Chicken Shepherd’s Pie

Content… What Is It? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions What to Serve More Craveable Dinner Pie Recipes to Try

What Is Chicken Shepherd’s Pie?

Shepherd’s pie with chicken is similar to traditional shepherd’s pie. However, instead of beef or lamb for the meat filling, you swap it out for chicken. While most shepherd’s pie recipes call for tomato paste, there’s no tomato at all in chicken shepherd’s pie sauce, so it’s a little creamier.

In fact, the chicken filling reminds me of chicken pot pie filling but with a mashed potato topping instead of a pie crust. 🤤 Two ultimate comfort foods in one!

Recipe Ingredients

1. Potato Topping – For the creamy mashed topping, you’ll need russet potatoes, milk, butter, and sour cream.
2. Chicken – Save time with pre-cooked chicken breasts or thighs. A store-bought rotisserie chicken makes a great shortcut.
3. Veggies – Frozen peas and corn, along with fresh diced carrot, celery, onion, and garlic, means you get a good serving of veggies in every bite.
4. Seasonings – For a lovely herby flavor, you’ll need thyme and bay leaves, salt, black pepper, and chicken or beef bouillon. Sprinkle with fresh parsley to garnish.
5. Sauce – For a saucy filling, gather up some white wine, Worcestershire sauce, chicken broth, plus a little flour to thicken everything up.

How to Make Chicken Shepherd’s Pie

Make the Mashed Potatoes

• Rinse the potatoes and transfer them to a large saucepan. Cover them with cold water by at least 3 inches.
• Boil – Season generously with salt, and bring it to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium once the water reaches a rolling boil and simmer until tender, 12-15 minutes. (Photo 1)
• Drain and transfer the boiled potatoes to a large bowl. (Photo 2)
• Mash the potatoes with a masher or hand mixer with the milk, butter, sour cream, salt, and pepper until nice and creamy. Set aside. (Photos 3-4)

Make the Filling

• Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet on medium-high. Cook the shredded chicken for about 2 minutes. (Photo 5)
• Season – Add thyme, bay leaf, carrot, celery, onions, and garlic and stir well. Cook for 4-6 minutes or until the vegetables start softening. (Photo 6)
• Simmer – Decrease the heat to medium and add the white wine. Simmer until most of the liquid evaporates (you want some liquid for the sauce).
• Add the flour, Worcestershire sauce, chicken broth, and (optionally) beef or chicken bouillon. (Photo 7)
• Thicken – Simmer the mixture on low. Stir occasionally until the sauce thickens slightly (10-15 minutes).
• Add the peas and corn. Stir until thoroughly combined and heated through—season it with salt and pepper and set aside. (Photos 8-9)

Assembly

• Preheat oven to 425°F/218℃. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish generously with nonstick coating.
• Assemble – Add the chicken filling. Spread the mashed potato layer evenly over the top with a spatula to cover the filling completely. (Photos 10-11)
• Bake until the potatoes brown slightly around the edges (18-20 minutes). (Photo 12)
• Serve – Let your chicken shepherd’s pie rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

Recipe Variations

1. Get cheesy. Mix shredded cheddar or Parmesan into the mashed potatoes before topping the pie, or sprinkle cheese on top for a golden, melty crust. Cheddar cheese adds a rich sharpness, while Parmesan brings a hint of nuttiness.
2. Sweet potato topping. Swap out regular mashed potatoes for mashed sweet potatoes for a hint of sweetness and added nutrients. The sweet and savory combo pairs wonderfully with the chicken filling, making the dish even more colorful. 🧡
3. Add mushroom and spinach. Sliced mushrooms and fresh spinach add an earthy, veggie-packed twist. Sauté them to bring out their flavor, then fold them into the chicken mixture before baking.

Tips and Tricks

1. The chicken mixture should have some sauce. So, if your chicken filling seems dry, feel free to add a little more chicken stock, white wine, or other liquid to make it nice and saucy before assembling.
2. On the other hand, if your chicken filling is too runny, you can add a cornstarch slurry to help thicken it. Stir a tablespoon of cornstarch into two tablespoons of cool water, stir it into the sauce, turn up the heat, and stir until it thickens.
3. Want a fancy shepherd’s pie? Carve designs into the potato topping with a fork before baking. It delivers an elegant presentation. 🤩
4. Let the chicken filling cool a bit first so it will be easier to spread the potato topping.
5. Refrigerate the filling layer for 20 minutes after spreading it in the baking dish to keep the mashed potatoes from sinking.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Making chicken shepherd’s pie ahead is a great way to save time and enjoy a ready-to-go meal. Simply cover the assembled, unbaked pie with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then, store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to serve, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Then bake the thawed pie as directed, adding 5-10 minutes to ensure it heats through.

Refrigerate leftover shepherd’s pie in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat it in the microwave or the oven. 

What Goes With Chicken Shepherd’s Pie

While you don’t technically need any sides to accompany this dish, I love homemade garlic bread to soak up the gravy. A fresh, crunchy wedge salad or shaved Brussels sprouts salad balances the rich, savory flavors of the pie. Finish it off with a super easy sweet potato pie in a graham cracker crust. 😋

More Craveable Dinner Pie Recipes to Try

1. Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
2. Jamaican Meat Pies
3. Vegan Pot Pies
4. Aloo (Potato) Pie
5. African Meat Pie

By Imma