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A bubbling golden-crusted cottage pie in a ceramic baking dish.

Quick way to grow a Cottage Pie (Shepherd's Pie with Beef)

This recipe offers a quick and satisfying way to prepare a classic Cottage Pie, featuring a rich beef filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes, perfect for a comforting weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Filling
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 medium carrots diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1.5 cups beef broth
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
For the Topping
  • 2 lbs potatoes peeled and quartered
  • 0.5 cup milk
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • 0.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Equipment

  • Large oven-safe skillet
  • Pot
  • Potato masher
  • Baking dish (optional, 9x13 inch)

Method
 

Prepare the Filling
  1. Brown the ground beef in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, then drain any excess fat.
  2. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and dried thyme, then bring the mixture to a simmer.
  5. Season the filling with salt and black pepper to taste, then reduce heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, allowing it to thicken.
Prepare the Topping
  1. While the filling simmers, boil the peeled and quartered potatoes in a pot of salted water until tender, about 15-20 minutes.
  2. Drain the potatoes thoroughly, then return them to the pot and mash them with milk and butter until smooth.
  3. Season the mashed potatoes with salt and black pepper to taste.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Spread the beef filling evenly in the oven-safe skillet or transfer it to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  3. Carefully spoon the mashed potato topping over the beef filling, spreading it to the edges.
  4. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the mashed potatoes.
  5. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Serve
  1. Let the Cottage Pie rest for a few minutes before serving hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, you can add a splash of red wine to the beef filling along with the broth. If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, simply transfer the cooked filling to a baking dish before adding the mashed potato topping. This dish reheats well and is great for meal prepping.