Here’s your Best Cottage Pie Hearty Recipe, perfect for a comforting, filling meal. It’s packed with flavorful beef and vegetables, topped with creamy mashed potatoes for a golden, crispy finish!
This is definitely my daughter’s comfort food during the cold Winter weeks, and I love it because is healthy and delicious!
Ingredients:
For the filling:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour (for thickening)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried thyme)
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
For the mashed potato topping:
¼ cup grated cheddar cheese (optional for topping)
2 lbs (900g) potatoes, peeled and diced
4 tbsp butter
½ cup milk or cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Prepare the mashed potatoes:
- Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender (about 15-20 minutes).
- Drain the potatoes and mash them with butter and milk (or cream) until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
2. Make the filling:
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Sauté the chopped onions and carrots for about 5 minutes, until softened.
- Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Stir in the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Cook until browned, then drain any excess fat.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute.
- Sprinkle the flour over the beef and stir to coat.
- Gradually add the beef broth, stirring constantly.
- Add Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaf, and simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken.
- Stir in frozen peas, season with salt and pepper, and remove from heat. Discard the bay leaf.
3. Assemble the pie:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Spread the beef mixture evenly in a baking dish.
- Top with mashed potatoes, smoothing them out with a spoon or fork. You can create some peaks or use a fork to make ridges for a crispy finish.
- Optional: Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the mashed potatoes.
4. Bake:
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling at the edges.
- For extra crispiness, broil the top for 2-3 minutes.
5. Serve:
- Let the Cottage Pie rest for 5 minutes before serving.
