Description
Easy Cottage Pie is a comforting and hearty dish featuring savory ground beef and vegetables in a rich gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked to golden perfection—perfect for cozy family dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter (for sautéing)
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour (optional, for thickening)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Boil chopped potatoes in salted water until fork-tender. Drain and mash with milk and butter until smooth. Season with salt. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and carrots, sauté until softened, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and flour (if using). Mix well and cook for 1–2 minutes.
- Pour in beef broth and simmer for about 10 minutes until thickened. Stir in frozen peas. Remove from heat.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Spread beef mixture evenly in a baking dish. Top with mashed potatoes and spread evenly. Use a fork to create ridges on top. Sprinkle cheese on top if using.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbling. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Use ground lamb for a traditional Shepherd’s Pie variation.For a cheesy twist, mix shredded cheddar into the mashed potatoes.Mashed cauliflower can be used for a low-carb topping.Add herbs like thyme or rosemary for extra depth of flavor.This dish can be made ahead and frozen before or after baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
