This paleo Shepherd’s Pie is the perfect solution when you are craving comfort food. It is packed with seasoned ground meat, hearty vegetables, and russet potatoes. I love this recipe because it delivers all the cozy flavors of the classic dish, but without grains or dairy. Whether you’re following a Whole30 or paleo diet, or just looking for a healthier twist on a traditional favorite, this recipe is satisfying and full of wholesome ingredients.
I am sharing this recipe with you today because I am a wellness coach who has personally struggled with hormonal imbalances and inflammation issues. By changing what I ate through an anti-inflammatory diet, I was able to balance my hormones and improve my gut health.
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What Makes this Shepherd’s Pie Recipe Paleo-Friendly?
To make Shepherd’s Pie paleo-friendly, the key is swapping out non-compliant ingredients for whole, unprocessed alternatives. Traditional Shepherd’s Pie is made with white potatoes, which sometimes includes dairy like butter or cream. In this recipe the typical dairy ingredients are replaced with ghee and coconut milk. And yes, I personally eat white potatoes as part of my paleo diet and that is why they are included in this recipe.
The meat filling uses ground beef, which fits the paleo template, and is sautéed with vegetables. Instead of soy sauce, coconut aminos and balsamic vinegar are included in this recipe to add a salty, tangy flavor.
Before we move on, if you are interested in eating an anti-inflammatory diet, go ahead and click the button below to get a FREE Anti-Inflammatory Diet Food List!
Paleo Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, 85% lean
- ½ medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 6 baby bella mushrooms, diced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp dried rosemary
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 Tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup frozen peas
- Salt & pepper
For the potatoes:
- 2.5-3 lb russet potatoes
- 3 Tbsp ghee
- ⅓ cup full fat coconut milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
For the potatoes:
- Fill a 3-quart pot with water. Add peeled potato chunks to the pot and bring to a boil. Boil until potatoes are tender enough to mash, about 10 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes. In a bowl add in the ghee and coconut milk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Use a hand-held mixer to whip the potatoes smooth.
For the pie filling:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Drizzle avocado oil into a cast iron skillet and heat to medium high.
- Add the ground beef and completely cook. Season with salt and pepper. Removed from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the onions, celery, mushrooms, and carrots. Cook over medium heat until they are soft, 5-8 minutes.
- Add in the garlic and herbs and cook for one more minute, not allowing the garlic to burn.
- Add the tomato paste and cook for one more minute, stirring well.
- Add in the beef broth and scrape all the bits stuck on the bottom of the pan into the mixture.
- Add in the coconut aminos and the balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bring the broth mixture to a boil.
- Add in the frozen peas and the cooked ground beef. Stir well.
- Turn down the heat and simmer for about 3-5 minutes.
- Turn off heat and spoon the potatoes on top of the mixture. Use a spatula to smooth out the top.
- Bake for 20 minutes, making sure it is hot and bubbling.
- Let it rest for five minutes before serving. If you don’t wait it will fall apart as you try to serve.

This Paleo Shepherd’s Pie is a comforting, wholesome twist on a classic favorite.
With clean ingredients and rich, savory flavor, this recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or cozy weekends at home. This dish maintains the hearty, savory feel of classic Shepherd’s Pie while aligning with paleo principles. With no grains, legumes, dairy, or processed additives, it’s a great comfort meal that supports clean eating.
More paleo comfort recipes that you might like:


This was easily the best thing I ate during my whole 30!