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cottage pie recipe

Easy Cottage Pie Recipe

This Easy Cottage Pie Recipe turns ground beef into layers of pure British comfort that tastes like the best Sunday dinner you've ever had. Hearty, satisfying, and topped with golden mashed potatoes it's the kind of food that makes everyone fight over seconds.
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Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: British, comfort food
Keyword: baked meat and potatoes, british comfort food, cottage pie recipe, ground beef casserole, hearty casserole, layered meat pie, mashed potato topping
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Resting Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 425kcal
Cost: $12.50

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet For browning the ground beef and building flavors
  • 1 Large casserole dish For layering and baking the cottage pie
  • 1 Potato masher To create smooth, creamy mashed potatoes
  • 1 Fork To create ridges on potato topping for browning

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs ground beef 80/20 blend works best for flavor
  • 1 large onion diced for aromatic base
  • 2 medium carrots diced adds sweetness and texture
  • 1 cup frozen peas adds color and freshness
  • 3 cloves garlic minced for depth of flavor
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste adds richness and color
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce essential for authentic flavor
  • 1 cup beef broth low sodium preferred
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground preferred
  • 2 lbs russet potatoes peeled for fluffy mashing
  • 4 tablespoons butter unsalted for creamy potatoes
  • ¼ cup whole milk or heavy cream
  • 1 large egg yolk for golden color when baked
  • 2 tablespoons red wine optional but adds depth
  • 1 cup mushrooms diced optional for extra flavor

Instructions

  • Brown ground beef in large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Add onions and carrots, cook until they start getting soft. Throw in garlic, tomato paste, and thyme, stir for a minute. Dump in peas, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Let it bubble and thicken for about 10 minutes.
    cook the meat base for cottage pie recipe with browned ground beef and vegetables simmering in a skillet
  • Boil peeled potatoes until you can easily stab them with a fork. Drain really well and mash with butter and milk until creamy. Beat in egg yolk so they get golden when baked. Season with salt and pepper until they taste right.
    make perfect mashed potatoes for cottage pie recipe creamy with butter, milk, and egg yolk
  • Spread meat mixture in your casserole dish. Plop mashed potatoes on top and spread them around. Use a fork to make ridges so more surface gets crispy. Bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until the top looks golden.
    layer and bake cottage pie recipe with mashed potatoes spread over meat filling and baked golden
  • Let it cool for 10 minutes or you'll burn your mouth. Should hold together when you scoop it out. Meat should be bubbling around the edges. Potatoes should be golden and slightly crispy on top.
    rest and serve cottage pie recipe with golden crispy mashed potato topping and bubbling meat filling

Notes

The magic of perfect cottage pie happens when you layer seasoned beef with creamy mashed potatoes that get golden and crispy on top, creating comfort food memories that linger long after dinner. Let it rest before serving patience rewards you with layers that hold together beautifully, delivering British pub warmth in every satisfying bite.

Nutrition

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 720mg | Potassium: 680mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1520IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 3.2mg