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Take a traditional shepherd’s pie and completely transform it into something new and way more delicious by replacing the meat and gravy filling with spicy Buffalo chicken, then topping it with mashed sweet potatoes and blue cheese. I guarantee you’ll have a crowd-pleaser with this Buffalo Chicken Shepherd’s Pie.
Buffalo Chicken Shepherd’s Pie
They say everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but I’m Polish and Ukranian. Sure we Eastern Europeans know our way around a cabbage, and potatoes are also a common ingredient, but I don’t think corned beef entered my vernacular, much less my mouth, till I was an adult. Yeah, my mom hung shamrocks (she is a wee but obsessed with decorating for EVERY holiday – it’s a teacher thing, I think), and I wore green, but that was as far as the “celebrating” went.
So all over my foodie friends’ blogs, I’m seeing Irish cream this and Guinness that and soda bread this and corned beef that. I’m just not entirely feeling it. Sure, back in the early blog days I made Lucky Charms Cupcakes and a Shamrock Green Smoothie, but that’s kind of as far as it went.
So for this year, here is my St. Patrick’s Day offering to you. It’s shepherd’s pie. That’s an Irish thing, right? Only mine is made with Buffalo chicken. And sweet potatoes. And blue cheese. Just a hunch, but when it comes to Frank’s Red Hot, I don’t think the Irish are putting that s*** on everything.
But I am. Because I loves me some Buffalo chicken, as long as it isn’t in wing form.
So here’s Buffalo chicken shepherd’s pie.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Also, apparently I am on an orange food kick. #sorrynotsorry
I know it doesn’t look like much, but trust me on this one. You’ve all seen my {Healthier} Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes, right? Well, if you haven’t, check out that recipe now. And make it. Sooo good. So basically I just took that, only I left the carrots in round slices instead of dicing it to make it a little more shepherd’s pie-ish, threw it in a casserole dish and topped it with sweet potatoes and blue cheese.
Can you say brilliant? The four of us attacked this Buffalo chicken shepherd’s pie.
I am actually kind of shocked there was any left. Even the little guy. Yup, all over that spicy stuff. It was actually kind of hilarious. I think he is even responsible for finishing the leftovers. Go figure!
How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
Buffalo Chicken Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet potatoes cut into 1/2 inch chunks
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oil
- half of a medium onion chopped (about ½ c)
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- salt & pepper
- 1 pound lean ground chicken breast
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- ¼ cup hot sauce I used Frank’s Red Hot. Use more or less, depending on how spicy you like it
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese (about 1 cup)
- 1 tablespoon butter cut into tiny pieces
Instructions
- Place the sweet potatoes in a pot, cover with cold water, bring to a boil and boil for 8-10 minutes or until tender. Drain and mash with milk and salt. Set aside.
- While the potatoes are cooking, heat oil in a saute pan over medium heat.
- Add onions, carrots, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Cook for 5-6 minutes, or until onions are becoming translucent and vegetables are softening.
- Add the ground chicken, and cook until done, breaking up the meat as it cooks.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, hot sauce, and Worcestershire, and simmer for several minutes, until heated through.
- Preheat oven to 400°F and coat a 9 inch square glass baking dish with oil or cooking spray.
- Transfer the chicken mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle 3/4 cup of the blue cheese over the chicken mixture.
- Carefully top the chicken and cheese with the mashed sweet potatoes and spread into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of the blue cheese over the top of the sweet potatoes and dot with the butter.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through and bubbling.
Did you make this?
Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips
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Enjoy!
Love Buffalo chicken, but don’t want the mess of wings? Then try these recipes…
- {Healthier} Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes
- Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese
And if you insist on something more St. Patrick’s Day-ish, try these from my friends…
- Chocolate Guinness Mousse Cups for Two from Chocolate Moosey
- Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
- Reuben Braid from Lemons for Lulu
Take a traditional shepherd’s pie and completely transform it into something new and way more delicious by replacing the meat and gravy filling with spicy Buffalo chicken, then topping it with mashed sweet potatoes and blue cheese. I guarantee you’ll have a crowd-pleaser with this Buffalo Chicken Shepherd’s Pie.
cannot see recipe =-(
I’m sorry you had difficulty finding the recipe, Jose. Here’s a link to the recipe page: https://cupcakesandkalechips.com/buffalo-chicken-shepherds-pie/2/
Where are the instructions for this recipe?
At the bottom of the page you can click where it says “Click to continue reading”. Sorry, I tested something out on a couple of posts awhile back and this was one of them.
Brianne, I love this unique take on Sheperd’s Pie – my hubby would love this! Thanks so much for sharing at Best of the Weekend and pinning to our party board. Hope you have a happy Sunday and a wonderful week!
Thanks so much Cindy!
Just made this after work and it was a hit! Thanks!!!
Oh great! So glad you liked it!
well yum yum YUM to that!
Totally yum!
This look amazing! A few of us in the family LOVE buffalo anything 🙂 Thanks for sharing
I could eat anything Buffalo! Thanks!
Oh! I also put Frank’s Red Hot on everything. It improves all foods instantly. Loving the sweet potatoes! So glad this is part of this week’s meal plan!
The sweet potatoes are a nice balance to the Franks. Thanks!
Oh, wow. This looks AMAZING. My daughter is so spice sensitive that she won’t eat buffalo anything… so I’m putting this at the top of the list of things to make when she won’t be home. I must have it now!
Haha, funny you are meal planning for when your daughter won’t be home. You can always just put in a little hot sauce (or none, I suppose), then add some to individual servings.
I’m guessing you are right about the Irish not using Frank’s Hot Sauce but in my humble opinion, most dishes can be improved with some chili peppers or hot sauce. I love the spicy flavors you’ve got going on here, Brianne, especially with the sweet potatoes. Lovely variation on an old favorite of mine!
Thanks Stacy. I find myself adding Frank’s or sriracha to more and more things!