Irish Cottage Pie

Savory ground beef mingles with the earthy goodness of carrots and peas beneath a warm blanket of cheesy mashed potatoes in this Irish Cottage Pie.

Easy Cottage Pie

I love serving this kind of dinner. It’s so hearty, it makes the perfect meal after a long day of work. If you’ve got hungry mouths at your table, this is the perfect way to fill them.

This recipe may look like a lot of work, based on the number of steps in the instructions. But, trust me, if you want an easy cottage pie recipe, this is the one to use. You can have this dinner on the table in about 40 minutes.

Cottage Pie vs. Shepherd’s Pie

I had never heard of a cottage pie until I was an adult. My mom always made recipes similar to this, but called it shepherd’s pie. Well, if you’re confused at the name, it’s a pretty simple distinction.

A cottage pie is simply a recipe for shepherd’s pie with ground beef, while shepherd’s pie uses lamb meat. Most people use the terms interchangeably, so I don’t worry too much about using cottage pie vs. shepherd’s pie.

Easy Cottage Pie Recipe

You’ll need the following ingredients to make a cottage pie:

• Yukon gold potatoes, carrots, garlic, peas, and diced tomatoes
• yellow onion and garlic
• butter, milk, and cheddar cheese
• thyme, basil, salt and pepper
• fresh Italian parsley
• ground beef
• flour
• Worcestershire sauce
• water or beef broth as needed

Start by preheating the oven to 400°F. Then, place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Then, boil for 10-15 minutes, until you can easily pierce with a fork. Take care not to overcook.

Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Then, use a potato masher or hand mixer to mash the potatoes. Next, add the butter and milk to the potatoes and mash a bit more to incorporate them into the potatoes.

Stir in the salt and pepper, then taste and adjust as desired. To finish the topping, stir in a cup of the shredded cheese before setting it aside.

While the potatoes are boiling, cook and crumble the ground beef over medium-high heat. When it is almost browned, drain off any excess grease and sprinkle with flour. Continue stirring and cooking for 1 minute, to coat well.

Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef

Add the onions and carrots to the pan with the beef and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then, add the garlic, parsley, thyme, basil, one teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes until the onions are soft.

Once the onions have softened, add the tomatoes and Worcestershire sauce. Then, stir to combine and cook for a couple of minutes. If the mixture looks dry, add a splash of water or broth along with the peas.

Stir to combine. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Then, remove from heat. Transfer the filling to a 9×13 baking dish. Then, scoop the potatoes over the filling, spreading them out in an even layer.

Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the potatoes and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the edges are lightly browned. Garnish with the fresh Italian parsley before serving.

Looking for more easy dinners like this Irish cottage pie?

Tender peas, sweet carrots, and savory bits of celery and onions in a creamy, rich beef gravy baked inside a buttery crust make for a fantastic Ground Beef Pot Pie.

Ground beef, corn, and ranch-style beans come alive with plenty of Mexican spices beneath a fluffy cornbread topping that is out of this world. This Cornbread Taco Bake has appeared on my family’s tables for decades.

Fluffy mashed sweet potatoes top a saucy mixture of seasoned ground beef and vegetables to make this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie.

Straight from the oven, this Chicken Pot Pie Casserole with Biscuits is downright mouthwatering with its piping hot filling of tender chicken and vegetables, topped with flaky, golden-brown biscuits.

This Stuffed Pepper Skillet is filled with ground beef, rice, and bell peppers in a flavorful tomato sauce. Best of all, it’s finished with cheese, melting through the skillet and adding the perfect richness to it all.

Savory sausage, creamy ricotta and mozzarella, and your favorite spaghetti sauce are baked with bowtie pasta in this Lazy Lasagna recipe twist on traditional lasagna.