Best Cottage Pie Recipe - Step-by-step Pictures

How to Make an Old British Classic: Cottage Pie

A family favourite dish of minced (ground) beef in a rich gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes.

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What's the difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie?

They are the same recipe, except cottage pie is made with beef, and shepherd’s pie is made with lamb.

Because a shepherd herds sheep, it's made with lamb - simples! 😉

There's nothing quite like a big serving of hearty and delicious cottage pie on a cold winter's day.

Although on the luxury side, it's still easy to make! 😉

Bangers (sausage) and mash is another comfort food that we love.

What to eat with cottage pie

Although this recipe may seem a little on the luxury side, it's still a relatively cheap meal because you can easily stretch it to serve more people without necessarily using more minced (ground) beef.

• Kids may like baked beans!

• peas

• broccoli

• cabbage greens

• kale

• carrots

• green beans

Ingredients in the cottage pie filling

• vegetable or rapeseed oil

• onion 

• carrots 

• celery

• garlic cloves 

• lean beef mince (ground beef)

• thyme 

• tomato puree (paste)

• Coleman's English mustard

• Worcestershire sauce

• balsamic vinegar (or a little tomato ketchup)

• good quality tinned tomatoes

• Knorr Rich beef stockpot

• salt and pepper to season

Based on Gordon Ramsay's shepherd's pie

I just replaced the lamb with minced (ground beef).

Full recipe including the mashed potatoes in the printable recipe card below 😉

Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan.

Sauté the onion, carrot, celery and garlic on a medium heat until well softened.

Now add the minced beef and the sprig of thyme.

Turn up the heat for 6-8 minutes and fry until the mince is browned.

Bring to the boil and then simmer for 15 minutes to reduce. Remove the thyme and discard.

Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding pepper and salt if needed.

Pour the mince mixture into an ovenproof dish and top with the mash. Sprinkle over the chives and top with the cheese.

Bake uncovered on the middle shelf of your preheated oven until piping hot and golden.

You might also like Cottage Pie with Guinness. 😋

Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating in the recipe card below!

how to make cottage pie, Gordon Ramsey shepherd's pie recipe, luxury cottage pie recipe,

main, dinner

English

Yield: 4

Author: Jan Bennett

Best Cottage Pie Recipe

Hearty and delicious cottage pie - recipe based on one by Gordon Ramsay.

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 50 MinTotal time: 1 H & 10 M

Ingredients

For the cottage pie filling

• 1 tbsp vegetable or rapeseed oil
• 1 onion - peeled and finely diced
• 2 carrots - peeled and finely diced
• 1 celery stalk - ribs removed and finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves - peeled and minced
• 500g lean minced (ground) beef
• 1 sprig of thyme
• 2 tablespoons tomato puree (paste in the US)
• 2 teaspoons Coleman's English mustard
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (or tomato ketchup)
• 400g (14oz) can of good-quality tomatoes
• 1 x Knorr Rich Beef stockpot - diluted in 300ml of hot water
• salt and pepper to season

Cheesy mashed potato topping

• 900g/2lb floury potatoes such as Maris Piper - peeled and halved
• 115g/4oz butter
• 125ml/4½fl oz milk
• 1 x egg (yolk only)
• a few snipped chives - if you want to be all fancy!
• a handful of Cheddar cheese - leave out the cheese for plain mash

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 180°C fan oven (or 200°C) 400°F

1. Fill a large saucepan with cold water, add salt, and then the potatoes. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
2. Drain thoroughly, then mash with the butter, add a splash of milk and the egg yolk, mixing well. Set aside and continue preparing the cottage pie.
3. Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Sauté the onion, carrot, celery and garlic on a medium heat until well softened. Don't rush this!
4. Add the minced beef and a sprig of thyme. Increase the heat and fry for 6-8 minutes, stirring frequently and breaking up the mince as it browns. A flat-ended wooden spoon works well for this.
5. Add the tomato purée, canned tomatoes, diluted stock, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, and mustard to the minced beef mixture and stir.
6. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 20 minutes to reduce. Remove the thyme and discard. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding pepper and salt if needed.
7. Spread the mince mixture into an ovenproof dish, layer it with the mash, sprinkle chives on top, and top with the cheese if using.
8. Bake uncovered on the middle shelf of your preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until piping hot and golden.
9. Serve immediately. Want more gravy? Make a quick gravy using gravy granules.

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