Super-Easy Cottage Pie

Super-Easy Cottage Pie

meaty bolognese topped with smooth and buttery mashed potato

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 10m
Cook Time: 1h 40m
Total Time: 1h 50m
Temp.: 390 °F
Servings: 6
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (11 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

2131
Calories
23.8g
Fat
31.2g
Carbohydrates
40.5g
Protein
122mg
Cholesterol
923mg
Sodium
Super-Easy Cottage Pie

Recipe Description

Always a winner, my Super-Easy Cottage Pie is the perfect dish to serve up for a weeknight dinner or Saturday night in. There’s one little thing I want to clarify first. What’s the difference between a cottage pie and a shepherd’s pie? They often get mixed up, but there’s one simple difference between these traditional pies: the meat in cottage pie is beef and in shepherd’s pie, it’s lamb. Both are delicious!

There’s no better combination than a meaty bolognese mixture, rich with tomatoes, onion and garlic, topped with smooth and buttery mashed potato and finished with bubbling golden brown Cheddar cheese. Heaven in every mouthful!

To make Super-Easy Cottage Pie, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Super-Easy Cottage Pie

Recipe Features

No specific features for this recipe

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Heat the oven and prepare a baking dish

    10 min
    Step 1 - Super-Easy Cottage Pie

    Preheat the oven to 390 °F. Lightly grease a casserole dish.

  2. 2

    Brown the beef

    15 min
    Step 2 - Super-Easy Cottage PieStep 2 - Super-Easy Cottage Pie

    Place a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Heat the oil and then cook the ground beef for 8-10 minutes until browned, in batches if needed. Use a wooden spoon to break the beef down. Drain off the excess fat and place the beef in a bowl.

  3. 3

    Cook the onion and garlic

    3 min
    Step 3 - Super-Easy Cottage PieStep 3 - Super-Easy Cottage Pie

    Add the onion and garlic to the same skillet and cook for 3 minutes until translucent.

  4. 4

    Add the beef and gravy powder

    1 min
    Step 4 - Super-Easy Cottage Pie

    Add the cooked beef back into the pan, along with the gravy powder. Cook and stir for 1 minute.

  5. 5

    Add the broth and canned tomatoes

    30 min
    Step 5 - Super-Easy Cottage PieStep 5 - Super-Easy Cottage Pie

    Add the broth and tomatoes to the pan, mix together and then bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, giving it an occasional stir, until the mixture has thickened.

  6. 6

    Cook the potatoes

    15 min
    Step 6 - Super-Easy Cottage PieStep 6 - Super-Easy Cottage Pie

    In the meantime, bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Add the potatoes and cook for 10-12 minutes until tender.

  7. 7

    Mash the potatoes

    5 min
    Step 7 - Super-Easy Cottage PieStep 7 - Super-Easy Cottage Pie

    Once cooked, drain the potatoes and mash them in the pan until smooth. Stir in the butter and milk until the butter has melted.

  8. 8

    Assemble the cottage pie

    5 min
    Step 8 - Super-Easy Cottage PieStep 8 - Super-Easy Cottage PieStep 8 - Super-Easy Cottage Pie

    Pour the beef mixture into the casserole dish. Spread the mashed potato over the top and sprinkle the grated cheese over the potato.

  9. 9

    Bake the pie

    25 min
    Step 9 - Super-Easy Cottage Pie

    Bake the pie for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling. Serve immediately.

Serve my Super-Easy Cottage Pie with some freshly cooked veggies, like broccoli, carrots and green beans or why not carb-load with some buttery garlic bread! I hope you like this easy recipe - let me know how you get on below!

About the author

Jeff O'connor

Jeff is a 38-year-old bachelor who prefers not to waste his time on salads and light meals. He’s a true carnivore who knows how to enjoy food to the max! Jeff will tell you how to cook rich and filling meals from scratch, bringing some real meaty decadence to your kitchen. His recipes are sure to satisfy every meat lover!

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (11 reviews)
Katherine
April 27, 2025
Verified

So easy, delicious! I made this Cottage Pie for my family after a long week, and it was a hit. My kids loved the cheesy top, and it warmed our hearts. It's now a regular in our meal rotation. Thank you for this simple recipe!

Olivia Johnson
October 7, 2024
Verified

Super easy and delish! My kids loved it and asked for seconds.

Leo
February 22, 2024
Verified

Made this cottage pie for our first anniversary. It was easy and soooo delicious.

Kathy
October 21, 2023
Verified

OMG, this Super-Easy Cottage Pie is a total lifesaver! Made it for the fam on a busy weeknight. Everyone gobbled it up like it was the best thing ever. The cheesy top? *Chef’s kiss*! Can’t wait to whip it up again! #FamilyFav

Nate
October 5, 2023
Verified

Man, this Super-Easy Cottage Pie is off the charts! My fam devoured it like it was their last meal. Made it on a Saturday and it was a total hit. Easy peasy and so tasty with that cheesy crust!

Emily
July 22, 2023
Verified

This Super-Easy Cottage Pie is totally delish! I made it last weekend for the fam, and it was gone in a flash. My kids loved the cheesy top, and it took hardly any time to throw together. We can’t wait to have it again. It’s now on our weekly menu for sure.

Fiona Bright
January 12, 2022
Verified

Delish! I made this for my first ever dinner party, and everyone adored it. The flavors are just so rich. It was super easy to make, and I felt like a pro in the kitchen! Definitely a recipe I’ll keep in my rotation!

Maggie
March 30, 2020
Verified

I made the Super-Easy Cottage Pie for a cozy dinner while watching my favorite movie. The rich flavors of the beef and creamy mashed potatoes took me back to family gatherings. It's so simple yet delicious, I’ll definitely be making this again.

Nick
March 21, 2020
Verified

This cottage pie is now a family favorite. Made it for my wife on date night, and she loved it! So easy to prepare.

Zacharie Dupont
July 17, 2019
Verified

Superb dish! Easy peasy for fam dinners, big hit with my kids.

Athina
April 21, 2019
Verified

Thank you, Jeff!

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