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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 quick cottage pie recipe is a comforting classic featuring a savory ground beef filling topped with fluffy mashed potatoes. It's a hearty meal that comes together deliciously and efficiently, perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Filling
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and 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 Mashed Potato Topping
  • 2 lbs potatoes peeled and quartered
  • 0.5 cup milk
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Potato masher
  • Large oven-safe skillet or baking dish

Method
 

Prepare the Mashed Potatoes
  1. Boil the quartered potatoes in salted water until tender, then drain thoroughly.
  2. Mash the cooked potatoes with milk, butter, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
Cook the Meat Filling
  1. Brown the ground beef in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, then drain any excess fat.
  2. Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the skillet and cook until softened.
  3. Stir in minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, then season with dried thyme, salt, and pepper; bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce slightly thickens.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Spread the meat filling evenly in the bottom of the skillet or transfer to a baking dish.
  2. Carefully spoon the mashed potato topping over the meat, spreading it to the edges.
  3. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

Notes

For an extra golden potato topping, you can brush it with melted butter before baking or use a fork to create ridges.