Tuscan Chicken Shepherd’s Pie (30-Minute Recipe)

Try my Tuscan Chicken Shepherd’s Pie and enjoy the consummate comfort food with a healthy spin. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s made leaner and heartier with chicken (and a special ingredient) — the meat lovers in your life will never miss the beef. Trust me, my midwestern meat and potatoes man gobbled this shepherd’s pie with chicken up like it was a big fat steak!

If you’re a fan of chicken pot pie, you’re going to love this easy chicken shepherd’s pie! The creamy mashed potatoes paired with the added fresh veggies (or frozen!) make it a delicious twist for a simple weeknight meal. 

And making your own homemade shepherd’s pie is so simple! Your taste buds will love the layers of flavor, and you’ll delight when you have leftover chicken pie for the next night as well. To find out how to make this easy shepherd’s pie, follow the printable recipe card below.  

Chicken Shepherd’s Pie

Traditional shepherd’s pie recipes will call for ground beef, vegetables, and potatoes. 

And while I love me some classic family-style food, I wanted to update this dish and make it a tad bit lighter.

Introducing, my Tuscan chicken shepherd’s pie recipe! 

I’m using ground chicken instead of beef, and I also put an Italian spin on things by adding tender white beans, Italian parsley, and cheeses.

That secret ingredient I mentioned? 

Well, there are technically a few! Cream cheese and sour cream add so much texture and flavor to the mix… the whole family will ask for seconds!

Looking for even more classic, casserole dishes to make? I’ve got a list of my 25 favorites here, and my chicken bacon ranch version is always a good idea.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Ground Chicken – Opt for lean ground chicken for Tuscan chicken shepherd’s pie! You could also sub in ground turkey in place of the chicken.
  
  If you have rotisserie chicken leftover, you can also use shredded rotisserie chicken as well. 
  
• Potatoes – Russet become light and fluffy when cooked. Your potatoes will form most of the top layer of your shepherd’s pie with chicken, and these work perfectly. 
  
  That said, if you don’t want to run out to the store, you can use whatever you have on hand. I’ve also heard of people using sweet potatoes for this recipe, too! 
  
• Vegetables – I like to use corn, but you could also incorporate peas, celery, or carrots.
   
• White Beans – Go for the canned stuff as it’s easiest! Be sure to drain and rinse the beans before adding them to the rest of the ingredients.
  
• All-Purpose Flour – You’ll create a quick gravy made with flour, butter, chicken broth, and poultry seasoning. The flour will thicken it!
  
• Sour Cream and Cream Cheese – Tangy, creamy, and rich, sour cream will make your ground chicken shepherd’s pie stand out. 
  
  It works great in mashed potatoes — and in the potato layer of this casserole! The same goes for the cream cheese.
  
• Italian Cheese Blend – To add even more Tuscan flavor to the mix, I’m using an Italian cheese blend that features mozzarella, provolone, asiago, and Parmesan.
  
  That cheese melts perfectly with the meat and added mixed vegetables. 

Don’t forget to add seasonings as you like such as garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and more! It’s a great way to add more depth of flavor. 

Tips for Making Shepherd’s Pie with Chicken 

• Adding flavor to the chicken.

I cook the onion and garlic in a bit of olive oil before adding the ground chicken to the pan with some salt and pepper, but you can definitely feel free to add more seasonings.

For an extra burst of Italian flavor, I suggest adding some oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme!

• The creamiest potato layer ever.

For a creamy and velvety texture, make sure to add the butter, sour cream, cream cheese, and milk to the potatoes before you mash them.

The results will be creamy, yet light and fluffy! It’s the perfect topping for this chicken shepherd’s pie recipe — and serves as a great base to be topped with cheese!

• Add in some extra veggies for a wholesome boost.

Traditional Tuscan chicken recipes are usually served with zucchini, bell peppers, and/or spinach. 

Make this ground chicken shepherd’s pie lean even more on the Italian side by using those along with the corn!

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

If you miraculously end up with leftovers (yes, this dish is that good!), store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for about 3 days.

You can reheat single servings of shepherd’s pie with chicken in the microwave 30 seconds at a time until warmed through. 

To use your oven, preheat it to 350°F and heat the chicken shepherd’s pie for about 10-20 minutes.

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

• Medium Saucepan – Heats evenly and is easy to clean too.
• A large skillet with a lid – To help the chicken cook evenly, a wide skillet works best. Ideally it should be more than 12 inches in diameter.
• 9×13 Baking Dish – This set is one of my favorites! It comes with a lid for easy storage and is great for casseroles too.

Chicken Shepherd’s Pie Recipe FAQ

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Originally Published October 2012, updated and republished December 2024

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