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Ground Beef Cottage Pie

White plate with a piece of meat pie topped with mashed potatoes and a stainless steel dish of a whole casserole in the background. Close up.
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EatSimpleFood.com

This traditional cottage pie recipe is a one pot dish made with ground beef, onions, garlic, carrots, herbs, and peas in a rich beef gravy and topped with mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Ingredients Mash Potatoes:

  • 3 lb potatoes, peeled & chopped
  • salt, divided
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup + half and half

Ingredients Filling:

  • 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cup onions, diced
  • 1 1/4 cup carrots, finely diced
  • 1 1/4 cup celery, finely diced
  • 2 lb ground beef
  • 1 Tbsp garlic, minced
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp flour (all purpose or gluten free)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 8 thyme sprigs or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/2 cup (~ 6 oz) frozen peas
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375F.

Make the mashed potato topping.  

  • In a pot add: potatoes, 1/2 tsp salt, and enough water to cover the potatoes by 1".  
  • Bring to a boil covered, reduce heat to low boil, and cook uncovered until tender (~8-12 minutes).  
  • Remove from heat, drain, put potatoes back in pan and add: 1/4 tsp salt, butter, and cream.  
  • Mash it up and add more cream or salt as desired. These mashed potatoes are drier than regular mashed potatoes to hold up more sturdy as the crust.

Make the filling. 

  • Bring a large pan to medium high heat and add enough vegetable oil to lightly coat the pan (~ 1 Tbsp).
  • When oil is hot add ground beef.  Mash up the beef with the back of a spoon or fork - you want the meat to be "minced".  
  • When minced add onions, carrots, and celery.  
  • Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered for ~ 10 minutes or until carrots are nearly soft and meat is brown.  
  • Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.  
  • Stir in the tomato paste.
  • Stir in the flour.
  • Mix in all remaining ingredients (add broth slowly while stirring) and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer uncovered ~ 30 minutes or until gravy is thick (you don't want any liquid).  
  • Spoon into an ovenproof baking dish (~ 3 qt or 8x14x3).  
  • Layered cooled mashed potatoes on top and level it out.  
  • Bake uncovered at 375 for ~25 minutes.  Broil the last couple minutes (watching carefully) to crisp up the top of the potatoes until brown if desired. 
  • Add salt to taste.  Happy eating! Beckie

Notes

  • Turn up the heat to reduce if your gravy has too much liquid.
  • Use frozen peas mixed with carrots if that makes your life easier.  Add frozen corn if you want more filling.
  • It is easier to smooth the potatoes over the top of the meat mixture if both are cool.  I make the potatoes first and let them cool and firm up while the meat is simmering.