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

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).

Does cottage pie contain gravy? ›

Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 45 mins. By this time the gravy should be thick and coating the meat. Check after about 30 mins – if a lot of liquid remains, increase the heat slightly to reduce the gravy a little. Season well, then discard the bay leaves and thyme stalks.

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 ...

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? ›

"Shepherd's Pie is one the most traditional Irish dishes I know of," she said. Culhane said the meal became popular in Ireland for a simple reason: It's easy to make, it makes a lot and it's cheap. Although there are many variations, most Shepherd's Pies are made with ground meat, potatoes, carrots, peas and onions.

What is the difference between cottage pie and shepherd's pie? ›

The only significant and steady difference between shepherd's pie and cottage pie is the type of meat used. Shepherd's pie traditionally features ground lamb; cottage pie recipes call for ground beef.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Raisins are first plumped in a mixture of water, sugar, flour, vanilla, lemon juice, and butter. Then the filling is poured into a prepared pastry crust, topped with another crust and baked. Serve it with scoops of rum raisin ice cream.

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.

What is British cottage pie? ›

Traditional in Britain, a Cottage Pie referred to a beef layer topped with slices of potato (recreating the tiles of a cottage) and a shepherds pie referred to a lamb layer with mash on top.

Why 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 tomato? ›

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

Where is Shepherd's pie originally from? ›

The dish originates from the British Isles, but some might argue that it is an Irish dish by origin. The name "Shepherd's Pie" was first recorded in an 1877 cookbook. In this same cookbook, it was noted that the dish was of Scottish origin. During the period between the 18th and 19th centuries, money was very tight.

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

More recently "shepherd's pie" has generally been used for a potato-topped dish of minced lamb. According to the Oxford Companion to Food, "In keeping with the name, the meat should be mutton or lamb; and it is usually cooked meat left over from a roast".

Where is shepherds pie made from? ›

shepherd's pie, dish of British Isles origin that makes use of vegetables and chopped meat cooked in a casserole topped with or surrounded by mashed potatoes.

Is banger and mash Irish? ›

Bangers and mash is a quintessential British dish of sausage and mashed potatoes, typically served with onion gravy. It's roots extend to Ireland where you'll find the dish in many local pubs. I found “Irish Style Banger Sausages” at my whole foods and knew I had to try them out.

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