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Cottage Pie

Classic British comfort food with seasoned ground beef filling, vegetables, and creamy mashed potato topping baked until golden.

70 minEasyServes 4480 cal/serving

BritishDinnerOvenStandard

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 carrot, diced
  • 2 celery stalk, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1.5 cups beef broth
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 400°F. Boil 3 lbs russet potatoes peeled and diced with a pinch of salt until very tender, about 15-18 minutes.

  2. 2

    While potatoes cook, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown 2 lbs ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat.

  3. 3

    Add 1 diced yellow onion, 2 diced carrot, 2 diced celery stalk, and 2 minced garlic cloves to the beef. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

  4. 4

    Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, and 1.5 cups beef broth. Simmer for 5 minutes, then add 1 cup frozen peas. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.

  5. 5

    Transfer beef mixture to a 9x13 baking dish.

  6. 6

    Drain cooked potatoes and mash with 4 tbsp butter and 1/2 cup whole milk until creamy. Season with salt and pepper.

  7. 7

    Spread mashed potatoes evenly over beef filling.

  8. 8

    Bake for 20-25 minutes until top is golden brown.

  9. 9

    Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Questions

Can I make Cottage Pie dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 4 tbsp butter, 1/2 cup whole milk. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed; the milk for unsweetened oat or soy milk. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Cottage Pie gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce. Swap the soy-based sauce for tamari or coconut aminos. Everything else proceeds as written.

Can I make Cottage Pie ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat covered in a 300 F oven until warmed through.

Can I halve or double Cottage Pie?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

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