Cottage Pie

You are going to love this Cottage Pie with browned ground beef and cooked vegetables in a rich gravy topped with smooth and creamy cheddar mashed potatoes.

Course main meal beef

Cuisine American

Keyword cottage pie recipe, how to make cottage pie, shepherd's pie versus cottage pie, what is cottage pie

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 499kcal

Author Beth Pierce

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 medium yellow onion chopped
2 medium carrots peeled and chopped
2 ribs celery chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups beef broth low sodium
¼ cup red wine optional
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
¾ cup frozen peas
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Topping

2 lbs Yukon Gold or russet potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
3 tablespoons butter
½ cup warm milk
¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Chopped fresh thyme

Instructions

In a large skillet over medium-high, start browning the ground beef. When it is about one-third of the way browned, add the onion, carrots, and celery. Continue cooking until the onions and celery are soft. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the garlic, cooking for 1 minute while stirring.
Sprinkle in the flour and cook for about 2 minutes while stirring. Slowly stir in the beef broth, the red wine, if using, Worcestershire Sauce, fresh thyme, and bay leaves.
Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until thickened. Add the frozen peas and remove the bay leaves. Spoon the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and let it cool. For best results, chill it for at least 30 minutes to keep the layers separated.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees, put the potato cubes in a large pot of lightly salted cold water, and bring the pot to a boil. Cook the potatoes for about 15-20 minutes or until fork tender. Drain them well and add the butter and warm milk. Cover and let the butter melt.
Mash the potatoes until they are lump-free and smooth. Stir in the cheddar cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon the potatoes onto the chilled meat mixture and spread evenly. Use the tines of a fork to scratch the potato surface for slightly crispy edges.
Sprinkle the top with chopped fresh thyme and bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden on top and bubbly on the edges. Let the dish cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Use ground beef with a little fat in it. The fat is what flavors the meat and makes it juicy and tasty.
Thawed frozen veggies can be used in place of fresh veggies, but add them after the gravy has thickened.
Yukon Gold and Russet potatoes both work well with this recipe. However, it is very important to remove as much moisture as possible from the potatoes after boiling. I like to drain it several times before adding the butter and warm milk.
You can make this recipe with or without the cheddar cheese. It is delicious both ways.
Don't forget to remove the bay leaves, as they have sharp edges.
For best results, chill the beef mixture before smoothing the potatoes on. This will help keep the layers from bleeding into each other.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.

Nutrition