Easy Cottage Pie Recipe
A potato topped pie is a lovely, classic winter dish, enjoyed by all the family. But all that peeling, chopping, cooking and mashing of potatoes can be a bit laborious. This easy cottage pie recipe cuts all that out entirely.
All you have to do is cook the pie filling, then top it with ready made mashed potato, and bake. The baked beans and Worcester and brown sauces add a lovely warmth and depth of flavour. They also complement the cheesy mash topping.
If you can’t find cheddar or cheese mash, simply top the pie with a sprinkling of grated cheese instead.
This easy recipe for cottage pie serves 4-6
Easy cottage pie recipe ingredients
Cottage pie filling
- Olive oil, for frying
- Red onion, 1, chopped
- Carrot, 1, diced finely
- Beef mince, 500g
- Beef gravy, 280ml (1/2 pint)
- Baked beans, 1 tin
- Brown sauce, 1 tbsp
- Worcester sauce, 1 tbsp
- Parsley, dried 1 tsp; or fresh, a few stalks
- Thyme, dried 1 tsp; or fresh, a few stalks
- Bay leaf, fresh or dried, 1
- Black pepper, coarse or freshly ground, a pinch
- Mushrooms, a few, sliced
Mashed potato topping
- Cheddar mash, ready-made, 2 packs (about 900g) (see note, below)
- Salt & black pepper, freshly ground
- Milk, a splash (optional)
- Butter, a knob (optional)
Equipment
How to make this quick and easy cottage pie recipe
- In a dash of olive oil, fry the onion and carrot, stirring, until they start to soften. Add the mince and cook, stirring, to break it up and brown it.
- Once the mince is browned, add the gravy and stir, then the baked beans. Add the brown and Worcester sauces, herbs and pepper and stir well.
- Cook for around 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes, then add the mushrooms and stir in. Turn off the heat and allow the sauce to thicken slightly while you zap the mash.
- Cook the mash in the microwave, as per pack instructions. You may need to add a dash of milk here if it seems a little too thick, and I add a knob of butter, too, for flavour.
- Remove the bay leaf, then put the filling into a baking dish, smooth over, then spoon the mash over the top. Once you have a nice, even layer of mash, use a fork to create the ‘farmer’s field’ effect on the top. This not only looks attractive, but means the topping will crisp up nicely, too.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees fan.
Serve this cottage pie recipe with beef as it is, or with extra vegetables.
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