Easy Irish Cottage Pie Filling Recipe (2024)

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This traditional Irish Cottage Pie Filling recipe is an easy and tasty comfort food meal everyone loves. This family favorite is made with ground beef (mince) and vegetables baked in a delicious gravy filling topped with pastry and baked until perfectly golden brown.

Easy Irish Cottage Pie Filling Recipe (1)

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And did I mention that this hearty recipe is customizable to your family? Love shepherd’s pie? Swap the beef for lamb and top with mashed potatoes for a delicious variation on this classic formula. Or to make a Classic Cottage Pie, swap the pastry for the potatoes.

What is the Difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd’s Pie?

The difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd’s Pie is a variation of ingredients and geography.

Shepherd’s Pie is generally made with lamb and is widely known as an Irish dish. In fact, Irish Pubs all over Ireland serve this delicious, loved dish.

Cottage Pie, on the other hand, is most often made with beef. It’s also known to be an English dish.

Both traditional versions are topped with mashed potatoes, but I’ve gone for something different which I think takes this Irish Cottage Pie Filling to the next level!

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So… why is this recipe called Irish Cottage Pie?

That’s a great question!

The reason is that this dish is inspired by a recipe I found at The Irish Times newspaper. Their version contains “stewing steak” as they call it. I wanted to add some savory ingredients, additional vegetables and make it quicker by using ground beef.

With this title, Irish Cottage Pie, I’m taking some creative liberty and wanting to give credit to the original source too! Regardless, my family loves the end product and I’m sure your family will too!

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Ingredients

Meat: 1 pound of ground beef, I like to use lean.

Vegetables: onions, carrots, and one package of sliced mushrooms.

Pantry staples: flour, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, Dijon mustard, thyme leaves (fresh or dried)

Other Ingredients: 1 sheet of store-bought puff pastry and an egg for a pastry wash.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this more traditional by using mashed potatoes instead?

Yes! Simply spread prepared mashed potato over the top of the baking dish, and fluff the top up with a fork so you get plenty of nice crispy bits on top!

What size baking dish should I use?

You can use a 2.5 to 3 quart pan (9” x 13”). I used an oval baking dish in the photos that is about a 2.5 quarts. However, anything that is close to that size should work – if the pastry does not quite fit, you can always roll it out a little thinner.

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A few more recipes you might enjoy:

  • Old Fashioned Irish Lamb Stew with Root Vegetables
  • Easy Traditional Irish Colcannon Recipe with Green Cabbage
  • Baked Salmon with Easy Dill Cream Sauce
  • Irish Skillet Apple Cake
  • Irish Shortbread Cookies with Currants

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Easy Irish Cottage Pie Filling Recipe (6)

Easy Irish Cottage Pie Filling

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

This Irish Cottage Pie Filling recipe is an easy and tasty comfort food meal everyone loves. This family favorite is made with ground beef (mince) and vegetables baked in a delicious gravy filling topped with pastry and baked until perfectly golden brown.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 package of mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 cups finely chopped onion
  • 2 carrots, diced small
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 1/2 cup beef stock
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 tsp dried)
  • 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
  • 1 egg, lightly whisked

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and thaw one sheet of puff pastry.
  2. Place the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet set over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and carrots; saute just until they begin to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and mushrooms; cook until browned, about 3 minutes.
  3. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continue cooking for another minute, stirring constantly. Then add the tomato paste, stock, Worcestershire, mustard, salt, pepper, and thyme; stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly.
  4. Meanwhile, roll out the thawed puff pastry until it fits the size of your baking dish. I like to trace my baking dish on the sheet of puff pastry so that it fits perfectly cutting it out using a sharp knife or pastry cutter.
  5. When the beef filling is cooked, transfer it to the baking dish. Top with the puff pastry, making sure it that it comes to the edges. The pastry will shrink slightly when baked. Whisk the egg slightly and brush over the pastry.
  6. Place the cottage pie on a parchment-lined sheet pan and bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until the puff pastry is nicely browned. Let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

If you'd like to make this recipe more traditional by topping with mashed potato, spread it over the meat filling and rough the top up with a fork to make sure you get plenty of nice crispy bits on top!

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 295Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 272mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 25g

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Easy Irish Cottage Pie Filling Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does cottage pie contain gravy? ›

There is quite often confusion over the difference between Shepherd's Pie and Cottage Pie. Both are made the same way – a beef mince filling in a gravy sauce that is topped with mashed potato, sprinkled with parmesan then baked.

How do you thicken shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

What are the ingredients in Sainsbury's cottage pie? ›

INGREDIENTS: Mashed Potato (Potato, Butter (Cows' Milk), Cows' Milk, Salt, White Pepper), Beef (20%), Water, Onion, Carrot, Cornflour, Beef Juices, Fortified Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Salt, Colour: Plain Caramel; Yeast Extract, Black Pepper, Caramelised Sugar Syrup, Tomato ...

What ingredient thickens pie filling? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.

How long does homemade cottage pie last? ›

If you're storing leftover cottage pie in the fridge, we recommend not leaving it for more than 3 days. However, you can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months, making it perfect for prep-ahead dinners.

Does cottage pie contain tomato? ›

This special blend of onions, tomatoes and thyme quickly creates a rich, beefy cottage pie the whole family will enjoy!

What are the ingredients in M&S cottage pie? ›

Product Description: British minced beef, carrots and celery braised in gravy and topped with mashed potato.

What is creamy gravy made of? ›

In a matter of minutes, you can whip up white gravy in a saucepan for the perfect creamy, savory topping for your favorite dishes. This basic sauce is prepared with ingredients you likely already have on hand: butter, flour, milk, salt, and pepper. For a bit of heat, a pinch of cayenne can be added as well.

Why put flour in cottage pie? ›

The cornflour is used to thicken the mince, if you don't have any, you can continue without, reduce it for longer, or add a little plain flour. Remove the bay leaf, and spoon the mixture into a pie dish – I generally try to keep the ratio of potatoes to beef mixture about 60/40.

Why is my cottage pie filling too runny? ›

dissolve a little corn starch (a teaspoon or so) in cold water and add to the stock.

How do you make cottage pie less watery? ›

Flour power

A classic thickening method for a classic dish. A few tablespoons of flour, cooked-out so you can't taste it, turns a thin sauce into a velvety gravy of dreams.

What is Irish shepherd's pie made of? ›

I never shy away from the excuse to celebrate anything Irish. What's not to love about shepherd's pie? It's got ground beef, or lamb, with mushrooms, onion, corn, peas and carrots cooked in a delicious gravy sauce that's topped with a mashed potato crust that's baked in the oven.

Is cottage pie good for you? ›

It's hearty, nourishing and packed with vegetables and flavour. Each serving provides 483 kcal, 32.5g protein, 51g carbohydrates (of which 16.5g sugars), 14g fat (of which 6g saturates), 12g fibre and 1.2g salt.

Does cottage pie contain cheese? ›

This cottage pie made with savory ground beef, carrots, and onions is topped with fluffy mashed potato and Cheddar for a cheesy, comforting dinner the whole family will love. Serve with garden peas. Cozy up with this English cottage pie recipe.

What does shepherds pie contain? ›

It's traditionally made with minced meat (usually ground lamb), gravy, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. You may also hear it called "cottage pie." The two terms are used interchangeably, but technically traditional shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb and traditional cottage pie is made with ground beef.

What are the four basic ingredients in baking pies? ›

There are four ingredients in a standard pie crust: flour, fat, liquid, and salt.

Does cottage pie contain vegetables? ›

The main difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd's pie is cottage pie uses ground beef, and Shepherd's pie uses ground lamb. Both pies are cooked with vegetables and gravy and baked under a layer of mashed potatoes.

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