Spoon Simple
Ground Turkey and Lentil Shepherd's Pie
A comforting and protein-packed twist on a classic, featuring a savory ground turkey and lentil filling topped with creamy mashed sweet potatoes. This hearty dish is perfect for a family dinner.
Prep 25 min
Cook 40 min
Total 1h 5m
Serves 6
Ingredients
Step 1 — For the Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 pounds lean ground turkey
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
Step 2 — For the Topping
- 3 large sweet potatoes (about 2 lbs), peeled and cubed
- 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 1/4 cup milk or unsweetened almond milk
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1
Cook Sweet Potatoes
Place cubed sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until fork-tender. Drain well.
- 2
Sauté Vegetables and Turkey
While sweet potatoes cook, heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain excess fat. Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the skillet and cook until softened, about 7-10 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, thyme, and rosemary, and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- 3
Simmer Filling
Stir in the rinsed lentils, diced tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until lentils are tender and the sauce has thickened. Stir in frozen peas and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- 4
Mash Sweet Potatoes
Add butter (or olive oil) and milk to the drained sweet potatoes. Mash until smooth and creamy, seasoning with salt and pepper. If the mixture is too thick, add a little more milk.
- 5
Assemble and Bake
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). If your skillet is not oven-safe, transfer the filling to a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread the mashed sweet potato topping evenly over the filling. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is lightly golden and the filling is bubbly.
Nutrition per serving: 480 cal · 38g protein · 45g carbs · 18g fat · 10g fiber
For informational purposes only. Not medical or dietary advice. Verify ingredients for allergens, cooking times, and safe internal temperatures before serving.
