Cottage Pie with Garlic Mashed Potato Topping

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-09 · Updated 2026-05-09

A comforting classic featuring savory ground beef and vegetables baked under a fluffy garlic mashed potato crust. This British-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, layers ground beef, carrot, onion into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium, diced carrot
• 1 medium, diced onion
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 lbs, peeled and quartered potatoes
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Baking dishes worth owning for casseroles like this → Best Bakeware for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Boil 2 lbs peeled and quartered potatoes in salted water for 20 minutes until tender.
2. Step 2: While potatoes cook, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb ground beef and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking into crumbles until browned. Remove excess fat.
3. Step 3: Add 1 diced medium onion and 1 diced medium carrot to the beef, sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and 1 tbsp all-purpose flour, cooking for 1 minute to remove raw flour taste.
5. Step 5: Pour in 1 cup beef broth and 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, simmer for 5 minutes until mixture thickens slightly. Fold in 1 cup frozen peas and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
6. Step 6: Drain potatoes and mash with 4 tbsp butter, 1/2 cup milk, and 3 minced garlic cloves until smooth and creamy.
7. Step 7: Transfer beef mixture to a 9x9 inch baking dish and spread evenly. Top with mashed potatoes, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
8. Step 8: Bake for 20 minutes at 400°F until the potato topping is golden around the edges and the filling bubbles.
9. Step 9: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to set flavors.