Cottage Pie
Classic cottage pie with savory ground beef and vegetables, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until golden. Perfect comfort food for family dinners.
Equipment
- Large skillet or frying pan
- Medium saucepan
- Potato masher or fork
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking dish (9x9-inch)
- Colander
- Mixing bowl
- Oven mitts
- Cheese grater
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or ground lamb
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 carrots chopped
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste or purée
- 1 cup beef broth or stock
- 1 tbsp plain flour or all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 tsp thyme dried or fresh
- 1 bay leaf
- 0.5 cup peas optional
- 2 lbs potatoes peeled and cut
- 2 tbsp butter
- 0.25 cup milk
- 0.5 cup cheddar cheese grated, optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Heat olive oil in a skillet, cook onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until soft.
- Add ground beef and brown. Stir in tomato paste, flour, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Add beef broth and bay leaf, simmer until thickened. Mix in peas, then remove from heat and discard bay leaf.
- Boil potatoes until tender. Drain and mash with butter and milk. Season with salt and pepper.
- Layer meat filling in a baking dish, top with mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese (if using).
- Bake 20 minutes or until golden and bubbling. Let rest a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Use ground lamb for richer flavor. Add extra milk or butter for creamier potatoes. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 2–3 days or can be frozen. Reheat in oven for best texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 420kcal | Protein: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 470mg