Cottage Pie
I’m a negligent mum, taking off right at dinnertime thrice this Sunday-Monday-Tuesday to make myself presentable and go eat and call it part of my job. (Sunday and Monday is-was like a pub crawl, only with steak and no boom-box-bus. Tomorrow I’m going to dinner at Rouge. Don’t hate me.) And so I made a pot of something yummy the boys could dip into in my absence.
A cottage pie is a shepherd’s pie, made with beef instead of lamb. Which is how most of us make shepherd’s pie nowadays, but if I were to post this as shepherd’s pie I’d almost certainly open up my inbox to a barrage of emails saying “that’s not shepherd’s pie! Shepherd’s pie is made of lamb! Get it? Because of the shepherds and their lambs… which they apparently eventually eat.)
You could, of course, start with ground lamb and be perfectly safe in calling it shepherd’s pie.
You could also take liberties with the vegetables that go into it – sauteed mushrooms are sublime (unless you have a 6 year old who recoils at mushrooms), or parsnips with the potatoes that go on top. You can totally mess with the veggie elements without changing its identity.
Someone on Twitter just suggested I call it cow pie. Now there’s a good idea. Forget cottage pie – let’s call this cow pie!
Anyway. It’s a good thing to have in the fridge to dip into whenever you need to.
Cottage Pie
AuthorJuliePreheat oven to 375F.
In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and onion until the onion is soft and the beef is no longer pink. Sprinkle the flour overtop and stir to distribute it, then pour in the beef stock, add the tomato paste and Worcestershire, and stir to blend well. Bring to a simmer and cook for a minute or two, until the gravy thickens. Add the carrots and peas, season with salt and pepper and pour into a baking dish that will accommodate it.
Meanwhile, pour cold water over the potatoes in a medium-large pot and bring to a boil. When they're very tender, drain and mash them (rough or smooth) with the butter and milk and spread over the beef mixture. Scatter the grated cheese overtop. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and it's bubbly around the edges.
Ingredients
I grew up knowing this dish as “Pâté chinois” always made with a layer of sauteed beef, corn, and mashed potatoes. I’ll have to try this version soon, thanks for sharing 🙂
You know when I saw the title on my iGoogle page I immediately thought this was going to have cottage cheese in it… then I clicked into it and saw it was what I would, in my ignorance, have formerly (now I know better) called Shepherd’s Pie. Then I started thinking about cottage cheese again and I think it would be quite nummy to mix 2% cottage cheese into the mashed potatoes for a truly “cottage” pie 🙂 … and delish too! What d’ya think?
Ooooh – I think you are totally brilliant! Then it would be a true cottage (cheese) pie!!
I picked up a few things here I hadn’t thought about before. It’s the kind of detail that’s easy to miss on a first pass. I came across RandoCue official while reading up on this, and it fit right in. Will be back for more.
This is one of those dishes that reminds me of childhood. My mom’s flame Le Cruset and “pate chinoise” was a winter meal in our home. Yum. I think it’s time to bring back the love again. Looks delicious.
My new favorite is to mix mashed turnips in with the mashed potatoes when I make the topping.
Celeriac, boiled or steamed till tender then mashed is delicious with the mashed potatoes also delicious and a great way to try this narly looking veg!!!!!
I’m so glad to see someone who knows that shepherd’s pie is made with lamb (actually mutton, but never mind) never beef. It’s American to get everything wrong and it bothers me when Canadians copy them. I make cottage pie with onions, peas and carrots and mushrooms, gravy and mounds of mashed potato on top with extra gravy served beside it. It’s a comfort food of the nth degree. So’s shepherd’s pie – to be eaten on the knees in front of the fire. numm numm numm 🙂
It’s weird because I just made a gardener’s pie (which is for vegetarians) the night before last. It substitutes ground soy and black beans for the meat and is really tasty!
It’s been ages since I last commented (though I read every post!), but I just wanted to come by today to say thank you for your consistently delicious and simple recipes! It’s really refreshing to find a food blog that focuses on healthy, nutritious, simple and *delicious* recipes. I always know that 1) I’ll have the ingredients on hand and 2) it will be a hit with my family! My cooking has really evolved since the advent of your blog, especially with the emphasis on the “theory” behind the flavours. A heartfelt thank you from our home to yours!
Have fun at Rouge!!!
you do know what a “cow pie” is right? or am I the only girl who grew up near a farm. When completely frozen they made great frisbies to whip at the boys!
Yes! Totally know what a cow pie is.. I am Calgarian after all.. therein lies the joke! Doesn’t cow pie sound delicious? 😉
Another lovely looking recipe. Perhaps I will toss this into the rotation next week instead of my usual winter standby of meatloaf (which I love). I have always made some sort of cottage type pie because it uses up so much of the stuff in my fridge.
Made this last night – thanks for the fab recipe!! It was fast, easy and delish! This is def going into rotation, though, as an American, I was only able to do the best I could with it – hope I did it justice 😉
Julie-I once had the revelation to do my shepherd’s pie (yeah, I’m going there – I’m calling it shepherd’s!) upside down because I was tired of the bottom crumbly-beef-bits falling apart. It ROCKED! So now I put the potatoes down first (spray or wipe the dish with oil first) then the beef mixture THEN the cheese. Voila. Stays together in true pie-like fashion AND gets a nice crispy-potatoey bottom. If I’m feeling particularly spunky, and if there happen to be any potato chips in the house (HA! Good one!), I just might crumple them on top. Mmmmmm. Cowpie-licious!
I made this the other night, but used chicken broth because I didn’t have any beef broth in the house. I also substituted the fresh veggies with a frozen bag of mixed veggies. It was delicious. I actually doubled the recipe and froze one of the dishes. Thank you, Julie!
Everyone I know knows that Shepherd’s Pie is a lamb dish. And surprise, we’re Americans! We even understand about shepherd and sheep aka lamb. And our Brit friends quail at the thought of using lamb when this is an everyday kind of dish, a way to use more common, more economical mutton.
This is a great keeper recipe that many cooks have made for many years without a recipe, it’s that much a part of their family’s standard fare. newer cooks of this old favorite.
Thanks for introducing newer cooks to this great dish – and for reminding those who have been around a while that it can also be made with ground lean beef. Just be careful what you call it. 🙂
Sorry. An extra bit escaped the editing.
newer cooks of this old favorite
Looks amazing! But NEVER call it cow pie! Cow pie is Cow s*it! lol
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Great recipe, Julie! Cottage pie (or cow pie – love the name!) is a classic comfort food. I add a touch of Worcestershire sauce for extra depth. For a fun twist, try arranging the mashed potato topping in a grid pattern before baking – it’s like playing real-life Block Blast! Thanks for sharing.
Great cottage pie recipe! Love the cow pie name suggestion, hilarious! Maybe add some Worcestershire sauce for extra depth? A little thyme would also be fantastic. For busy parents, this is perfect. Need a quick break? Try Block Blast while it’s baking!
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Great recipe. I like it
Cottage Pie is a traditional British dish made with minced beef cooked in gravy with onions and vegetables. The meat mixture is topped with a layer of mashed potatoes and then baked until golden. It is usually served hot as a main meal.
Cottage Pie is a traditional British dish made with minced beef cooked in gravy with onions and vegetables. The meat mixture is topped with a layer of mashed potatoes and then baked until golden. It is usually served hot as a main meal.
Cottage Pie is a traditional British dish made with minced beef cooked in gravy with onions and vegetables. The meat mixture is topped with a layer of mashed potatoes and then baked until golden. It is usually served hot as a main meal.
I love prepping cottage pie on Sunday so I can grab spoonfuls all week—keeps me from DoorDash panic. I use a little planning tool to map my meals and groceries, saves me from forgetting the Worcestershire again. Anyone else dice the potatoes super small so they cook faster?
Cottage Pie is a traditional British dish made with minced meat topped with mashed potatoes and baked until golden.
Cottage Pie is a traditional British dish made with minced meat topped with mashed potatoes and baked until golden.
Cottage Pie is a classic British dish made with minced meat cooked in gravy and topped with mashed potatoes, then baked until golden. ??
Cottage Pie is a classic British dish made with minced meat cooked in gravy and topped with mashed potatoes, then baked until golden. ??
This sounds so cozy and practical—exactly the kind of meal that makes a busy week feel more manageable. I love that it’s flexible too, especially with the vegetables and mash on top. The little explanation about cottage pie versus shepherd’s pie made me smile, and now I’m craving a big bubbling dish of this for dinner. Definitely one of those comfort food recipes that never goes out of style.
A warm dish of cottage pie with that rich beef filling and golden mashed potato topping is hard to beat, especially on busy days when everyone just needs something hearty waiting in the fridge. I also like how flexible the recipe is—you can easily swap or add vegetables depending on what you have on hand.
The explanation about the difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie was great too. It’s one of those classic dishes that many families grow up with, but the little details behind the name make it even more interesting.
Cottage Pie is a classic British comfort dish made with minced beef cooked in gravy and topped with mashed potatoes, then baked until golden.
Cottage Pie is a classic British comfort dish made with minced beef cooked in gravy and topped with mashed potatoes, then baked until golden.
Cottage Pie is a classic British comfort dish made with minced beef cooked in gravy and topped with mashed potatoes, then baked until golden.
Cottage Pie is a classic British comfort dish made with minced beef cooked in gravy and topped with mashed potatoes, then baked until golden.
Haha, “cow pie,” I love it! My family calls it “meat and potatoes,” super original, right? ? We always use beef, and I’ve experimented with adding roasted sweet potatoes to the topping for a bit of sweetness. Speaking of addictive things, have you ever tried the Suika Game? It’s strangely mesmerizing! Perfect for when you need a quick break from cooking (or pondering the correct name for your beefy pie!).
Haha, “cow pie,” I love it! My family calls it “meat and potatoes,” super original, right? ? We always use beef, and I’ve experimented with adding roasted sweet potatoes to the topping for a bit of sweetness. Speaking of addictive things, have you ever tried the Suika Game? It’s strangely mesmerizing! Perfect for when you need a quick break from cooking (or pondering the correct name for your beefy pie!).
This looks like the kind of meal that disappears fast once it hits the table.
Warm comfort food and relaxing evenings somehow make me want to open slope game for “just one quick run”.
The rich filling and creamy mashed potatoes look absolutely perfect together ?
slope game
Keeping from plunging into the abyss while navigating an unforgiving, zigzag path is your straightforward objective. You may unlock rare cars, trucks, and even police cruisers by collecting coins and navigating tight curves with the single spacebar or touch of a button. For serious players looking to smash their current high score, it’s the ideal game because it’s simple to pick up yet very challenging to master.
This cottage pie looks like proper comfort food — I love that you kept the filling simple with beef, carrots, and peas, and that cheddar on top is a great touch. The “cow pie” debate made me laugh too. I’ve been tinkering with a little browser-based Deltarune Prophecy Maker project lately, and recipes like this are exactly the kind of thing I bookmark for busy weeknights. Definitely trying this one soon!
This cottage pie looks like proper comfort food — I love that you kept the veg flexible and didn’t get bogged down in the shepherd’s pie vs. cottage pie debate. The Worcestershire and sharp cheddar combo is exactly how I make mine, though I’ve never thought to add parsnips to the mash. Definitely trying that next time. It’s funny how a simple dish like this can spark so much friendly argument online. I recently came across a fun little ??????? quiz that scratches a similar itch — quick, playful, and weirdly addictive. Anyway, this is going straight into my weeknight rotation. Thanks for sharing, Julie!
This cottage pie looks like the ultimate comfort food — I love that you can swap in mushrooms or parsnips without losing the soul of the dish. The Worcestershire and sharp cheddar combo is exactly how I make mine. There’s something so satisfying about a recipe you can just dip into all week. Speaking of cozy, creative kitchen projects, I’ve been spending time with Witch Hat Atelier Spell Maker — it has that same warm, handmade charm. Thanks for sharing, Julie!
This cottage pie looks like the ultimate comfort food — I love that you kept it simple with beef, carrots, and peas, and that cheesy mashed potato top is exactly how I remember it growing up. The “cow pie” suggestion made me laugh, and honestly, it’s a fair point. I’ve been on a bit of a retro recipe kick lately, and this one is going straight onto my list for a cold weeknight. It also reminded me of how fun it can be to pair cozy cooking with a little playful downtime — I’ve been killing time between oven checks with a Random Pokémon Generator, which is a surprisingly addictive way to pass thirty minutes while something bakes. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Julie — the fridge-friendly leftovers tip is much appreciated.
This cottage pie recipe is such a comforting classic, and I love the idea of calling it “cow pie” — that Twitter suggestion made me laugh. The combination of Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and old cheddar on top sounds absolutely delicious. I’ve been experimenting with different ways to get creative in the kitchen lately, and honestly, sometimes I turn to tools like CreateMusic AI to set the mood while I cook. There’s something about having the right background music that makes the whole process more enjoyable. Thanks for sharing this recipe, Julie — I’ll definitely be trying it this weekend!
Cottage pie is pure comfort food, especially when the mashed potato topping gets golden and crispy in the oven. I love how the rich beef-and-vegetable filling balances the creamy potatoes, making it feel both hearty and homely. It’s also one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day. Speaking of cozy evenings with a slightly spooky twist, fnaf is an iconic horror game that delivers a truly tense and suspenseful experience—definitely not something I’d play right before bed! Do you prefer your cottage pie with classic beef filling, or do you add your own twist?
This cottage pie looks like such a comforting, no-fuss dinner — exactly the kind of recipe I love having in my back pocket for busy weeks. I really like that you addressed the shepherd’s pie vs. cottage pie debate head-on; it’s one of those things that always seems to spark strong opinions! The tip about sneaking in sauteed mushrooms or parsnips is great too. I’ve actually been experimenting with turning food photos into simple sketches for my recipe journal, and I used a Photo to Line Drawing tool to create clean outlines of dishes like this one. It’s a fun way to illustrate a family cookbook. Thanks for sharing this recipe — I’ll definitely be trying it soon!
This cottage pie looks like proper comfort food — I love that you kept the filling simple with beef, carrots, and peas, and that cheesy mashed potato top is exactly how it should be. I’ve been building a little collection of recipes like this and always end up tweaking the details, especially when I’m organizing files afterward. If you ever want to clean up audio notes or rename recipe recordings, this Online MP3 Tag Editor has been handy for me. Bookmarking this one for a cold night — thanks, Julie!
This cottage pie looks like the ultimate comfort food — I love that you kept it simple with beef and a cheesy mashed potato top. The tip about sneaking in parsnips or mushrooms is genius for picky eaters. I’ve been experimenting with pairing home-cooked meals with the right background music, and honestly, a warm, cozy playlist makes dinner taste even better. I recently came across CraftMusic AI, which generates custom tracks for moments like this. Definitely trying this recipe this weekend with some mellow tunes on.
I love a good cottage pie, especially when I have to rush off and leave the family to fend for themselves. This makes me wonder if you’ve ever played that horror game “narinig mo ba” – it’s all about neighborhood secrets and gossip, which somehow reminds me of what my boys might be saying about my steak-filled nights out!
I always appreciate how you explain the cottage pie vs shepherd’s pie distinction — the lamb thing trips people up constantly. The tip about mixing cottage cheese into the mashed potatoes in the comments is genuinely clever, and I’m tempted to try celeriac in the topping too. This is exactly the kind of fridge staple I need on busy weeks. Oddly enough, I recently came across Turn content into a branded app while looking for ways to keep recipes handy on my phone, but the pie itself is the real star here.
I love that you cleared up the cottage pie vs shepherd’s pie thing — the lamb/shepherd logic always gets people riled up in the comments. The cheese on top is the part I’d never skip, and mixing cottage cheese into the mash is honestly a fun twist. On nights I’m not cooking, I sometimes poke around Gameilo – Free Online Browser Games while dinner reheats.
A cow pie, huh? That’s one way to combine my love for comfort food with a little farm humor! ? Just make sure your kids don’t come running with a shovel when you mention it. Oh, and if you’re looking to spice up the meal prep while still keeping it fun, there’s this classic rock song generator that could seriously set the mood in the kitchen. Who doesn’t want to rock out while mashing potatoes? Check it out! classic rock song generator
A cow pie, huh? That’s one way to combine my love for comfort food with a little farm humor! ? Just make sure your kids don’t come running with a shovel when you mention it. Oh, and if you’re looking to spice up the meal prep while still keeping it fun, there’s this classic rock song generator that could seriously set the mood in the kitchen. Who doesn’t want to rock out while mashing potatoes? Check it out! classic rock song generator
Hey there! First off, don’t be so hard on yourself; it sounds like you’re balancing a lot. That cottage pie looks amazing! I love how you can get creative with it—cow pie sounds kind of funny and inviting, right? Anyway, I wonder if anyone else has tried variations on classic recipes? Oh, and if you’re looking for some chill music while cooking, you might wanna check this out: Jazz solo generator.
I’ve always called this shepherd’s pie even though I use beef, so I guess it’s technically cottage pie! The tip about sauteed mushrooms sounds great, though my kids would probably rebel. I love how flexible this recipe is with whatever veggies are in the fridge. On a totally different note, I’ve been messing around with AI image and video tools for fun lately, and it’s wild how creative you can get with almost anything—kind of like cooking, really.