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Easy English Cottage Pie

This cottage pie has a flavorful layer of savory ground beef and veggies topped with fluffy mashed potato and cheese for a comforting dinner the whole family will love!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 3094.4 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet For cooking beef and vegetables
  • 1 Medium Saucepan For boiling potatoes
  • 1 Potato Masher For achieving smooth, fluffy mashed potatoes
  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish For assembling and baking the pie
  • 1 Measuring Jug For combining beef broth and tomato paste

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 carrots diced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon Optional
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 ½ cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 potatoes peeled and diced
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup butter softened
  • ¼ pound shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions
 

  • Gather the ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion and carrot; cook and stir until onion has softened, about 5 minutes. Mix in flour, Italian seasoning, and cinnamon. Stir in parsley. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Combine beef broth and tomato paste together in a jug; add to beef mixture. Season with salt and pepper; lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Meanwhile, place diced potatoes in a medium saucepan; cover with water and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes; drain. Mash potatoes until smooth, then add milk and butter; whip until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Spoon ground beef mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish; spread mashed potatoes on top and sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Bake in preheated oven until top is browned and cheese is bubbly, about 25 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Serve and enjoy! Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

1. Ensure the ground beef is well-browned to develop maximum flavor; drain any excess fat to prevent a greasy pie.2. Simmer the beef filling until it's adequately thickened. A runny filling can make the final dish watery. If needed, a cornstarch slurry can be used to adjust consistency.3. For the mashed potatoes, avoid overworking them, which can lead to a gluey texture. Mash until smooth, then gently whip with milk and butter for a fluffy, airy topping. A touch of cream cheese can add extra richness.4. For an elevated presentation and a crispier top, you can pipe the mashed potatoes onto the filling using a pastry bag or create decorative swirls with a fork before baking. Dotting with extra butter before sprinkling cheese will also aid browning.