Cheesy Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-13 · Updated 2026-05-13

A comforting low-carb shepherd’s pie featuring seasoned ground beef topped with creamy mashed cauliflower and melted cheese. This British-inspired keto recipe (low carb), ready in about 50 minutes, layers cauliflower florets, ground beef, unsalted butter into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 460 calories and feeds 4, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 cups, chopped cauliflower florets
• 1 lb, 85% lean ground beef
• 3 tbsp, divided unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup, divided shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 small, diced yellow onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp, divided salt
• 1/2 tsp, divided black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Steam 4 cups chopped cauliflower florets until fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and mash with 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/4 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until creamy.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 small diced yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet with 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Cook, breaking up beef, for 6-8 minutes until browned and cooked through.
4. Step 4: Transfer cooked beef mixture to a baking dish, spread evenly. Top with the creamy mashed cauliflower, smoothing with a spatula. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese and 1 tbsp unsalted butter cut into small pieces on top.
5. Step 5: Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are bubbly. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.