This easy Chicken Shepherd's Pie features ground chicken, mixed vegetables, savory gravy, and creamy mashed potatoes baked until golden. A comforting family-friendly dinner perfect for busy weeknights.
I came up with this Chicken Shepherd's Pie as a delicious twist on a classic comfort food favorite. Ground chicken, mixed vegetables, and fresh herbs come together in one hearty casserole that is easy to make and perfect for getting dinner on the table without a lot of fuss.
Our family loves this recipe because it's warm, filling, and made with simple ingredients everyone can enjoy. It is also a great way to use leftover mashed potatoes and make a comforting homemade meal on a busy weeknight.
If you love this easy recipe, be sure to try some of our other delicious comfort food dinners, like Easy Chicken Tetrazzini, Taco Tater Tot Casserole, and Biscuit and Gravy Casserole.
Reader Review: "A light twist on a family favorite! I love it. All the comforting flavors of shepherd's pie with a deliciouis chicken twist. It is definietly going on my dinner rotation." - Olivia
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Classic Comfort food with a twist: This Chicken Shepherd's Pie takes a family favorite comfort food and gives it a delicious spin with ground chicken and savory herbs.
- Easy weeknight dinner: Simple ingredients and steps make this a great option for busy evenings when you want a hearty, homemade meal.
- A complete meal in one dish: Ground chicken, mixed vegetables, savory gravy, and creamy mashed potatoes come together with minimal cleanup.
- Easy to make ahead: Prepare the chicken filling ahead of time, then add the mashed potato topping and bake when you are ready for dinner. Try these Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes for another pre-prep option!
What is a Chicken Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's pie is a classic comfort food casserole traditionally made with ground lamb cooked in a savory gravy with vegetables, then topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until golden brown. It is a popular family dinner because it's hearty, satisfying, and combines everything into one dish.
Traditional shepherd's pie uses lamb, while cottage pie is made with ground beef. This Chicken Shepherd's Pie puts a lighter, delicious twist on the classic! It replaces the traditional lamb with ground chicken and combines it with mixed vegetables, herbs, and mashed potatoes for a comforting, family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Helps soften the onions and adds flavor to the chicken filling.
- Onion: Diced onion adds a savory base to the filling.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds the best flavor.
- Ground Chicken: A lean, flavorful alternative to the ground beef traditionally used in shepherd's pie.
- Salted Butter: Adds richness to the filling and helps create a gravy.
- All-Purpose Flour: Thickens the chicken broth into a savory gravy.
- Salt and Pepper: Enhances the flavors of the chicken and vegetables.
- Rosemary: Adds an earthy flavor to the filling.
- Thyme: Complements the chicken and gives the classic comfort-food flavor.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds savory depth and a little extra richness to the gravy.
- Chicken Broth: The base for the flavorful gravy.
- Frozen Vegetables: A convenient way to add color, texture, and vegetables without extra prep work. I used a blend of peas, carrots, corn, and green beans.
- Mashed Potatoes: You will need 3 cups of mashed potatoes to create the creamy topping. Use homemade mashed potatoes or prepared mashed potatoes to save time.
Tim's Tip: This is a great recipe for using leftover mashed potatoes! If you are making them from scratch, prepare them ahead of time to make assembling dinner even easier.
How to Make Chicken Shepherd Pie
1. Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Cook the Onions. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the diced onions and sauté until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook an additional minute until fragrant.
3. Brown the ground chicken. Add the ground chicken to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink and it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
4. Make the gravy base. Add the butter, flour, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Stir until everything is well combined and cook for 1-2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
5. Add the liquids and vegetables. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and chicken broth. Add the frozen vegetables and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the filling thickens to a gravy-like consistency.
5. Assemble the pie. Transfer the chicken mixture to your prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Spoon the mashed potatoes over the top, spreading them to cover the filling completely.
6. Bake until golden. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and the mashed potato topping is lightly golden. Let the Chicken Shepherd's Pie rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Made this recipe? Let me know!
Expert Tips
- Adjust the gravy as needed: If your filling looks too thick, feel free to add a little more chicken broth until you reach your desired consistency. If it looks too thin, let it simmer a few extra minutes to thicken.
- Let it rest before serving: Once your chicken pie comes out of the oven, let it rest for about 15 minutes before serving. This gives the filling time to settle and allows some of the liquid to absorb.
- Spread the mashed potatoes evenly: Make sure the mashed potatoes cover the chicken filling from edge to edge. This helps keep the filling underneath moist while the potato topping turns golden in the oven.
Substitutions and Variations
- Ground Chicken: Ground turkey is an easy substitute for ground chicken. You can also use shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken. If using cooked chicken, add it after the onions and garlic have softened, then continue with the gravy.
- Mashed Potatoes: Homemade mashed potatoes like my Creamy Mashed Potatoes work wonderfully, but store-bought refrigerated ones are a great shortcut for busy weeknights.
- Add Cheese: For a cheesy twist, sprinkle shredded cheddar or Parmesan over the mashed potatoes during the last few minutes of baking.
- Add More Vegetables: Mushrooms, diced celery, or chopped green beans are great additions if you want to add more vegetables to the chicken filling.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Allow the Chicken Shepherd's Pie to cool, then cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: This recipe freezes well, making it a great option for meal prep. Let it cool completely and wrap the dish in a freezer-safe covering. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Reheat in a 350°F oven until heated through.
FAQs
Yes, you can assemble the Chicken pie ahead of time and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake. For best results, bake within 24 hours.
Yes! Instant mashed potatoes are a convenient shortcut when you want to get dinner on the table quickly. Prepare them according to the package directions and use about 3 cups to cover the filling.
The filling should be bubbling around the edges, and the mashed potato topping should be lightly golden. Make sure the center reaches 165°F before serving.
What to Serve with Chicken Shepherd's Pie
This dish is a hearty, comforting meal on its own, but I love adding a simple dish to round out dinner.
- A garden salad with Homemade Buttermilk Dressing.
- Sheet Pan Roasted Mixed Vegetables
- Creamy Skillet Corn
Made this recipe? Let me know!
Recipe
Chicken Shepherd's Pie
Equipment
- 9 x 13 Baking Dish
- 10 or 12 Inch Skillet
- Oven
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- ½ cup Sweet Onion Diced
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Minced
- 1 lb Ground Chicken
- 2 tablespoon Salted Butter
- 2 tablespoon All-Purpose Flour
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Rosemary
- 1 teaspoon Thyme
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 cup Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Frozen Mixed Vegetables
- 3 cups Mashed Potatoes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the Onions. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the diced onions and sauté until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, until fragrant. 2 tbsp Olive Oil ½ cup Sweet Onion 1 tbsp Garlic
- Brown the ground chicken. Add the ground chicken to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink and it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. 1 lb Ground Chicken
- Make the gravy base. Add the butter, flour, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Stir until everything is well combined and cook for 1-2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste. 2 tbsp Salted Butter 2 tbsp All-Purpose Flour ½ tsp Pepper 1 tsp Salt 1 tsp Rosemary 1 tsp Thyme
- Add the liquids and vegetables. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and chicken broth. Add the frozen vegetables and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the filling thickens to a gravy-like consistency. 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce 1 cup Chicken Broth 1 cup Frozen Mixed Vegetables
- Assemble the pie. Transfer the chicken mixture to your prepared 9x13 baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Spoon the mashed potatoes over the top, spreading them to cover the filling completely. 3 cups Mashed Potatoes
- Bake until golden. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and the mashed potato topping is lightly golden. Let the Chicken Shepherd's Pie rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the gravy as needed: If your filling looks too thick, feel free to add a little more chicken broth until you reach your desired consistency. If it looks too thin, let it simmer a few extra minutes to thicken.
- Let it rest before serving: Once your chicken pie comes out of the oven, let it rest for about 15 minutes before serving. This gives the filling time to settle and allows some of the liquid to absorb.
- Spread the mashed potatoes evenly: Make sure the mashed potatoes cover the chicken filling from edge to edge. This helps keep the filling underneath moist while the potato topping turns golden in the oven.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Allow the Chicken Shepherd's Pie to cool, then cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: This recipe freezes well, making it a great option for meal prep. Let it cool completely and wrap the dish in a freezer-safe covering. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Reheat in a 350°F oven until heated through.
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