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.

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

What is shepherd's pie made of in Ireland? ›

It's a hearty dish with origins in the United Kingdom and Ireland composed of a ground meat cooked in gravy, onions, carrots, celery, and a mashed potato crust (can be top and bottom, or just top). I told you. It's a slam dunk meal for a cold St. Paddy's dinner.

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 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.

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.

What is the difference between Irish and British 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.

Why do Irish people eat shepherd's pie? ›

The dish was originally made as a means of using leftover roasted meat, particularly lamb or mutton, combined with vegetables and topped with mashed potatoes. It was a frugal and practical way for shepherds and rural communities to make the most of their available ingredients and avoid wasting any leftover meat.

What is British cottage pie? ›

Cottage pie or Shepherd's pie is a type of savory pie . It is made with minced meat , with mashed or sliced potato on top. It comes from the United Kingdom and Ireland .

Why does my cottage pie go sloppy? ›

It just sinks to the bottom, disintegrates and turns into slop. I'm not expert buy I would say your filling isn't thick enough or your potato needs bulking out with cheese. I'd say either your mash or cottage pie sauce isn't thick enough. Do you add milk to your mashed potato?

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 Aldi cottage pie? ›

Potato (47%), Beef (25%), Onion, Water, Carrot, Butter (𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤), 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲, Cornflour, 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐤, Worcester Sauce (Water, Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, Tamarind Extract, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Ginger Powder, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Ground Cloves, Chilli Powder), Beef Stock (Water, Beef Extract, Salt, Yeast Extract, Sugar, Beef ...

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 shepherd's pie soggy? ›

Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

Why does my shepherd's pie fall apart? ›

How do you keep shepherd's pie from falling apart? Make sure your casserole dish is the right size. You should also have firm mashed potatoes so it won't fall apart when you're serving. As you put the topping on, don't press too hard, using a gentle touch to smooth it out.

What is original shepherd's pie made of? ›

This traditional shepherd's pie recipe is made with a mixture of lamb and sirloin, lots of veggies, and a creamy, cheesy mashed potato topping ⁠— sure to delight everyone at the table! Nicole McLaughlin produces the educational and entertaining food series from Allrecipes; You Can Cook That.

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

Pie crusts are made from four basic ingredients: flour, fat, salt, and water. 2. Flour gives structure to the pastry.

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