Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Slow Cooker Cottage Pie is a hands-off recipe that delivers a satisfying, comforting meal with minimal effort. The combination of seasoned ground beef, vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes makes for a complete meal that the whole family will enjoy. Plus, using a slow cooker means you can set it and forget it, with dinner ready when you are. The dish is flavorful and versatile, allowing for different ingredient variations to suit your preferences.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Potatoes – peeled and quartered Yukon Gold potatoes
- Butter – unsalted
- Milk – any type (2% recommended)
- Salt/Black Pepper – to taste
- Ground Beef – 80/20 or any preferred variety
- Onion – large yellow onion, chopped
- Garlic – minced
- Tomato Paste – or tomato puree
- Mushrooms – optional, sliced
- Carrots – chopped, use baby carrots if preferred
- Beef Stock – for a rich base
- Dry White Wine – for added depth of flavor
- Worcestershire Sauce – enhances the gravy
- Thyme/Parsley – fresh or dried
- Frozen Peas – or your choice of vegetables
- Cheese – shredded Monterey Jack, or your choice (Cheddar, Mozzarella, etc.)
Directions
- Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for 10-15 minutes until tender. Drain, mash, and add butter and milk to reach the desired consistency. Stir in salt and pepper to taste.
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until the beef is browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, carrots, beef stock, wine, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until most of the liquid evaporates. Stir in peas and season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the beef mixture into a greased slow cooker. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly on top. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, or until bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until melted. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: 6-8
- Cook Time: 5-6 hours on low in the slow cooker
Variations
- Substitute ground lamb for the beef for a more traditional Shepherd’s Pie.
- Use lentils and vegetable broth for a vegetarian option.
- Swap in your favorite vegetables like red peppers, broccoli, or green beans.
- Change up the cheese to your liking—Mozzarella, Cheddar, or Gruyere all work well.
Storage/Reheating
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- For longer storage, freeze the cottage pie in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until heated through.
FAQs
How can I make the mashed potatoes ahead of time?
You can prepare the mashed potatoes a day before and store them in the fridge. Just spread them over the meat mixture in the slow cooker before cooking.
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Yes, ground turkey is a great alternative for a leaner version of this dish.
What can I substitute for Worcestershire sauce?
You can use soy sauce or balsamic vinegar as a substitute for Worcestershire sauce.
How do I thicken the gravy if it’s too runny?
If the gravy is too watery, you can let it simmer a bit longer to reduce the liquid. Alternatively, mix a small amount of cornstarch with water and stir it into the gravy to thicken it.
Can I make this in the oven instead of a slow cooker?
Yes, you can bake it in the oven at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and the top is golden brown.
Can I use instant mashed potatoes?
Yes, you can use instant mashed potatoes if you want to save time on the preparation.
Can I make this dish vegetarian?
Yes, use lentils and vegetable broth in place of the ground beef and beef stock.
Can I add other vegetables to the filling?
Absolutely! You can add peas, corn, or any other vegetable of your choice.
What kind of cheese works best for topping?
Monterey Jack is a good choice, but you can also use Cheddar, Mozzarella, or Gruyere based on your preference.
How do I avoid a soggy pie?
Make sure to cook the filling until most of the liquid has evaporated, and avoid adding too much beef stock.
Conclusion
This Slow Cooker Cottage Pie is the ultimate comfort food, bringing together savory beef, vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes in a way that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or looking for a meal that’s easy to prepare ahead of time, this dish is sure to satisfy. With simple ingredients and minimal effort, it’s a recipe you’ll want to add to your regular meal rotation. Enjoy!
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Slow Cooker Cottage Pie
- Total Time: 5.5-6.5 hours
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Slow Cooker Cottage Pie is the ultimate comfort food, featuring seasoned ground beef, vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes. Perfect for a cozy dinner or a family gathering, this dish cooks effortlessly in a slow cooker. Enjoy tender beef, rich gravy, and a golden mashed potato topping that will make everyone ask for seconds.
Ingredients
- 4–5 Yukon Gold potatoes (peeled and quartered)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup milk (2% recommended)
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or preferred variety)
- 1 large yellow onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
- 2 carrots (chopped)
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or fresh)
- 1 cup frozen peas (or choice of vegetables)
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or choice of cheese)
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Mashed Potatoes: In a large saucepan, cover potatoes with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 10-15 minutes until tender. Drain and mash potatoes with butter, milk, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Cook the Beef: In a skillet, cook ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until beef is browned. Drain excess fat.
- Make the Filling: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, carrots, beef stock, wine, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until liquid reduces. Stir in peas and season with salt and pepper.
- Assemble in Slow Cooker: Transfer the beef mixture to a greased slow cooker and spread the mashed potatoes evenly on top. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours until bubbly.
- Top with Cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of mashed potatoes and cook for an additional 10 minutes until melted. Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground lamb for beef for a more traditional Shepherd’s Pie.
- For a vegetarian version, use lentils and vegetable broth instead of beef.
- Feel free to swap in your favorite vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, or green beans.
- The cheese topping can be customized with cheddar, mozzarella, or Gruyere.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-6 hours on low
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
