This easy keto shepherd’s pie recipe is a family favorite during the cold winter months when slow-cooker comfort food is in high demand. It’s a hearty mix of beef and herbs topped with low-carb cauliflower mash and a generous amount of melted cheese.
Slow Cooker Comfort Food for Dinner
I make this keto recipe for shepherd’s pie in a crockpot because I absolutely love easy crockpot meal prep. It doesn’t get any easier than dumping all the ingredients in the bowl, turning it one, and waiting until dinnertime.
You might also know this recipe as keto cottage pie, which according to Jaime Oliver (1) is the more technical term. The difference between a shepherd’s pie and a cottage pie pertains to the type of meat in the recipe. He says shepherd’s pie contains lamb, while cottage pie has beef.
I grew up with the term “shepherd’s pie” referring to a beef dish, so that’s what I know best. Until recently, I never though about making it with lamb. That sounds pretty good, though, doesn’t it?
If you like how this sounds, substitute the beef in favor of lamb shoulder or neck chops. These are tougher cuts (which is code for budget-friendly) and might seem hard to work with, but they are some of the best for slow cooking. (2) Trimmed and cubed lamb stew or kabob meat will also work. The latter will minimize your prep time too, since it’s already cut for you.
How to Make Keto Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower Mash
Gather all the low-carb ingredients, and you’ll be off to a great start for making a keto cauliflower shepherd’s pie in less than 20 minutes!
Keto slow cooker recipes are some of the best for meal prep! This one doesn’t disappoint.
Ingredients
Chuck roast – A favorite for slow-cooking because it’s cheap and softens nicely after cooking long and slow. (3) I suggest grass-fed chuck roast from White Oak Pastures.
Carrots – Not only do they add a welcome splash of color, but some sweetness comes too. Don’t worry though, we don’t add enough to kick you out of ketosis.
Onion and garlic – Need I say more? How can we not add these flavorful ingredients? They are a classic component of many savory dishes.
Bone broth – I prefer a homemade beef bone broth and almost always have it in my freezer. However, Kettle and Fire makes an organic shelf-stable broth you can store in your pantry. You can read my Kettle and Fire Bone Broth Review and learn why they are my top choice.
Tomato paste – This mixes in the broth which thickens, sweetens and gives more depth of flavor to the cooking liquid.
Italian seasoning – Here we have basil, thyme, oregano, and other herbs mixed in an Italian seasoning blend. It’s super yummy with meat and tomato paste! Enhance the recipe further with salt and pepper.
Cauliflower mash – Using a low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes is an important modification for this keto cauliflower shepherd’s pie. Instead of potatoes, we use cauliflower.
Cheddar cheese – Get generous with your cheese! The more, the merrier, particularly when it comes to pleasing the whole family. Substitute with other types of shredded cheese if you need to. Any choice of meltable cheese will be a good choice.
Directions
Follow along with step-by-step directions, and you’ll make this keto slow cooker dinner perfectly the first time you try!
- Arrange the beef cubes in the crockpot of the slow cooker. Cover with carrots, onion, and garlic.
- Whisk broth and tomato paste in a bowl. Then, pour the sauce over the meat.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper evenly over all ingredients.
- Cover the pot with a lid and turn it on. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Spread the cauliflower mash in a single even layer over the top of beef and vegetables. Toss shredded cheese on top of the cauliflower and spread evenly.
- Cover with the lid again. Continue cooking on HIGH for 30 minutes, until cheese melts completely.
Serve warm and store leftovers in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Yum!
Keto Shepard’s Pie FAQ
Traditional shepherd’s pie contains potatoes, flour, and peas, whether cooked in the slow cooker or stovetop. Unfortunately, these ingredients make the recipe far from being a keto-friendly option. Tally the numbers up, and you’ll find each serving might have 40 or more grams of carbs.
Once we replace high-carb ingredients with low-carb alternatives, our keto diet shepherd’s pie is all the more realistic! In this recipe, there is only 8 grams net carb per serving.
With 12 grams net carbs per cup, peas are slightly higher than your ideal keto food. A few here and there might not be too problematic, but overall, it’s better to avoid them when possible.
More Keto Slow Cooker Recipes
You’ll love browsing 15 Keto Crockpot Meals in addition to the specific recipes below.
- Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
- Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- Slow Cooker Keto Beef and Broccoli
- Slow Cooker Keto Pot Roast
- Keto Beef Stroganoff
- Keto Chicken Noodle Soup
And, no crockpot meal is complete without these Keto Dinner Rolls from Cassidy’s Craveable Creations.
Keto Shepherd’s Pie (Crock Pot)
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chuck roast cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 cup carrots chopped
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ cup Beef Bone Broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 recipe Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Arrange the beef cubes in the crockpot of the slow cooker. Cover with carrots, onion, and garlic.
- Whisk broth and tomato paste in a bowl. Then, pour the sauce over the meat.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper evenly over all ingredients.
- Cover the pot with a lid and turn it on. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Spread the cauliflower mash in a single even layer over the top of beef and vegetables. Toss shredded cheese on top of the cauliflower and spread evenly.
- Cover with the lid again. Continue cooking on HIGH for 30 minutes, until cheese melts completely.
Notes
Nutrition & Macros
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information.
When do you add the cauliflower?
Hi Carlos, Review the recipe card at the end of the post and you’ll see step 5 indicates adding the cauliflower mash before the cheese. I hope that clears it up for you!