All Too often Cottage Pie is a flavorless, soupy meat mixture topped with a mushy topping. This recipe changes all of that. The thick, rich gravy is absolutely delicious and the topping will knock your socks off!
Roasted Broccoli makes the perfect side for this delicious dish.
Cottage Pie With A Twist
A true classic, but this version is a little different than your average cottage pie recipe – It’s topped with a layer of creamy, cheesy potato slices.
This recipe will change the way you look at the classic, forever! Sure, you may love the original, but seeing the gravy bubbling through those cheesy, crispy potatoes is a beautiful sight!
Why This Recipe Works
- Adding baking soda to the beef keeps it moist by stopping the proteins from binding too quickly when cooked (which will dry out the meat).
- The crispy, cheesy potato topping makes a fantastic topping on this fantastic dish.
- Adding garlic and parmesan cheese to the potato topping adds a punch of flavor.
- Soy sauce adds depth of flavor to the rich gravy base.
- Keeping the meat mixture thick keeps this dish from being runny and unappetizing.
What Is Cottage Pie
It is a Britsh dish made up of a rich ground beef stew traditionally topped with mashed potatoes before baking.
What’s The Difference Between Shepherd’s Pie And Cottage Pie?
The difference is that Shepherd’s Pie is made with ground lamb while Cottage pie is made with beef.
How To Make Cottage Pie From Scratch
- Mix the meat with the baking soda slurry to keep the meat from drying out.
- Brown the meat and set aside.
- Cook the vegetables until softened and add the beef back to the pan.
- Add flour, stock and soy sauce and cook until thick.
- Prepare the potatoes and sauce.
- Add the meat mixture to a casserole dish.
- Top with potatoes, sauce, and cheese.
- Bake until golden.
I just love it when good food fills the house with the scent of comfort as it cooks! This dish does just that! Taking it out of the oven with it sizzling, bubbling, and just smelling of comfort food goodness is a thing of pure pleasure.
I’m telling you, you have to try this recipe because it will change your life. Okay, I admit that I am a little too enthusiastic. It may not change your life, but it sure will change how you look at cottage pie!
Erren’s Top Tip
I often double the filling recipe and freeze half for another day if I’m short on time. Then I cover it with mashed potatoes and throw it in the oven.
Other Great Comfort Foods
Tips For Perfect Cottage Pie
- Don’t skip the baking soda step. This will ensure your beef stays nice and moist.
- When browning the beef, only cook until the pink is gone. You don’t want to overcook it.
- For extra depth of flavor, allow the vegetables to brown once softened and then scrape the pan to remove any crispy bits when adding the stock.
- Allow the sauce to thicken well before assembling. You don’t want a soupy mess.
- To make traditional cottage Pie use this filling and top with my homemade mashed potatoes.
- I often double the filling recipe and freeze half for another day if I’m short on time. Then I cover it with mashed potatoes and throw it in the oven.
Make ahead and Freezing Instructions
To Make Ahead: Cottage Pie will keep in the fridge for three days; refrigerate covered with plastic wrap and foil (or use a pan that has a sealable lid).
Freezing Instructions: Cottage pie freezes really well. To freeze, after baking, allow to cool completely to room temperature (no longer than 2 hours), then cover tightly plastic wrap and foil (or use a pan that has a sealable lid). Then place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat (covered with the foil) for 1 hour in a 350ºF oven.
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Let’s Make Ultimate Cottage Pie
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 pound Ground beef
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 celery stalks diced
- 2 carrots chopped small
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- A good handful of fresh parsley chopped
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms sliced
- salt and pepper to taste
FOR THE POTATOES:
- 1 tablespoon flour
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- 2 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 pounds russet potatoes peeled and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese grated
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl mix ½ teaspoon baking soda with a tablespoon of water to form a slurry. In large bowl, toss beef with baking soda mixture and ½ teaspoon salt until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a hot frying pan and add the beef. Stir over high heat until golden-brown. Using a colander, drain any fat or liquid from the meat and return it to the pan. Sprinkle the flour over the meat and coat well. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add the onions, celery, and carrots to the pan and fry until beginning to soften. Return the beef to the pan.
- Add the stock & soy sauce to the pan, mix well to avoid any lumps. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly until thickened, then add the mushrooms and parsley. Tasate for seasoning and season with salt and peppe as needed. Cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the mince is tender.
- While the filling cooks, start the potatoes – Boil the potato slices in salted water for about 4-5 minutes or until they start to soften. Drain them carefully into a colander and leave to cool.
- Preheat the oven to 425f/220C.
- Pour the beef mixture into a shallow casserole dish. Arrange a layer of the blanched potato on top of the beef mixture.
- Thoroughly mix the flour into the cream (being sure not to leave any lumps). In a saucepan, heat up the cream garlic, nutmeg, and some salt and pepper. bring to a simmer and allow to thicken.
- Pour half of the cream mixture over the first layer of potatoes already in the pan. Arrange the remaining potatoes on top, seasoning between the layers. Pour over the remaining cream and sprinkle over the cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until golden-brown.
Tips + Notes
- Don’t skip the baking soda step. This will ensure your beef stays nice and moist.
- When browning the beef, only cook until the pink is gone. You don’t want to overcook it.
- For extra depth of flavor, allow the vegetables to brown once softened and then scrape the pan to remove any crispy bits when adding the stock.
- Allow the sauce to thicken well before assembling. You don’t want a soupy mess.
- To make traditional cottage Pie use this filling and top with my homemade mashed potatoes.
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was originally posted in 2014, but was updated with new information in 2021.
CarolK says
I thought this was very good. It did take awhile to make, but it was worth it, mostly because of how much my husband liked it! I did add some extra cheese, which is always a plus.
Erren's Kitchen says
That’s great, Carol! There is no such thing as too much cheese 😉. We love that you and your husband enjoyed it!
Felicia Jaramillo says
I am so sick of having/making the same meals every week. There’s only so many things to make with ground beef…so, I looked for something new, and this recipe changed the game! We eat this once a week now! It does take time, but it’s so good!!
Erren Hart says
I’m really glad to hear that this cottage pie recipe was a game-changer for you! It’s understandable to get tired of the same meals, and finding a new recipe that adds variety to your menu can be so refreshing. It’s great to know that despite the time it takes to prepare, the delicious outcome makes it worth it. Please keep coming back to explore new recipes and enjoy your culinary adventures! Here’s to many more delicious meals!
Megan says
Can this be frozen before you bake in oven for an easy freezer meal?
Erren Hart says
Sure, but I recommend thawing it completely before baking. Keep in mind that the freezing process may add extra water which can affect the end result.
Stephanie says
Everyone loved this. It was delicious!
Erren Hart says
Hearing that you enjoyed the recipe makes all the hard work worthwhile. Thank you for sharing your positive experience.
Tamra says
My whole family lOVES this recipe. We aren’t fans of Shepard’s pie with the mashed potatoes. This is a game changer though. One thing I will say is to read through the directions. I thought it was 35 mins of prep and 2 hours of cooking, but it’s basically an hour of standing with it and only 30 mins in the oven. Worth it though!
Erren Hart says
Thank you for trying out our cottage pie recipe Tamra, and for leaving such a positive review. We’re so happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed it!
One thing to note about this particular recipe is that, unlike some of our other recipes, it does require more hands-on time and the cooking time includes cooking on the stovetop before entering the oven. So it’s the entire cooking time, not just baking time (But we agree the end result is worth it)! Thanks again for giving it a try.
Mary Kay says
The recipe definitely says 35 minutes prep time & 2 hours cook time.
Tina says
I really loved the dish it was great I will definitely make it again
Erren Hart says
Thank you, Tina, for trying our Cottage Pie! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, and we hope you’ll come back again soon.
Cherie says
I want to try this recipe. Can I substitute using a different meat?
Erren's Kitchen says
Certainly! You can definitely substitute a different type of meat in this Cottage Pie recipe. Ground beef is the traditional choice, but you can use ground lamb, ground turkey, or even ground chicken as alternatives. Each type of meat will bring its own unique flavor to the dish.
Just keep in mind that different meats may have different fat content and cooking times, so you may need to adjust the cooking process slightly. For example, if you use ground lamb, it will impart a rich and slightly gamey flavor. Ground turkey or chicken will be lighter in flavor.
Make sure to cook the meat thoroughly and adjust the seasonings to suit your taste. Enjoy!!
Gail Senkiw says
great recipe but needed more of the cream sauce
Erren Hart says
Hi Gail, Thank you for trying our cottage pie recipe and giving us feedback on the results. We’re so glad you enjoyed it and will take your feedback on board.
Andrea Namay says
Fantastic recipe! Spot on directions! This is one of our favorite “comfort” food recipes. Thank you Erren!
Erren Hart says
Thank you, Andrea! You can’t go wrong with comfort food! I’m so glad you enjoy the recipe. Thanks for being a fan!
Cindy James says
This was. A great recipe. My husband said he would eat this once a week.
Erren Hart says
Thank you for trying our Cottage Pie recipe, Cindy! We’re so happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed it. We hope you’ll make it again soon. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.