A mashed potato topping and savory ground beef and gravy filling makes this cottage pie a fabulous one-pot family meal. The cottage pie is a classic British dish. It’s similar to a shepherd’s pie, but it’s made with beef instead of the traditional lamb. I love this dish for it’s easy preparation and great flavors.
A cottage pie is an excellent way to use leftover mashed potatoes and vegetables, too. You could even replace the ground beef with minced leftover roast beef.
Tips
- Make a decorative topping by piping the mashed potatoes onto the filling, or spread the potatoes and run a fork over them to make decorative ridges.
- If you don’t have leftover mashed potatoes, make them from scratch with our recipe for perfect mashed potatoes, or purchase ready-made mashed potatoes.
Recipe Variations
- Meat: Replace the ground beef with ground turkey, sausage, or ground chicken. Or use diced cooked chicken or turkey and chicken gravy for a chicken or turkey cottage pie.
- Vegetarian/Vegan: Use meat replacement crumbles for a vegetarian version. To make it vegan-friendly try this recipe for garlic and olive oil mashed potatoes.
- Vegetables: Instead of peas or peas and carrots, use mixed vegetables, corn, or leftover vegetables.
- Potatoes: Top the meat with mashed cauliflower for a low-carb version. Or add a twist to the topping with mashed potatoes and rutabagas or mashed sweet potatoes.
Cottage Pie Recipe
Enjoy this comforting one-pot meal made with savory ground beef and mashed potato topping. Try our delicious cottage pie recipe tonight!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: One Pot Meals
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: British
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (I use 85 %)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef or chicken stock
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 cups mashed potatoes
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 F and lightly butter a 2-quart baking dish.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the ground beef, undisturbed, for 4 minutes. Continue cooking, stirring and breaking up the beef until it is no longer pink, about 4 to 6 minutes longer.
- Drain the beef, transfer it to a plate, and set it aside.
- Return the skillet to medium heat and melt the butter. Add the onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer.
- Stir in the tomato paste and flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce, stock, and herbs and cook while stirring until the mixture has thickened.
- Add the browned beef and thawed frozen peas and carrots to the skillet. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
- Transfer the beef mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Spread or pipe the potatoes over the beef filling. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese if desired.
- Bake the cottage pie for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is browned and the beef filling is bubbling.
