Cottage Pie with Beef

All the nostalgic flavors of traditional cottage pie brought together in a rich, red wine tomato sauce and the creamiest mashed potatoes. 

Cottage pie, simply explained, is a pie made with ground or minced beef that gets topped with some form of potatoes. It’s quintessential comfort food in a one-pot-style meal. This recipe is made with a deliciously rich and acidic red wine tomato sauce that tastes like it has been simmering for hours, when really, it comes together in just 15 minutes of hands-on time. All held together by a mashed potato topping, making this meal so well-rounded in taste, flavor, and texture!

Why do they call it a cottage pie?

The term originated sometime in the late 1700s in Britain, when potatoes became readily available as an affordable meal component. Many peasants who lived in cottages regularly made cottage pie to nourish their families. It was (and still remains) a cost-efficient meal that also dubs as a great way to use leftovers if you have them. 

Cottage Pie vs. Shepherd’s Pie 

Although the terms were used fairly interchangeably early on in their inception, distinguishing characteristics related to the meat protein used in the recipes have set them apart in modern day. Cottage pie is typically made with ground or minced beef of some sort and a beef broth-based sauce, while shepherd’s pie is made with is made using ground lamb. 

Recipe Ingredients

While the list may seem a bit lengthy at a glance, rest assured that this is a no-fuss kind of dish. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 3 pounds of Yukon gold potatoes
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• ¼ cup of heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of pepper
• 2 pounds of ground beef
• 1 package of frozen peas and carrots
• 1 can of tomato paste
• 1 cup of red wine
• ½ cup of beef broth
• 1 teaspoon of coarse sea salt
• 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley

How to Make Cottage Pie

1. Preheat. Preheat the oven to 350℉.
2. Make your mashed potatoes. Add the potatoes and 1 teaspoon of salt to a large pot, then fill the pot up with water to cover an inch over the potatoes, and place on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Let the potatoes come to a low boil, then cook for 15 minutes, until they can easily be pierced with a fork. Strain the excess water from the potatoes, return to the pot, and mash the potatoes with a potato masher. Stir in the cream, butter, and pepper. Taste for salt and add additional, if needed. If you’d like to make your mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot, find our Instant Pot mashed potatoes recipe here.
3. Brown the ground beef. While the potatoes cook, in a 3½-quart dutch oven or stove-friendly casserole dish, brown your ground beef over medium heat. You can also use a skillet and transfer to a round casserole dish if you don’t have one that is stovetop-friendly. Drain any excess grease.
4. Make the sauce. To the cooked ground beef, stir in the tomato paste, wine, broth, salt, and spices. Bring to a boil and pull off the heat, then stir in the peas and carrots.
5. Top with potatoes. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the top of the beef mixture. 
6. Bake. Bake for 30 minutes, until the top is slightly browned and the pie is fully warmed through.
7. Serve and enjoy! Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped fresh parsley and enjoy!

Variations of Beef Cottage Pie

Cottage pie is a versatile recipe and perfect for using whatever you have in your fridge. Here are some ideas of how you can change things up:

• Use different vegetables. While this recipe calls for frozen peas and carrots as the main veggie component, feel free to use whatever vegetables you have on hand (think: mushrooms, kale, corn, green beans)! Cottage pie is the perfect recipe for using this kitchen hack. 
• Omit the red wine. If you prefer to make this recipe without the red wine, you can simply sub for ¾ cup water plus ¼ cup balsamic vinegar.
• Use different meat. While traditional cottage pie calls for ground beef, this recipe is so versatile and tastes great with other ground or shredded meats, such as chicken and turkey. 
• Add cheese. Make some cheesy mashed potatoes by adding fresh grated parmesan or cheddar cheese to your mashed potatoes for a rich and cheesy top. 

Video

How to Store and Reheat Cottage Pie

To store your cottage pie, place it in a covered container in the fridge and consume within 5 days. To reheat, microwave or heat in a skillet or the oven until warmed through. This cottage pie also freezes well. To do so, let the pie cool completely, place it in an airtight container, then freeze for up to 3 months. 

What to Serve with Cottage Pie with Beef

Cottage pie is a balanced meal all on its own, but is delicious with a simple side of mixed greens or lemony arugula salad.