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    Home » Recipes » Easy Dinner » Cottage Pie: Easy Traditional Savory Comfort Food

    LAST UPDATED: September 25, 2020 • FIRST PUBLISHED: March 7, 2019 By Toni Dash 39 Comments

    Cottage Pie: Easy Traditional Savory Comfort Food

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Cottage Pie title image

    Cottage Pie is a rustic, savory pie of ground beef in a flavorful gravy, vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes and cheese. An easy comfort food favorite!

    Cottage Pie title image

    I have to confess I love a one dish meal, especially in the winter.

    Inspired by St. Patrick’s Day, this Irish recipe is for a classic: savory Cottage Pie.

    Cottage Pie is a dish with peasant roots featuring meat, vegetables and potatoes that combine to be quintessential comfort food.

    What is Cottage Pie?

    Cottage Pie is an easy recipe combining ground beef in a savory sauce or gravy, with vegetables. 

    Onion, carrot and peas are typically added to the meat then added to a baking dish.

    The cottage pie is  topped with mashed potatoes and cheese.

    Savory Cottage Pie with cheese on top

    How Cottage Pie Got Its Name

    Truly a dish of Great Britain, not just Ireland, the name was derived from the country folk who lived in cottages, credited with devising the savory Cottage Pie.

    A British friend who lives in England always rakes the top of her cottage pie with the tines of a fork to make the potatoes have the texture of a thatched roof of a rustic cottage.

    The Difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie

    In the United States, Shepherd’s Pie is probably more well known.

    Classic Shepherd’s Pie would use mutton or lamb for the protein though beef is tolerated as a swap out.

    It’s such an easy recipe I make a  Southwestern Turkey Shepherd’s Pie to use Thanksgiving leftovers.

    The name ‘Shepherd’s Pie’ is derived from those who tend the sheep since that is the meat in the dish.

    Cottage Pie actually predates Shepherd’s Pie back to the 1700’s. It originated as a dish intended to use up roast meat adding a potato crust on the top.

    In Ireland potatoes were very affordable offering them a starring role in most classic Irish recipes of the time.

    Savory Traditional Cottage Pie in white baking dish with scoop removed showing ground meat with vintage serving spoon

    Ingredients in Cottage Pie

    The core of the traditional Cottage Pie remains the same today:

    Minced or ground beef cooked with onions, carrots, garlic and often peas, into a gravy-like sauce

    Baked with the topping of mashed potatoes and usually cheese

    The ingredients are divided between the main components and the ingredients for the irresistible sauce:

    • Ground Beef
    • Olive Oil
    • Yellow Onion
    • Carrots
    • Shallots
    • Garlic Cloves
    • Flour (gluten-free or regular depending on your preference/needs)
    • Ketchup
    • Red Wine
    • Balsamic Vinegar
    • Beef Stock
    • Tamari (gluten-free) or low-sodium Soy Sauce (gluten)
    • Bay Leaf
    • dried Thyme
    • frozen Peas
    • Sharp Cheddar Cheese
    • Yukon Gold Potatoes
    • Milk 
    • Butter
    • Kosher Salt and fresh Ground Pepper to taste

    Don’t let the length of the ingredient list scare you!

    There is very little preparation of the ingredients and the majority of the list are added into the sauce.

    In my recipe adaptation, I used Yukon Gold potatoes which tend to be creamy when mashed and have a beautiful golden hue.

    Single serving of Savory Traditional Cottage Pie showing ground meat, peas with cheesy mashed potatoes

    How Long Does Cottage Pie Cook?

    The assembled Cottage Pie recipe cooks in aproximately 20 minutes.

    Each component (the ground beef, vegetables, gravy and mashed potatoes) is cooked before the Cottage Pie is assembled.

    So the final cooking time is to warm the Cottage Pie through.

    Total cooking time is aproximately 85 minutes for all recipe steps.

    How to Make Cottage Pie – Step by Step:

    Cottage pie is an easy recipe and makes a complete meal in one casserole!

    It is a relaxed, filling dish with rustic flavors and presentation.

    For detailed instructions please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

    Process step collage Cottage Pie

    1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil.
    2. Add the ground beef and cook just until the pink color has disappeared (photo 1; not yet fully cooked). Remove from the skillet and set aside.
    3. Heat the remaining olive oil in the skillet and add the onion, carrots, shallots and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are soft (15-20 minutes). (photo 2)
    4. Add the beef back to the skillet and stir to fully combine.
    5. Dust the flour over the skillet mixture; add the ketchup. Stir.
    6. Add the wine and vinegar. Bring to a low boil.
    7. Add the beef stock, soy sauce/tamari, bay leaf and thyme. Bring to a sturdy simmer and cook until the liquid is absorbed (45 minutes). (photo 3)
    8. While the beef mixture is simmering, prepare the Mashed Potatoes. (photo 4)
    9. Stir the frozen peas into the beef mixture and discard the bay leaf.
    10. Spoon into a 2 1/2 or 3 quart baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes and sprinkle the grated cheese on top. Bakes for 20 minutes until heated through.

    Cottage Pie out of oven with melted cheese on top

    Can Cooked Cottage Pie Be Frozen?

    Yes! It can be kept in the freezer for 4-6 months.

    How to Freeze and Reheat Cottage Pie:

    To Freeze:

    • Prepare the recipe as directed without the grated cheese on top. 
    • Allow to fully cool. 
    • Wrap tightly with plastic wrap followed by foil. 
    • Place in freezer.

    To Reheat:

    • Remove the Cottage Pie from the freezer the night before serving to allow to fully defrost in the refrigerator.
    • (The day of serving) Remove the plastic wrap and foil.
    • Sprinkle the grated cheese on top.
    • Cook in a 350 degree oven until heated through (20-30 minutes).

    More International Recipes You’ll Love:

    • 10 Authentic Irish Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day
    • Mexican Lasagna with Hatch Chilies
    • Seychelles-Style Coconut Chicken Curry
    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!
    cottage pie

    Savory Cottage Pie

    Cottage Pie is a rustic savory pie with roots in Great Britain extending back to the 1700's. Minced or ground beef combined with hearty vegetables cooked to form a creamy gravy, baked topped with mashed potatoes and cheese. 
    5 from 23 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: British
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 439kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds lean Ground Beef
    • 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • 1 medium Yellow Onion , chopped
    • 2 large Carrots , scrubbed and chopped (yield about 1 ½ cups chopped)
    • 2 large Shallots , chopped
    • 2 large Garlic Cloves
    • 3 tablespoons Flour (gluten-free or regular depending on your preference/needs)
    • 1 tablespoon Ketchup
    • 4 ounces Red Wine
    • 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
    • 28 ounces Beef Stock
    • 3 tablespoons Tamari (gluten-free) or low-sodium Soy Sauce (gluten)
    • 1 Bay Leaf
    • ½ teaspoon dried Thyme
    • 1 cup frozen Peas
    • 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese , grated
    • 2 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes peeled
    • ¼ cup Milk , room temperature or warmed slightly in a microwave
    • 4 tablespoons Butter
    • Kosher Salt and fresh Ground Pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and cook just until the pink color has disappeared. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
    • Add the ground beef and cook just until the pink color has disappeared. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
    • Heat the second tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet and add the onion, carrots, shallots and garlic. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are soft; 15-20 minutes. 
    • Add the beef back to the skillet and stir to fully combine.
    • Dust the flour over the skillet mixture and add the ketchup; stir to combine.
    • Add the wine and vinegar. Bring to a low boil, then lower the heat to medium. 
    • Add the beef stock, soy sauce/tamari, bay leaf and thyme. Bring to a sturdy simmer and allow to cook for 45 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. NOTE: The mixture should have formed a gravy with the ground meat and vegetables making the mixture somewhat creamy.

    Making the Mashed Potatoes

    • While the beef mixture is simmering, prepare the Mashed Potatoes: steam the potatoes for 25 minutes or until soft. 
    • When done, discard the water from the pan. 
    • Put the potatoes through a ricer back into the warm cooking pan. 
    • Add the milk and butter and stir to combine into creamy mashed potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste.

    Assembling and Baking the Cottage Pie

    • Stir the frozen peas into the beef mixture and discard the bay leaf. 
    • Spoon into a 2 1/2 or 3 quart baking dish.
    • Top with the mashed potatoes and sprinkle the grated cheese on top.
    • Bake for 20 minutes until heated through.

    Notes

    Recipe adapted from BBC Good Food
    This recipe is typically cooked in a baking dish or pan. I used a 2.5 quart volume 8-inch by 11-inch by 2.5 high deep dish casserole so it would be brimming to the top. A 3 quart casserole or baking dish would give it a bit more room.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 831mg | Potassium: 1240mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3025IU | Vitamin C: 22.9mg | Calcium: 182mg | Iron: 7.6mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

    Originally published March 9, 2015; updated March 2019.

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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nancy B says

      July 25, 2020 at 1:00 pm

      Thanks again for another great recipe. I made this today just as written and it was a big hit with the grandkids, too!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        July 25, 2020 at 1:26 pm

        Hi Nancy!! Hope you are staying well and safe. So glad you and your crew enjoyed the recipe. Always love hearing from you.

        Reply
    2. Kelly says

      December 16, 2019 at 8:04 pm

      5 stars
      Oh. My. Gosh. This is comfort food at it’s best. When I find a dish that all family members will eat and it’s gluten free, I’m excited! I’ve added mushrooms, switched up the veggies to suit particular tastes – it’s always delicious! Yum!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        December 17, 2019 at 2:43 am

        So glad you found a winner for your family Kelly! Thanks for taking the time to leave your comment.

        Reply
    3. Suzy says

      March 08, 2019 at 6:19 am

      5 stars
      This is the ultimate comfort food!

      Reply
    4. Sommer says

      March 08, 2019 at 6:18 am

      5 stars
      I could eat this seven days a week!

      Reply
    5. Jennifer says

      March 07, 2019 at 1:20 pm

      5 stars
      I love cottage pie and this recipe is the BEST!!!! I make this at least once a month!

      Reply
    6. Beth says

      March 07, 2019 at 12:08 pm

      5 stars
      That looks absolutely delicious! I am all over this!!

      Reply
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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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