Cottage Pie is comfort food central! A tasty ground beef (mince) gravy filling topped with mashed potato, baked until golden perfection. Swap the beef for lamb, and you’ll turn this into a Shepherd’s Pie.
Easy to make, and freezes really well. I love this Cottage Pie so much, I make it all year round – even in the height of summer!
I am pretty sure I am the most frequent visitor of my website. Not just because it’s my job. But also because it’s my actual “recipe tin” – albeit a digital form of the old recipe boxes I used to collate recipes in.
I popped onto my blog to grab my Cottage Pie recipe….and had a moment of disbelief.
I hadn’t shared Cottage Pie yet??
Me – the Potato Queen, the lover of all things gravy, the girl who craves hot comfort food even in the height of summer – hadn’t posted Cottage Pie yet.
Well. I decided I better fix that quick smart!
Cottage Pie is a fabulous English classic, one that Australians have also adopted as one of our beloved winter favorites. Or in my case, all-year-round-favourite.
There is quite often confusion over the difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie. Both are made the same way – a ground beef (mince) filling in a gravy sauce that is topped with mashed potato, then baked. (That crusty top is everything!!) The only difference is that Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb instead of beef.
So if you want, just swap the beef in this recipe with lamb and you’ll have a Shepherd’s Pie.
This is an easy Cottage Pie recipe. Actually, I am not sure how hard Cottage Pie recipes can be, but I’m sure there are posh versions around. 🙂 Mine is a classic, and I don’t fiddle with it and try to fancy it up. Oh wait, I lie. Sometimes I add peas. And when I feel deserving of a treat, or if I’m making this for company, I add a big handful of cheese into the mashed potato. But for every day purposes, I don’t feel the need to add cheese into the potato because Cottage Pie is so tasty as it is anyway.
The only tips I have for making Cottage Pie are:
- To stop the potato from sinking into the filling, cool the filling first. But this isn’t a deal breaker; and
- Ensure the filling reduces down enough (see video) to ensure you don’t end up with a watery filling after baking. It’s so disappointing when you break through the potato to be greeted with a beef sitting in a watery sauce!
For a cosy meal on a cold winter night, you can’t beat a Cottage Pie with perhaps a side of Glazed Roasted Carrots and Sautéed Garlic Spinach. The only other thing you need is a glass of red and a crackling fire…
Or in my case, squatting by an ancient electric heater! 😂 – Nagi x
PS Is it just me who wants to do a face plant in this bowl?
MORE COSY PIES
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Shepherd’s Pie (lamb – because Shepherd’s herd sheep!)
- Chunky Beef and Mushroom Pie
- Fish Pie
- Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Garlic Bread Topping
- Browse all cosy Winter Warmers
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Cottage Pie cooking video. Dozer fans – don’t miss Life of Dozer at the end of the video!
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Cottage Pie
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 1 carrot , finely chopped*
- 1 rib celery , finely chopped*
- 750 g / 1.5 lb ground beef (mince)
- 1/4 cup / 40 g flour (plain)
- 1/4 cup / 55g tomato paste
- 2 cups / 500 ml beef stock / broth
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml red wine (or water)
- 1 beef bouillon cube , crumbled
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme or 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 dried bay leaves
Topping
- 1.2 kg / 2.5 lb potatoes , peeled and cut into 2.5cm / 1" cubes
- 2/3 cup / 165 ml milk
- 2 tbsp / 30g butter
- Nutmeg (optional)
- Olive oil or melted butter, for drizzling
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for 1 minute. Then add carrots and celery. Cook for 3 minutes or until softened and sweet.
- Turn heat up to high. Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until browned.
- Add flour and mix in. Add tomato paste, broth, red wine, bouillon cube, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and bay leaves.
- Bring to simmer, then turn down heat so it is simmering rapidly - I have it on medium high. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reduces down to a gravy consistency (Note 1) (see video).
- Transfer to 6 cup pie dish (1.5 litre / quart). Cover, then refrigerate to cool for 1 - 2 hours or overnight (optional, Note 2)
Assemble Pie
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Cook potatoes in boiling water for 15 minutes or until soft. Drain then return to pot on turned off stove. Shake briefly and allow to steam dry for 30 seconds or so (Note 3).
- Add butter and mash until melted, then add milk and salt (+ optional nutmeg). Mash until smooth.
- Spread onto pie, use a fork to rough up the surface (rougher surface = more golden bits), drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until golden on top and bubbling on the edges. Stick a knife into the middle to ensure it is piping hot.
- Stand for 5 minutes before serving, garnished with fresh thyme leaves if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
That’s what Dozer looks like when he’s peeved. In this case, I’m pretty sure he’s cranky because he squeezed himself under this tiny table, waited so patiently for me to finish taking photos and he didn’t get a taste test.
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EXCELLENT recipe! I doubled the recipe and fed it to 10 people for a dinner party and everyone asked for seconds! Will need to triple it next time!😀
I made the cottage pie today, using one pound ground sirloin and 1/2 lb ground lamb. I pretty much followed your instructions and it was delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Wahoo, sounds great Deborah!
This recipe has become something to look forward to for the family. It’s becoming part of family tradition to eat this on rainy Sundays, which means we’re having this for dinner again tonight 🙂 The kids love it too. Thanks so much for posting this.
That’s so lovely to hear Willem ❤️
This is a beautiful and easy recipe, we just love it!! Could so easily have it for dinner every single night! Haha!! Thank you, Nagi!!
What a great compliment, thanks so much!!
I wanted to mix it up a little, so I looked at recipes to improve on my cottage pie. This one looked so good, I just followed the recipe as written. It is better than mine. I am very happy with this find. Thank you
I’m so happy you loved it Pam, thanks for letting me know!
Could you maybe use ground pork in place of some of the ground beef? The whole family loves your recipes! I especially adore Dozer!
Thank you!
Hi Jayne, you sure could! – N x
Made this yesterday. Followed the recipe as written. Absolutely flavorful and delicious! Our whole group loved it. No leftovers.
Wonderful Lucy!!!
I enjoyed this recipe, however found that 1tsp of thyme was way too strong for my taste. Next time I’ll go down to 1/2tsp. I tried to balance it out by adding more bouillon, tomato paste and a little sugar.
Hello Nagi! The ingredients suggested that your Cottage Pie would be delicious especially on a cold. Canadian winter night…and so I made it for dinner. Mmmm! My husband is still raving. This recipe is definitely going to be a family favourite! THANK YOU, Nagi!
That’s wonderful Robin! I’m so glad it was a hit ❤️
a HUGE hit when 99% of recipes I try that I find on line are just good to very good. Yours was beyond excellent! I will try more of your recipes now that I have found you!
I did the same! I hear spring is on its way it doesn’t feel that way tonight. Looking forward to a bowl of this, a glass of Prosecco and The Bachelor! 😋
Just like you, I made this in (the last week of) summer and used my oven during an Adelaide heat-wave…… but made it with a sweet potato topping. Great flavours & will def return to this recipe. Thanks x
Sweet potato sounds fabulous Vivienne!
I made this cottage pie last night and it was fabulous!!! I used peas instead of celery and added parmesan cheese and sour cream to the mashed potatoes(instant to save time) otherwise followed the recipe as written. What a great meal!!!
Woot! Sounds marvellous Judie, I’m so happy you loved it – N x
We just finished supper. I used the sliding scale feature to increase the portions to 15, and I baked it in a hotel. To save time, I used Idahoan brand Instant Mashed potatoes (shame on me?) and I also added frozen peas to the cooled filling before topping it with the main. The next time I make it, I’ll use slightly less wine and slightly less dried thyme. I thought they were a bit too assertive, but there were no complaints and no leftovers.
Awesome David, I’m so glad it was a hit!!
Hi Nagi I’m sure I’ve seen your recipe for a (lower carb) cauliflower mash to replace the potato topping but I can’t find it anywhere?
Hi Lia, I do have a cauliflower mash on the cards, stay tuned!!
Funny! Up here in New England, when this is made with ground beef, we call it Sheppard’s Pie. Have not heard of it being made with ground lamb. But then again, lamb here is just too expensive to use in something like this.
This is a very good recipe. As a variation, I sometimes cook stew beef meat in a slow cooker until very tender then drain it and add it in with the ground beef. It gives a really nice texture and flavor to the dish.
Sounds great Tina!
Ooo that sounds lush but I have a few questions. At what point do you add the stew beef in? Do you use the stewing liquid as part of your broth for this recipe? Do you reduce the beef mince to accomodate the stew beef?
Sorry Nagi, I know this isnt a forum but this does sound an intruigingly good idea.
Thank you for sharing your recipe for Cottage Pie. It is absolutely amazing!! First time making it. So glad I found your page.
I’m so glad you found me Joy! I hope you enjoy many more of my recipes!
If I was your Mum I would NOT BE YOUR MODEL AFTER TELLING HER TO BE FASTER. REALY WOMAN?? My RESIDENTS USE TO TELL ME JUST YOU WAIT WHEN YOU CAME TO MY AGE OR YOU DO NOT HURRY ME, OK. UHHH, wouldn’t say anything. Did not know about this Pie until I came to this country and its nice extra plus for adding cheese to mash, YUMI. Dear Dozer if and only if he could talk would be more fun for us telling us story about Nagi, Haaa, Haaa. Until next time try to be good….
Hi,
I make this pie a bit different. Not so much liquid in the meat. PLUS, I spread a can of creamed corn on top of the meat – this helps separate the meat from the potatoes.
Sounds delish!
Would you believe that we had Hunter’s Pie yesterday — actually we had Shepherds pie using venison, beef, and sausage. I didn’t realize it was called Cottage pie in other parts of the world. It was spectacular. We decided to add a little oomph to our topping — OH MY! Was is ever good. We made a small casserole for Hubby and I thinking that the rest of the family wouldn’t like it —sniff, sniff, we got a teaspoon out of it — the family then proceeded with the rest of the pie/stew. We are definitely making it again — SOON. Happy New Years and hugs to you and Dozer!!
Sounds Divine Marisa!