Cottage Pie with Mashed Potatoes
A comforting British classic featuring a savory beef and vegetable filling topped with creamy potatoes. This British-inspired quick recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, layers ground beef, onion, carrots 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 480 calories and feeds 4, 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 pound ground beef
- 1 medium, finely chopped onion
- 2, diced carrots
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 medium, peeled and cubed potatoes
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Boil potatoes in salted water for 15-20 minutes until fork-tender. Drain, then mash with milk and butter until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Step 2: Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Add onions and carrots, cooking for 5 minutes until softened.
- Step 3: Stir in tomato paste, beef broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add peas and simmer for 2 minutes. Transfer to a baking dish.
- Step 4: Spread mashed potatoes evenly over filling. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
