry roasted peanuts and pretzels.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

What is Kentucky pie made of? ›

Beat corn syrup, white sugar, and eggs together in a bowl using an electric mixer on low speed until well blended; stir in chocolate chips, pecans, butter, bourbon, and vanilla extract. Pour mixture into the prepared pie crust. Bake in the preheated oven until set, 45 to 50 minutes.

What is a fun fact about shepherd's pie? ›

According to the Oxford Companion to Food, once upon a time, Scotland made its shepherd's pies with pastry instead of mashed potatoes. Indian cooks once considered shepherd's pie to be a perfect dish for tiffin (a word used to mean a light snack in British India).

Why do Irish people eat shepherd's pie? ›

It's called cottage pie in the U.K. because they use beef and in Ireland since the shepherds tend sheep, it's shepherd's pie. No doubt, the English put out an excellent cottage pie, but in Ireland it used to be a delicacy since the Irish couldn't afford beef they repurposed any unused veggies and meat.

Why does my potato sink in shepherds pie? ›

Residual moisture from the potatoes will drip into the beef below as it cooks, and too much of it will cause the potatoes to eventually sink. Aside from ridding your potatoes of excess moisture before you mash them, it also helps to cool the beef down, BBC Good Food shares.

How do you keep mash from sinking in shepherds pie? ›

To stop the mash sinking into the filling, allow the meat to cool before topping with the mashed potato. Freeze in individual ovenproof dishes for an easy meal for one.

How do you keep shepherd's pie from falling apart? ›

How do you keep shepherds pie from falling apart? The eggs in the mashed potatoes help keep the pie together. You should also make sure to spread the potatoes and press down a bit.

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›

Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

What is the best thickener for meat pies? ›

FINO PIE THICKENING is a balanced blend of cereals and starches especially designed for thickening and stabilising pie meat.

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