Traditional Cottage Pie Casserole is the ultimate comfort food! Layers of creamy ground beef and vegetables, cheesy goodness, and topped with creamy mashed potatoes, then baked to golden brown.
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Why you'll love this recipe
✔️This simple cottage pie recipe is a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.
✔️It's a hearty dish you can prep ahead, which means it's perfect for busy weeknights.
✔️It is a great way to breathe new life into leftover mashed when you want to change things up but reduce kitchen waste.
Ingredients
Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.
- Ground meat you can use the type of meat you prefer; lean ground beef, turkey or chicken.
- Montreal steak seasoning
- Worcestershire sauce
- cream of mushroom soup
- frozen vegetables
- shredded cheese
- mashed potatoes
- fresh cracked black pepper and chopped chives for garnish (optional)
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the casserole dish by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Start by browning the ground beef. Cook until it is no longer pink—season with Montreal steak seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine.
- Add the cream of mushroom soup and frozen vegetables. Stir and blend together all of the ingredients.
- Spoon the meat mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Smooth into an even layer.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese over the top of the meat mixture.
- Add dollops of potatoes to the top of the baking dish. Spread into one even layer covering all of the ingredients. Finish by adding the remaining shredded cheese to the top of the casserole. Top with fresh cracked pepper.
- Bake uncovered in the oven for 30 minutes. Finish, if desired, under the broiler for 1-2 minutes or until the top of the casserole is golden and toasty. Allow to rest covered lightly with foil for 10 minutes before serving.
Equipment
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- 9x13 baking dish
- large skillet
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FAQ's
No, although both are savory meat pies. Cottage pie is traditionally made with ground beef or beef mince and shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb or mutton.
The name "cottage" is thought to come from the English word "cotters", which were peasants who lived in cottages and had limited resources, they are to believed to be the creators of the original dish.
Traditionally, egg yolk is added to the mashed potatoes for texture. However, you don't have to add it to your mashed potatoes if you don't want to.
Deb's tips
- When you are browning the meat, make sure that you cook it all the way through before you add the sauce ingredients.
- Don't forget to drain the excess grease from the beef before you add the sauce ingredients.
- I prefer to use freshly cheddar cheese in this casserole. It melts the best and adds an excellent flavor. However, you can use any cheese you have.
- When you add the sauce ingredients to the ground beef, be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan to remove all the brown bits because it adds so much flavor to your casserole.
- If you are cooking with lean meat, you may need to add olive or vegetable oil to your skillet to prevent sticking.
Variations
- Feel free to be creative with the vegetables you use for this delicious cottage pie. I like mixed vegetables, but you can use any vegetables your family enjoys, like green beans, corn, or even frozen peas and carrots.
- Want to reduce the fat in this casserole? You can use ground turkey or ground lamb instead of beef if you prefer. You can even use leftover meat like pot roast - yum!
- Add more flavor to the beef mixture by adding a splash of red wine or a dollop of sour cream to add extra creaminess.
- To change the flavors of this simple recipe, try using sweet potatoes for your mashed potatoes or cheesy mashed potatoes if your family loves cheese.
- You can add another layer of flavor to this simple dish if you top the mashed potatoes with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese before you broil it. It adds a nice salty crunch to the mashed potato crust on this casserole.
- Chopped onion and minced garlic can also be added to the beef mixture if you want to add an extra punch of flavor to the filling.
Storage
Refrigerate - Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to four days. If your casserole dish doesn't have a lid cover it with foil or plastic wrap to keep it fresh.
Freezer - The casserole can be frozen for up to 3 months. Make sure to wrap it tightly with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.
Reheat - Reheat this whole dish in the oven at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until warm all the way through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Related recipes
- Are you looking for another easy recipe to make that is not only filling but also delicious? If so, try this Chicken Pot Pie Casserole recipe next time. It's an easy twist on this classic dish.
- I don't know about you, but I love a casserole with a delicious crust on the top. And the cornbread crust on top of this Tamale Pie is always a winner with my entire family.
- Do you want to add some new life to your meal rotation? If so, then look no further than this Cowboy Cornbread Casserole. It's full of hearty ingredients to keep you full and packs a delicious flavor punch that will please even the picky eaters in your house.
Serve with
- These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are my favorite way to make the mashed potato topping for this classic recipe. They turn out creamy and delicious every time! Plus, you don't have to worry about them boiling over on the stove.
- If you ask me, these Steamed Brussel Sprouts are the perfect dish to pair with a hearty comfort meal like this one. They come together quickly, and the fresh taste balances out the rich flavors for the casserole.
- Does your family love a bread side with every meal like mine does? If so, this Easy Yeast Rolls for Beginners recipe is the one you need. It's super simple to follow and makes light and fluffy every single time!
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Traditional Cottage Pie Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9x13 casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup with garlic one 10 ½ ounce can of soup, undiluted
- 3 cups frozen vegetables
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese blend
- 3 cups mashed potatoes
- ¼ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper and chopped chives
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the casserole dish by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Start by browning the ground beef. Cook until it is no longer pink. Season with Montreal steak seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine.
- Add the cream of mushroom soup and frozen vegetables. Stir and blend together all of the ingredients.
- Spoon the meat mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Smooth into an even layer.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese over the top of the meat mixture.
- Add dollops of potatoes to the top of the baking dish. Spread into one even layer covering all of the ingredients. Finish by adding the remaining shredded cheese to the top of the casserole. Top with fresh cracked pepper.
- Bake uncovered in the oven for 30 minutes. Finish, if desired, under the broiler for 1-2 minutes or until the top of the casserole is golden and toasty. Allow to rest covered lightly with foil for 10 minutes before serving.
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