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!

Easy Irish Cottage Pie Filling Recipe (2)

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.

Easy Irish Cottage Pie Filling Recipe (4)

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.

Easy Irish Cottage Pie Filling Recipe (5)

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? ›

Pour in the ale, bubble for a minute, then gradually stir in the stock. Leave everything to simmer gently for 1 hr until you have a tender mince in a rich gravy. Use a slotted spoon to lift the mince and vegetables into a large baking dish, leaving the residual gravy in the pan.

How do you stop a cottage pie from leaking? ›

To stop the mash leaking into the cottage pie filling below (and if you have time), let the meat cool before adding the potato topping. This recipe can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge well wrapped in cling film or kitchen foil.

What is pie filling made of? ›

Fruit, sugar, cornstarch, acid, extras. These are the only things you need to remember to turn out a perfect pie filling. You've already read our step-by-step guide to the flakiest, butteriest pie crust.

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 to thicken up a cottage pie? ›

After 10 minutes, stir in a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, then use a slotted spoon to scoop out the meat and vegetables, leaving the majority of the liquid behind in the pan (don't worry, there'll still be enough gravy in the pie itself if you use a slotted spoon).

What can I use instead of tomato paste in cottage pie? ›

How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Why does my cottage pie go sloppy? ›

I'd say either your mash or cottage pie sauce isn't thick enough. Do you add milk to your mashed potato? I've found that mash made with no milk added stays on top far better.

Why does my mash always sink in cottage pie? ›

Creamy ingredients like butter and milk are fine — just make sure to let your cooked potatoes dry for a while before you mash them. Residual moisture from the potatoes will drip into the beef below as it cooks, and too much of it will cause the potatoes to eventually sink.

Why is my cottage pie dry? ›

The right consistency for a meat sauce that mash can sit on can leave the finished pie on the dry side. So we've gone with a jug of extra gravy because, let's face it, who doesn't love extra gravy? See the full recipe for our next level cottage pie.

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.

What is Dolly Parton pie? ›

Calling all Dolly Parton fans! This dessert legendary holiday walnut pie is a delicious and easy play on a pecan pie using walnuts instead of pecans. A bit of sugar, corn syrup, and melted butter comes together as a smooth, subtle filling. Save the recipe for Thanksgiving, we are sure you'll enjoy it.

Why do Irish people eat shepherd's pie? ›

It's called cottage pie in the U.K. because they use beef and in Ireland since the shepherds tend sheep, it's shepherd's pie. No doubt, the English put out an excellent cottage pie, but in Ireland it used to be a delicacy since the Irish couldn't afford beef they repurposed any unused veggies and meat.

What is traditional cottage pie made of? ›

Cottage Pie – comfort food central! This English classic has a deeply savoury beef mince filling smothered in gravy topped with creamy mashed potato, baked until golden. One of the best cosy foods to make with ground beef!

Are the ingredients for shepherds pie? ›

Shepherd's Pie Ingredients

Here's what you'll need: Ground Beef: You could also ground lamb if you prefer. Mashed Potatoes: Use starchy potatoes (like russet or Yukon Gold) for the best mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are also made with butter, onion, and Cheddar cheese.

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.

What are the three basic ingredients of pies and pastries? ›

PIES AND PASTRIES. ppt
  • 1 Pies and Pastries.
  • 2 • PIES are baked goods that have a crust and filling • PASTRY comes from the word paste, meaning a dough mixture of flour, liquid, and fat.
  • 3 INGREDIENTS FOR MAKING PASTRIES 1. Flour 2. Shortening 3. Liquid 4. Salt.
  • TYPES OF PIE CRUST.
  • Flaky crust.
Mar 21, 2023

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