Fall Shepherd's Pie - Featuring Butternut Squash - Recipe by Scott from Platter Talk (2024)

Recipe for Shepherd’s Pie, Featuring Butternut Squash

Every once in a while I play a game called “Shop my Pantry”. In this game, I can only use what I have available on hand to cook with.

Sometimes this game is not challenging at all, but other times, it is darn almost impossible. Well, my friends, I am pleased to tell you that not only did I play “Shop my Pantry”, well I crushed it with a winning recipe for shepherd’s pie that I like to call Fall Sheperd’s Pie.

About this

After a full weekend of running errands, cleaning the house, and washing and folding about a hundred loads of laundry (maybe not a hundred loads, but it sure does feel like it with 6 kids plus Dan), I thought I was Superman.

That was until Monday when I realized that I didn’t go to the grocery store to stock us up for the week. Unfortunately, I did not figure this out until I got home from work on Monday, and I needed to get something started for supper.

Well, this is when survival mode kicked in, and my super-heightened ninja senses engaged. I quickly surveyed all around me. I noticed on the counter a butternut squash.

This is the same squash that I bought several weeks prior with grand ideas. However, it sat on my counter as a fall decoration. Don’t judge me. This immediately went into the oven to roast.

I had no clue what I would be using it for, but I knew that it would be included in that days bounty.

Next, I searched for some protein for this meal. The refrigerator yielded nothing, so I turned my attention to my freezer’s tundra. I am not proud to say this, but I have lost many a nice cut of meat to freezer burn because I forget what I have on hand.

That is why a good game of “Shop my Pantry” is necessary from time to time. Thank goodness I was able to find some frozen boneless chicken tenderloins. They are perfect for quick meals because they defrost in the microwave and cook up even quicker.

Before I closed the freezer, I also noticed a bag of mixed frozen vegetables. Without missing a beat, I grabbed them as well. Somehow they would be incorporated into this meal.

What you need to make this:

• Some russet potatoes
• Chicken breast or tenderloin
• An onion or two
• Granny Smith apples
• Cream of mushroom soup
• Chicken stock
• Garlic

On a side note, we always have garlic on hand just in case we are ever under attack by a rogue gang of vampires, but I digress.

So there everything sat on my counter. As I looked at all that I assembled, the ingredients to this nameless meal stared back at me as to mock me.

I quickly turned away so it could not see my fear. It was at that time I spotted our seldom used ramekins. Then it hit me like a bolt of lightning, Shepard pie. Or, in this case, a version called Fall Shepard Pie. The butternut squash would be used as my topping for the chicken and veggie filling that I would make.

As soon as I had my vision, the meal came together quickly and without really any effort. Once I presented my creation to the judges (my family), they all agreed that I was the winner of this week’s “Shop my Pantry” challenge.

Even though I did not win a washer or dryer or an all-expenses paid vacation, I was a winner of a grateful family and that is worth more to me than anything. I hope that you make my Fall Shepard Pie for your family very soon. I know that you will love it. -Scott