Cottage Pie

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 06/3/22
cottage pie

Diana Rattray / The Spruce Eats

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 1 pie

This easy casserole is made with leftover roast beef and mashed potatoes. If you don't have leftover mashed potatoes, make your favorite mashed potatoes using about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of potatoes.

Cottage pie or shepherd's pie, what's the difference? A cottage pie is often called a shepherd's pie, but there's a difference. A true shepherd's pie is made with lamb, while a cottage pie is made with beef. 

Ingredients

  • 3 cups leftover roast beef, minced or finely diced

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 cup finely chopped onion

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 cups beef broth

  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 cup frozen peas and carrots

  • 1 dash salt, to taste

  • 1 dash freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 3 to 4 cups mashed potatoes, leftover or fresh, prepared with milk, butter, salt, and pepper)

  • 3 tablespoons sour cream, optional

  • 1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese

  • 1 dash sweet Hungarian paprika

Steps to Make It

  1. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish. Heat oven to 350 F.

  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the onion in the olive oil until softened and lightly browned.

  3. Add the beef and butter and saute for about 1 minute longer.

  4. Stir in the flour until blended.

  5. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, peas, and carrots.

  6. Add salt and pepper to taste.

  7. Spoon the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish.

  8. If using leftover mashed potatoes, warm them in a saucepan with a little butter or milk until softened.

  9. Stir sour cream and cheese into the potatoes.

  10. Spoon potatoes evenly over the beef layer and sprinkle lightly with paprika.

  11. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

  12. If desired, turn on the broiler to brown the top for just a minute or two, but watch carefully to prevent burning.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
715 Calories
35g Fat
52g Carbs
46g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 715
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 35g 45%
Saturated Fat 12g 62%
Cholesterol 127mg 42%
Sodium 2788mg 121%
Total Carbohydrate 52g 19%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 46g
Vitamin C 28mg 142%
Calcium 301mg 23%
Iron 5mg 29%
Potassium 2035mg 43%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)