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Cottage pie is similar to shepherd’s pie, which you might be more familiar with, but the only difference is that cottage pie is made with ground beef instead of lamb.
This is prepared with a ground beef mixture as the base, topped with creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes. And it’s so delicious!
Last year, my aunt made cottage pie for Thanksgiving, and it was a huge hit! Many people aren’t big fans of turkey, so this is a great alternative for the holidays.
To make this dish even more festive, you can easily switch out the mashed potatoes for mashed sweet potatoes!
Table of Contents
INGREDIENT NOTES
See the recipe card below for ingredient quantities and complete instructions.
- Potatoes – I highly recommend using russet potatoes for this recipe, as they’re ideal for making mashed potatoes and will give you the fluffiest results.
- Ground Beef – I used 90/10 ground beef for this recipe, but if you’re in the mood for a classic shepherd’s pie, feel free to substitute it with ground lamb instead.
- Frozen Vegetables – A combination of frozen carrots, peas, and corn is what I used but feel free to use any frozen vegetables you have on hand.
TOP TIPS
- Be sure to spread the mashed potatoes gently over the ground beef, otherwise, they may mix together, which you want to avoid. Since the mashed potatoes tend to stick to the beef, take your time and spread them gently. You can also pipe the mashed potatoes on for an easier method and a nicer look.
- Make sure to season the mashed potatoes generously, as they require a good amount of salt, otherwise, they can end up tasting bland.
- Add the frozen peas and corn toward the end of cooking the ground beef to prevent them from overcooking and becoming mushy.
STORAGE
Place any leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Simply reheat in the oven until heated through.
Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. And consider following me on Facebook or Pinterest!
Cottage Pie
Ingredients
Beef Mixture
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 small onion , finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon thyme, fresh
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups beef stock
- ¼ cup carrots , frozen
- ¼ cup peas , frozen
- ¼ cup corn, frozen
- 1 tablespoon parsley, fresh
- salt and pepper to taste
Mashed Potatoes
- 2 ½ lbs potatoes , russet
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg yolk
- salt to taste
Topping
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks, place them in a pot, cover with cold water, and cook until they’re tender.
- While the potatoes cook, add the ground beef to a large skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes or until browned completely.
- Add the onions, carrots, and garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste, spices, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the flour and cook for 5 minutes while stirring occasseionally.
- Add the beef stock and allow it to simmer for 15 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Once the 15 minutes are up, add the peas, corn, parlsey, and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Once the potatoes are tender, drain them and mash thoroughly. While mashing, add the softened butter. Then, pour in the heavy cream and mix until the potatoes are light and fluffy. Stir in the egg yolk, followed by the cream cheese, mixing well. Finally, season generously with salt.
- Spoon or pipe the mashed potatoes on top of the ground beef mixture. You can simply spread them with a spatula, but keep in mind that the mashed potatoes may stick to the beef, making them harder to spread. So, be sure to do this gently for an even layer.
- Top the mashed potatoes with cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese, then bake at 400 degrees F. for 15-20 minutes.
- After it comes out of the oven, let it rest for a few minutes before serving and enjoy!
Notes
- Be sure to spread the mashed potatoes gently over the ground beef, otherwise, they may mix together, which you want to avoid. Since the mashed potatoes tend to stick to the beef, take your time and spread them gently. You can also pipe the mashed potatoes on for an easier method and a nicer look.
- Make sure to season the mashed potatoes generously, as they require a good amount of salt, otherwise, they can end up tasting bland.
- Add the frozen peas and corn toward the end of cooking the ground beef to prevent them from overcooking and becoming mushy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
