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It’s comfort food season and in our family that means it’s time to bust out our favourite Cottage Pie recipe! There’s nothing more warm and comforting than juicy beef and veggies cooked in a creamy, savoury gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked to golden brown perfection. I mean, what is not to love!!??
What’s the difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie?
In short, shepherd’s pie calls for ground lamb as the meat base and cottage pie calls for ground beef.
Ingredients for Cottage Pie
- olive oil
- ground beef
- onion
- garlic
- thyme
- paprika
- parsley
- carrots
- green beans or peas
- red wine
- beef stock (or chicken stock)
- flour
- potatoes
- milk
- salt and pepper
- butter
How to make Cottage Pie
- Brown the meat. Cook the meat first in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat,
- Don’t forget the flavour. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, and spices.
- Make the gravy. Sprinkle in the flour and toast, then add the liquid to make the gravy.
- Add the veggies. Pour in some frozen green beans or peas, your choice!
- Make the mashed potatoes. Boil the potatoes till soft, mash with some butter, milk, salt and pepper (keep it simple!) and spread it on top of the meat and veggie mixture.
- Bake to perfection. Bake till the potatoes are golden brown!
LOOKING FOR MORE EASY WEEKNIGHT MEAL IDEAS?
Get my Quick and Easy 4-Week Meal Plan Guide!
Looking for more comfort food recipes? You’ll love this One Pot Pasta with Beans recipe, this Instant Pot Fried Rice with Chicken recipe or this One Pot Roasted Chicken Dinner recipe!
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I hope you enjoy this comfort food recipe as much as we do! Let me know in the comments below, what’s your favourite healthy family meal? I’d love to know!
KITCHEN PRODUCTS I RECOMMEND:
Looking for even more weeknight meal ideas? You’ll LOVE these:
- Easy One Pot Pasta Primavera
- Creamy Enchilada One Pot Pasta
- Crispy Oven Fried Chicken
- Skillet French Onion Stuffed Chicken
- Skillet Pesto Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
- Chicken Breasts with White Wine Mushroom Sauce
LOOKING FOR MORE EASY WEEKNIGHT MEAL IDEAS?
Get my Quick and Easy 4-Week Meal Plan Guide!
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Cottage Pie
This Easy Homemade Cottage Pie is a classic comfort food recipe with beef & veggies in savoury gravy, & topped with crispy mashed potatoes!
Recipe: Ingredients
For the mashed potato topping:
- 8 medium Yukon gold potatoes
- salted water for cooking
- 3 tablespoons butter (or dairy free butter)
- 2 splashes milk (optional)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
For the beef filling:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 3 medium carrots, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried or fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 each teaspoon salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1 1/4 cup beef stock (chicken stock can be substituted for beef stock, if desired)
- 1 cup canned or frozen green beans (peas can be substituted for green beans, if desired)
Recipe: Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a large 9-inch by 13-inch (or equivalent)
- Peel the potatoes and cut them in quarters. Place them in the salted cooking water, cover the pot, and cook on high heat (turn to medium-high when the pot begins reaches a hard boil).
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
- Brown the ground beef, adding the onion, garlic, chopped carrots, thyme, paprika, parsley, and salt and pepper just before the beef is cooked through.
- Cook over medium heat just until the vegetables begin to soften and the onions become translucent.
- Add the wine and cook until reduced.
- Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture and stir well to toast the flour.
- Pour in the stock and stir well, adding the green beans (or peas), cooking until the sauce thickens. Remove the skillet from the heat and pour the meat mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
- Drain the cooked potatoes and mash them in the pot along with the butter, milk, and salt and pepper until the mashed potatoes are smooth.
- Dollop the mashed potatoes over the top of the meat mixture, smoothing them out completely and creating some grooves with a fork on top of the mashed potatoes (this helps with browning).
- Place the baking dish on a baking sheet (it might bubble over the top of the dish in the oven), and bake the Cottage Pie for about 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or until the potatoes begin to turn golden brown on top and the filling starts to bubble up around the sides of the baking dish.
- Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe: Notes
The red wine can be substituted for an equal amount of beef broth (and small splash of red wine vinegar, if desired).Â
Recipe: Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Cottage Pie
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 516
Calories from Fat 261
% Daily Value*
Fat 29g45%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Trans Fat 2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 12g
Cholesterol 92mg31%
Sodium 288mg13%
Potassium 1222mg35%
Carbohydrates 36g12%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 4019IU80%
Vitamin C 37mg45%
Calcium 61mg6%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
I’m doing keto so would cauliflower be a good substitute for mashed potatoes? If so can you tell me how to do this. Thank you
Joani
Hi Joani! Cauliflower Mash is the perfect Keto alternative to mashed potatoes, here is our recipe: https://thebusybaker.ca/low-carb-cauliflower-mash/.
Just made it, amazing & delicious!
Tiffany
Phlanx’s Marketing Specialist
Thanks Tiffany!! Glad it turned out delicious!🙂