• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Movement Menu logo

  • Recipes
  • About
  • Work with Me
  • Client Work
  • Portfolio
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Work with Me
  • Client Work
  • Portfolio
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Diet » Whole30 » Whole30 Paleo Shepherd's Pie

    Whole30 Paleo Shepherd's Pie

    Published: Jan 1, 2020 · Modified: Jan 1, 2022 by Monica Stevens Le · 52 Comments

    32.6K shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    paleo shepherd's pie i a bowl topped off with parsley and a gold fork inside

    This is the heartiest and most delicious Whole30 paleo shepherd's pie you'll ever try. This warm and comforting recipe is full of nutrient dense veggies and topped off with a creamy sweet potato mash. It is gluten free, dairy free, paleo, and Whole30.

    Just wanted to let you know this fabulous recipe is sponsored by my friends at Lindsay Olives!

    shepherd's pie in a bowl with fresh parsley on top

    Why is paleo shepherd's pie the best?

    This dish is one of my favorite and most comforting meals ever. It is warm, hearty, and full of nutrient dense goodness.

    There are so many reasons why this dish is so wonderful. I've tweaked it multiple times over the past few years, and I'm finally the happiest I've ever been with it.

    • A perfect comfort meal for any time of the year. It's quite filling with plentiful sources of good quality carbs, protein, and fat.
    • Meal prep goodness. It's wonderful reheated throughout the week.
    • It's customizable. If you aren't into sweet potatoes, use white potatoes. If you want to use ground chicken or pork instead, you can!
    • It is gluten free, dairy free, paleo, and Whole30 compliant.
    paleo shepherd's pie in a cast iron pot with a spoon inside

    What's inside this shepherd's pie recipe?

    Inside the ground beef mixture, we have:

    • Grass-fed ground beef
    • Onions
    • Carrots
    • Garlic
    • Red bell pepper
    • Mushrooms
    • Spices
    • Bone broth
    • Tomato paste
    • Fish sauce
    • Seasoning

    The sweet potato mash is made with:

    • Sweet potatoes
    • Garlic cloves
    • Coconut milk
    • Olive oil
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    ingredients in bowls to make paleo shepherd's pie

    This is one of my favorite dishes to make when I know I won't have time to cook the rest of the week. I'm notorious for eating it cold as well, and it is delicious.

    It can be made in a cast iron pot or a ceramic pot, and it's going to be one of your go-to's after you try it for the first time.

    Recipe substitutions and notes

    • You can use ground chicken or pork instead of beef.
    • White potatoes can be used in place of sweet potatoes.
    • It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    You're going to absolutely love this paleo shepherd's pie, and I cannot wait for you to try it! Be sure to let me know if you get to trying it... your feedback means the world to me.

    shepherd's pie prepared in a pan with sweet potato mash on top

    How to make paleo shepherd's pie

    Melt the oil in a large enameled cast-iron pot or saucepan over medium-high heat.

    Add onions and carrots. Stir fry for 5-7 minutes until onions are translucent. Add garlic cloves & stir frequently for 1 minute, making sure it does not burn. Mix in ground beef and sauté until it begins to turn brown, about 4-5 more minutes. Add in bell peppers and mushrooms and cover the pot.

    Cook for another 10 minutes with the lid on, stirring every 5 minutes until the mushrooms begin to release water. Uncover and cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Add tomato paste, bone broth, fish sauce, and seasonings. Cook for 5 minutes and stir to combine. Turn off the heat and set aside.

    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Wash and dry sweet potatoes. Peel and cut into 1-inch pieces.

    Bring cold water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the potatoes, garlic and 2 teaspoons of salt. Cook at a rolling simmer until potatoes are fork tender. This will take about 15 minutes.

    Drain potatoes and garlic. Mash potatoes and garlic together or add to the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times until creamy. Add in the coconut milk and mix in the olive oil. Taste for salt and pepper. Spread the potato mash over the meat mixture.

    Bake for 10 minutes and let it cool for 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and a bit more of drizzled olive oil and serve.

    shepherd's pie in a bowl with a gold fork

    More Whole30 recipes you'll love:

    Whole30 Chicken Korma

    One Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken

    Whole30 Creamy Taco Soup

    Paleo Egg Roll in a Bowl

    Whole30 Chicken Pad Thai

    Paleo Shepherd's Pie

    Whole30 Paleo Shepherd's Pie

    This is the heartiest and most delicious Whole30 paleo shepherd's pie you'll ever try. This warm and comforting recipe is full of nutrient dense veggies and topped off with a creamy sweet potato mash. It's gluten free, dairy free, paleo, and Whole30.
    4.52 from 85 votes
    Tried this recipe?Mention @themovementmenu or tag #movementmenu!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Servings 8
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Irish
    Keyword: healthy shepherd's pie, paleo ground beef recipe, whole30 comfort food
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 550kcal
    Author: Monica Stevens Le

    Ingredients

    Ground Beef Layer

    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or ghee
    • 1/2 cup yellow onions diced
    • 4 carrots diced
    • 6 garlic cloves minced
    • 2 red bell peppers diced
    • 16 ounces mushrooms sliced
    • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
    • 2 pounds grass-fed ground beef
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 cup bone broth- Find Here!
    • 6 ounces tomato paste
    • 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
    • sea salt and black pepper to taste

    Sweet Potato Mash

    • 2 pounds large sweet potatoes
    • 8 garlic cloves peeled
    • 2 teaspoons kosher salt to taste
    • 1/4 cup canned coconut milk
    • 2 tablespoons California extra virgin olive oil
    • kosher salt to taste
    • black pepper to taste

    Instructions

    Ground Beef Mixture

    • Melt the oil in a large enameled cast-iron pot or saucepan over medium-high heat.
    • Add the onions and carrots. Stir fry for 5-7 minutes until onions are translucent. Add the garlic cloves and stir frequently for 1 minute, making sure it does not burn. Add in ground beef and sauté until it begins to turn brown, about 4-5 more minutes. Add in bell peppers and mushrooms and cover the pot. Cook for another 10 minutes with the lid on, stirring every 5 minutes until the mushrooms begin to release water. Uncover and cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Add tomato paste, bone broth, fish sauce, and seasonings. Cook for 5 minutes and stir to combine. Turn off the heat and set aside.

    Sweet Potato Mash

    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Wash and dry sweet potatoes. Peel and cut into 1-inch pieces.
    • Bring cold water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the potatoes, garlic and 2 teaspoons of salt. Cook at a rolling simmer until potatoes are fork tender. This will take about 15 minutes.
    • Drain potatoes and garlic. Mash potatoes and garlic together or add to the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times until creamy. Add in the coconut milk and mix in the olive oil. Taste for salt and pepper. Spread the potato mash over the meat mixture.
    • Bake for 10 minutes and let it cool for 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and a bit more of drizzled olive oil and serve.

    Notes

    • If you'd like to use a ground chicken or pork instead of the beef, you sure can!
    • You can alternatively use russet potatoes, yukon gold or red potatoes for the mash topping.
    • It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 665mg | Potassium: 1300mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 12g | Calcium: 88mg
    Monica Stevens Le
    Monica Stevens Le

    Hi! I’m Monica – recipe developer, matcha addict and lover of all things chocolate, kombucha and any & all puns. I am also the blogger, real food lover, & bonafide hustler behind the blog ‘The Movement Menu.’ I’m so excited to welcome you to my happy space, where my appreciation of creative recipes and healthy & mindful eats come together to inspire you to live a healthy, balanced life.

    Related Posts

    « One Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken
    Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup »

    Never Miss a Recipe

    Receive Paleo, Low Carb & Whole30 Recipes Weekly!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jefferson says

      January 20, 2021 at 10:01 pm

      We made this tonight. It seemed a bit liquidy after the meat layer was done cooking on the stove. After we put the sweet potato layer on top to put in the oven, we checked about 10 minutes in and the sweet potato layer and been completely overcome and covered by the meat layer. Was there some point at which we were supposed to have drained anything at all as pertains to the meat layer?

      Reply
    2. Rachel says

      March 29, 2020 at 6:11 am

      I did not have mushrooms so just added in extra veggies. This turned out AMAZING! The sweet potato mash on top is delicious on its own.5 stars

      Reply
      • Monica Stevens Le says

        March 29, 2020 at 9:12 pm

        Right? So darn good. Such a comforting meal!

        Reply
    3. Peter C says

      February 16, 2020 at 8:36 am

      Great recipe. Made it twice (once without tomato paste.) Family thinks it is better without the tomato paste.5 stars

      Reply
    4. Kaia says

      January 30, 2020 at 5:26 pm

      There’s so many variations of recipes on pinterest that finding the perfect one can be tricky. Tried this and loved it!! Froze some after making it and already deciding to take it out of the freezer and pop it back into oven, I’ll be munching on this one longer than I anticipated 😉5 stars

      Reply
    5. Bri says

      November 24, 2019 at 10:08 am

      If we are prepping this to eat later, do we need to do the baking step?
      Since everything is already cooked, and there’s nothing to crisp on top, just trying to understand why bake 🙂 (very new to cooking)

      Reply
    6. Jessica says

      November 04, 2019 at 8:22 pm

      I don't ever rate recipes online, but I can't keep silent for this one. I have made this about four times and I now crave it. I didn't make it over the summer because I avoid heating the oven at all costs (live in the desert), but now that it's cooled down it's the first meal of the fall. Looooooove it!5 stars

      Reply
    7. Allyson says

      August 14, 2019 at 7:49 pm

      This is a new family favorite! Followed the recipe exactly as she created it & WOW!! We were blown away by how delicious it was! Thank you!!

      Reply
    8. Michelle says

      August 02, 2019 at 12:53 pm

      Is there anything you’d sub for fish sauce? My boyfriend is allergic which makes me sad because I love it as an ingredient!

      Reply
      • Monica Stevens Le says

        August 05, 2019 at 8:28 am

        You can skip it all together!

        Reply
    9. Leigh says

      June 22, 2019 at 10:53 pm

      I've made this twice and both times it's been excellent. The second time I had some ostrich mince and it was oh so good. Thanks for this really great recipe.

      Reply
      • Monica Stevens Le says

        June 23, 2019 at 9:52 am

        You're so very welcome. I am happy you loved it- and OSTRICH? Oh my gosh, wow.

        Reply
    10. Terra says

      April 16, 2019 at 4:21 pm

      Just curious, what size staub did you use? I used the biggest skillet I had, cut the mushrooms in half and still had tons of liquid spilling over in my oven. Really tasty, though!

      Reply
    11. Marie Haynes says

      March 25, 2019 at 4:34 pm

      This was incredibly tasty. However the prep time is way off. It says 15 mins but it took me over two hours to get it ready to put in the oven!

      Reply
    12. Paula says

      December 11, 2018 at 11:30 pm

      So my Instacart shopper brought me purple yams instead of white sweet potatoes. Nevertheless, I persisted. Those things are thirsty, so I had to use more coconut milk, and to offset its natural sweetness I added some powdered ginger. It all came out beautifully, in spite of the purple. Will definitely make again.

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        December 12, 2018 at 1:55 pm

        That is so awesome!!! i would love to see what this looks like!

        Reply
        • Erica says

          January 19, 2019 at 6:53 pm

          After searching various Shepherd Pie recipe's reading through this I think I'm going try tomorrow! Going to test roasting the potatoes and garlic first - then mashing together - thoughts? Also, thoughts on 1/2 potato 1/2 celery root to lower the sugar/carb?

          Reply
      • Patricia Slayton says

        October 02, 2019 at 7:42 pm

        On my, I'd say you got lucky with the purples, LOVE THEM, especially in my Coconut Curry Chicken!

        Reply
        • Monica Stevens Le says

          October 02, 2019 at 10:01 pm

          RIGHT? I love purple sweet potatoes, too. Such a win!

          Reply
    13. Linda Barringer says

      December 11, 2018 at 9:21 am

      Great recipe......but when ground beef or any other meat apart from Lamb is used its called Cottage Pie. Shepard's Pie is Lamb only hence { Shepard }

      Reply
    14. Joseph says

      December 11, 2018 at 7:02 am

      Just to clarify-you keep the fat from the ground beef in the pan and keep adding ingredients. Is that correct? Thanks!

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        December 11, 2018 at 11:28 am

        Yes! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Molly says

      December 09, 2018 at 7:51 pm

      This sounds delicious! I am very eager to make it! Everything things sounds great, except, I am not a fan of mushrooms. Do you think the consistency would be okay if I obmitted them? Or would thst make it not turn out? Thank you!

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        December 11, 2018 at 11:29 am

        You can absolutely skip the mushrooms... you can add another favorite veg of yours instead!

        Reply
      • Patricia Slayton says

        October 02, 2019 at 7:52 pm

        Same here , I'd rather not eat fungus, trying to avoid it and grains which can be high in fungal count, makes eating out difficult, due to health issues

        Reply
        • Monica Stevens Le says

          October 02, 2019 at 10:01 pm

          Ahh, yes definitely skip the mushrooms if you need to. I'm sorry you are dealing with that!

          Reply
    16. Shalia B says

      November 04, 2018 at 7:35 pm

      I have the hardest time getting my kids to eat veggies but they gobbled this up and even had seconds! I will be making this again and again.

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        November 04, 2018 at 8:34 pm

        That makes me so, so happy to hear- yum! After all, aren't our kids usually the hardest to please? 😉 Would you mind rating the recipe within the recipe card? That helps me and other readers out tremendously. Thank you so, so much!

        Reply
    17. Tricia says

      November 03, 2018 at 9:48 am

      I would like to divide the recipe in half and freeze. Would you recommend cooking and then freezing?

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        November 03, 2018 at 8:47 pm

        I would, yes- that sounds ideal.

        Reply
    18. Katie says

      May 28, 2018 at 10:08 pm

      I made the potato mash and the ground beef and veg mixtures separately tonight and plan to combine them tomorrow before dinner. Should the ground meat mixture be pretty liquidy? I realize in the instructions it says to mix in the broth, fish sauce and tomato paste, stir it and set it aside which doesn’t leave any time to reduce the liquid- but will it cook out during the bake? Or is it meant to be that liquidy?

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        May 29, 2018 at 10:38 am

        It should cook out during the bake. I loved the texture of the final product... let me know what you think!

        Reply
        • Katie says

          May 29, 2018 at 8:46 pm

          Thanks! It did turn out really well. FYI in case anyone else is going to make it ahead- i added 15 degrees to the temp and 15 additional minutes to the baking time since it was coming from a cold temp instead of fresh off the stove. Also started covered when the timer went off, uncovered for 10 under the broiler.

          Thanks for the recipe!

          Reply
    19. Julie says

      May 14, 2018 at 7:10 pm

      Looks amazing. My husband does not like sweet potatoes. Would regular potatoes be ok?

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        May 15, 2018 at 6:33 pm

        Absolutely!

        Reply
    20. Rebekah says

      March 29, 2018 at 12:38 pm

      What would you think about regular sweet potatoes in this dish?

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        April 02, 2018 at 3:04 pm

        I think it would come out fabulous!

        Reply
    21. Jen says

      March 06, 2018 at 4:23 pm

      Am I missing something or is the bake temp not in the instructions?

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        March 07, 2018 at 8:22 pm

        I'm SO sorry about that. It's 350... I added it!

        Reply
    22. Dana says

      February 28, 2018 at 7:17 pm

      Hi Monica, I don't see where it says to add the coconut milk so I just added it when I mashed the potatoes. Also, I don't see what temp the oven should be on when cooking for 30 mins? I guessed and did 375.
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        March 07, 2018 at 8:27 pm

        So sorry about that... I added it to the instructions. How was it?

        Reply
    23. Jen says

      February 28, 2018 at 4:19 pm

      What temperature do you bake the prepped pie at?

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        March 07, 2018 at 8:24 pm

        I totally forgot to include it. It's 350 and have updated it in the instructions!

        Reply
        • Jen says

          March 14, 2018 at 6:38 pm

          Thanks!!!

          Reply
    24. Maggie says

      February 18, 2018 at 11:50 am

      Hi! Making this now looks delicious but I’m wondering if some items were accidentally left in the ground beef instructions...there are 2 different steps to cook the beef and it mentions peas and kale but those aren’t on the rest of the recipe. Thanks! Hope I make it correctly haha

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        February 19, 2018 at 1:43 pm

        Hi Maggie. I'm so sorry about that mixup. I've fixed the instructions! 🙂

        Reply
    25. Jennifer says

      February 13, 2018 at 5:14 pm

      Hi Monica. I went to make this recipe tonight and got thrown off by the instructions and random additions of ground ginger and fish sauce. Can you please post the correct recipe? I think my family would LOVE this!

      Reply
      • The Movement Menu says

        February 13, 2018 at 5:43 pm

        Hi there. I'm not sure what you mean by the random additions. Those ingredients were put into the recipe with intention. If you do not like those flavors, you can leave them out, but I can't guarantee the results will be quite *as* delicious! Hope that makes sense 🙂

        Reply
        • Steph says

          November 01, 2018 at 6:55 pm

          Just follow the recipe! The fish sauce and ginger made it phenomenal. We loved it in our household!

          Reply
          • The Movement Menu says

            November 03, 2018 at 8:46 pm

            Right? Those two ingredients really make it!! Would you mind rating the recipe within the recipe card? That helps me and other readers out tremendously. Thank you so, so much!

            Reply
            • Paula says

              December 11, 2018 at 11:26 pm

              Fish sauce puts the "ooh" in umami.

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    FREE SHOPPING LIST

    Enter your email address to subscribe and this incredible WHOLE30 Shopping list will be delivered right to your inbox.

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Check your e-mail for the free shopping list.

    .
    Monica

    Hi! I’m Monica!

    I am a recipe developer, matcha addict and lover of all things delicious, green and any & all puns. I am also the blogger, real food cook, & bonafide hustler behind the scenes. Read More…

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    As Seen In...

    Visit Monica's Portfolio ➤

    Never Miss a Recipe

    Receive Paleo, Vegan & Whole30 Recipes Weekly!

    Easy Weeknight Meals

    cut open and inside of an air fryer chicken breast on a plate

    The Best Chicken Breast in Air Fryer

    air fryer drumsticks together on a white plate

    Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

    gluten free cheese pizza on brown parchment paper

    Gluten Free Pizza Dough

    turkey meatballs on a plate with bucatini pasta and a fork

    Turkey Instant Pot Meatballs

    salad with eggs, avocado, potatoes, and bacon on a plate

    The Best Breakfast Salad

    chicken pot pie soup in a ceramic bowl with a spoon inside

    Healthy Chicken Pot Pie Soup

    Trending Now

    bowl of creamy taco soup with a spoon inside and avocado and limes on top

    Whole30 Creamy Taco Soup

    Whole30 Instant Pot Seafood Gumbo (Paleo, Low Carb, Dairy Free)

    low carb and whole30 chili in a bowl with a lime wedge and spoon inside

    Paleo Whole30 Chili

    One Pan Creamy Garlic Shrimp

    creamy garlic chicken in a pan with lemons sliced on top

    One Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken

    Paleo Shepherd's Pie

    Whole30 Paleo Shepherd's Pie

    a bowl of cauliflower soup with parsley on top and a spoon inside

    Creamy, Roasted & Vegan Cauliflower Soup

    Easy Vegan Pumpkin Soup

    Above Footer Widget

    As Seen In...

    Footer

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Work with Me
    • Client Work
    • Portfolio
    • Contact

    Footer

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    32.6K shares
    32557 shares