Easy Cotttage Pie Recipe

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This Easy Cottage Pie is a comforting family dinner recipe that never goes out of fashion, and it can be enjoyed at any time in the year. Made with smooth mashed potatoes, minced beef, savoury gravy and simple veggies, then baked until piping hot and golden, it's a hearty and delicious dish that is simply too good not to have on rotation on your weekly dinner menu.

Prep Time20

Cook Time50

Total Time1 10

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: British

Servings: people

Calories: 453kcal

Author: Daniela Apostol

Ingredients

For the filling

500 g minced beef (ground beef, 1.1 lb)
1 large onion
1 carrot
1 celery stick
2 cloves of garlic
250 ml beef stock/broth (1 cup)
2 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 bay leaves

For the mashed potatoes

1 kg potatoes (2.2 lb)
50 g butter (3 tbsp)
100 ml full-fat milk (3 oz)
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Peel and chop the onion, garlic and carrot, and chop the celery stick into small cubes.
Heat up the oil in a large pan, add the chopped onion and fry it on a medium heat until golden.
Add the garlic, carrot and celery and fry for 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften.
Add the mince and use a spatula / wooden spoon to break it up until no longer pink.
Continue to cook to the mince, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid has been absorbed and the mince is beginning to brown.
Add the tomato paste, stock, Worcestershire sauce and herbs, give it a good stir, then place a lid on and leave it to cook until the veggies are tender, and the gravy has thickened.
Season with salt and pepper.
To make the mash, peel and cut the potatoes into long chip shapes or chunks.
Add them to a pan and cover with cold water.
Leave them to boil on a medium heat until the potatoes are fork tender.
Drain the water, add the salt and butter, and mash well.
Gradually add the milk and mash until creamy and smooth.
Transfer the beef filling to an oven-safe dish in an even layer, and top with the mash.
Use a fork to create ridges in the potato topping and bake in the preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius (390 Fahrenheit) for 20-25 minutes until golden and piping hot.
Garnish with chopped parsley if you wish.

Notes

Browning the mince intensifies the flavours, and helps create a richer, thicker gravy. It also prevents the cottage pie from having a watery filling.
Dice the vegetables evenly for a quick cook, you can add other veggies like peas or bell peppers, or any other veggies you have around.
To bake a frozen pie, make sure you allow plenty of time until the pie is golden and piping hot. I would freeze the pies in freezer-friendly foil trays that can go straight in the oven.

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