Here’s a classic Cottage Pie recipe 🥩🥔 — very similar to Shepherd’s Pie, but traditionally made with ground beef instead of lamb.
Cottage Pie
Servings: 4–6
Time: ~1 hour
Ingredients
For the filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil
For the mashed potato topping
- 4 cups mashed potatoes (prepared from about 2 lbs potatoes)
- 2 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup milk (optional, for creamier topping)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Optional: ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven
- Preheat to 400°F (200°C).
- Cook the filling
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté onion, garlic, and carrots 3–4 minutes.
- Add ground beef, season with salt, pepper, and thyme, and cook until browned.
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, peas, and beef broth. Simmer 5–10 minutes until thickened slightly.
- Assemble the pie
- Spread meat mixture evenly in a greased baking dish.
- Spread mashed potatoes evenly over the top. Dot with butter and sprinkle cheese if using.
- Bake
- Bake 20–25 minutes until the top is golden brown.
- Serve
- Let sit 5 minutes before serving.
Tips & Variations
- Make ahead: Prepare the filling and mashed potatoes separately; assemble and bake later.
- Vegetables: Add corn, green beans, or mushrooms to the filling.
- Cheesy topping: Mix cheddar into the mashed potatoes for extra flavor.
- Quick stovetop version: Cook the filling and top with mashed potatoes, then broil for 5 minutes to brown the top.
I can also give you a one-pan skillet Cottage Pie that cooks entirely on the stove in about 30 minutes if you want a faster version.
Do you want me to give that version?