Chicken Shepherd’s Pie is a creamy curry based chicken and vegetables that are topped with a layer of mashed potatoes and baked in the oven to a crispy top. This Chicken Shepherd’s pie is one that you don’t want to miss out on making.
This Chicken Shepherd’s Pie is not your mama’s Shepherd Pie! This version is made with a creamy curry sauce that is out of this world. Topped with a heavenly layer of mashed potatoes and Parmesan cheese, this comfort food recipe will not last long. Mmm good.
John says I don’t make enough potato recipes. He was right. I had been making his favourite starchy side over the last few months.
On my last grocery shopping trip, I bought a big bag of potatoes to appease his cravings. I made a yummy slow cooker mashed potato recipe and a scrumptious Chicken Shepherd’s Pie. Two points for me!
Chicken Shepherd’s Pie
This recipe isn’t the traditional one for Shepherd’s Pie. I favour chicken over beef these days. I get more bang for my buck with chicken. And yes, I do a lot of chicken recipes.
I am a Chicken Farmers of Canada brand ambassador! However, this post you’re reading is not sponsored. I’m sharing just because I really enjoy this recipe.
What is a Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s Pie is an upgraded pot pie recipe. You have a creamy based mixture that is loaded with chicken, vegetables, and then topped with homemade mashed potatoes and then baked. For this recipe I added a sprinkle of parmesan cheese!
You will find a ton of beef shepherd’s pies available, where some use ground beef and others use like stew meat or cut up steak. All are amazing, I just prefer the chicken version.
Curry Chicken Shepherd’s Pie
When I was making this recipe, I decided at the last minute to add curry powder. I’ve made Curried Chicken Pasta Salad before and loved the flavour. It was an impulse decision that paid off. It added an extra element of yumminess that the whole family enjoyed.
This recipe would also work well with leftover chicken and mashed potatoes. I know some of you have told me that there is no such thing as leftover mashed potatoes, but just in case, keep this recipe in mind for the future! You never know, right?
How to Make Chicken Shepherd’s Pie
The first thing you need to do is to cook the potatoes. Hard, lumpy potatoes won’t work for this recipe.
Boil a large pot of salted water on the stove. Add potatoes and cover. Cook for 15 minutes or until potatoes is tender. I check mine with a fork.
Drain the water from the potatoes. Add in milk, salt, pepper, and butter. Mash until nice and smooth.
In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add in the onions and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour.
Whisk in milk, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, rosemary, and curry powder. Continue whisking until the mixture thickens. Add in the chicken and frozen vegetables and stir for another 3 to 5 minutes.
Now to assemble! I used a 1.5-quart casserole dish. Spread the chicken mixture on the bottom and then add the mashed potatoes to the top. Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese.
Broil for 5 minutes or until the cheese melts. Serve hot.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
This post contains affiliate links.
How Long Does Chicken Shepherd’s Pie Store for in Fridge
You can store this dish in the fridge for up to three days. Anything after that you run the risk of getting sick from the meat. So, if you go over the 3-day mark I always recommend using your best judgment and consider freezing leftovers if you would like.
Can You Freeze Chicken Shepherd’s Pie
I know a lot of you love freezer-friendly recipes. Yes, you can freeze Chicken Shepherd’s Pie to enjoy at a later date. I would eat within 3 months of freezing.
What you will do is place your shepherd’s pie either in a baking dish that can be thrown out or a freezer-friendly one. Prepare your pot pie as directed, then wrap tightly in a double layer of aluminum foil and then freeze.
This is a perfect time to make a double recipe and then freeze one for later and serve one up for the family! I try to do that so I can slowly stock the freezer.
Other Shepherd’s Pie Recipes
Love Shepherd’s Pie? Me too. Good news. I have a couple more recipes for you to try.
- Healthy Shepherd’s Pie: A comfort food classic recipe gets a makeover. This Healthy Shepherd’s Pie has a mashed cauliflower topping and fibre filled filling. Delish!
- Beef Picadillo Shepherd’s Pie: Low carb comfort food at its finest! You won’t miss the mashed potatoes.
Could I Use Sweet Potatoes Instead of Regular Mashed Potatoes
Of course! You could whip up some mashed sweet potatoes to top your shepherd’s pie! I haven’t tried it, but I am sure it would be a tasty combination. I love sweet potatoes so I think it would be a nice savory option.
Can I Use Leftover Chicken For This Recipe
You bet! As long as your chicken is not overly seasoned, it will work great for this recipe. You can use shredded chicken or even cubed chicken. I have bulk cooked chicken and then put in bags and tossed in the freezer. That way when I have recipes like this I could just thaw a bag in the fridge and then stir in.
It will save a lot of time if you use pre-cooked chicken. Whether it be a rotisserie chicken or if you bulk cook your chicken.
Craving More Comfort Dish Recipes
- Bacon Egg and Biscuit Casserole | This is a hearty and comforting breakfast or brunch dish to whip up. You will use refrigerated biscuit dough so that it makes prepping a breeze.
- Tortellini Casserole | Now, if you love pasta, here is one casserole that will become an instant family favorite. Cheese-filled pasta, rich sauce, cheese and baked to golden perfection.
- Cabbage Roll Casserole | Another favorite of mine is this cabbage roll casserole. Get the rich and savory flavors of a cabbage roll, without all the extra prep work! Whip this up and watch your family go nuts.
What to Pair Next to Shepherd’s Pie
The one thing I love about shepherd’s pie is it can be a meal in one. If you are looking for something to pair with it, you might enjoy one or more of these options below.
- Salads | Consider a chopped salad, wedge salad, or side salad. Top crisp greens with your favorite toppings and pair with your favorite dressings. An easy and light option to help lighten up your dish.
- Dinner Rolls | Any type of bread is perfect for slathering up all the extra sauce on your plate. Homemade rolls, slice of bread, or even a breadstick would be fantastic.
- Vegetables | Roasted, steamed, or air fried, any vegetable side would be awesome. I have done a broccoli dish on the side and it helped make the meal not feel as heavy.
Feel free to do any other side dish that sounds good to you. I always love to hear new ideas so I ca try it out the next time I whip this up.
You also need to try Chicken Pot Pie, Tater Tot Casserole, Chicken Broccoli Casserole or Carrot Casserole.
Let me know what you think about my version of Chicken Shepherd’s Pie!
Chicken Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 6 potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
- 2 ½ cups milk separated
- 2 tbsp salted butter separated
- salt & pepper to taste
- 2 sweet onions chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken cooked and roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary
- ½ tsp curry powder
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water on the stovetop. Add in potatoes and cover, cooking for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain. Add in ½ cup milk, salt and pepper and 1 tbsp butter. Mash until smooth. Set aside.
- In a large pan, melt 1 tbsp butter over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in flour.
- Whisk in milk, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, rosemary and curry powder. Continue to whisk constantly until it reaches a thick consistency. Add in chicken and frozen vegetables and stir for another 3 to 5 minutes.
- Spread chicken mixture in a 9-inch square baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes on top. Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese. Broil for about 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Serve hot.
Kitchen Tools
Video
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Traci McDonough says
I made this last night and was pleased with the results. I thought I had curry powder but couldn’t find it so was going to use cumin as a substitute. Couldn’t find that either and the only substitution I had for that was turmeric. I’ve never used it before but gave it a try. It made the filling look very yellow but tasted pretty good. I will probably cook the onion a little more next time because I don’t really enjoy crunchy onions in anything – just a personal preference. The mashed potato “crust” on top with the melted cheese should be sold in a bottle because it was excellent! My family liked this, too and I will make it again. I was glad to find your site and am going now to see what I can make next! Thank you!