Where can I find prepared mashed potatoes?

They are usually in the dairy section of your grocery store, and I find them to be a pretty good alternative to homemade. Especially since we are going to mix in some cheddar for extra flavor!

Can this be made ahead of time?

It can! Make it all the way up through Step 6, and when you are ready to serve, bring it to room temperature and do the baking part.

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

This casserole is often called shepherd's pie (including by me!), but technically shepherd's pie is made with lamb. If you make it with beef, it's called cottage pie.

Have a question that I didn't cover?

Pop your question in the Comments section below and I promise to answer pronto!

Cheesy Cottage Pie

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This comfort food recipe for cheesy cottage pie features a beef and veggie filled casserole topped with cheesy mashed potatoes!

Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 6 1x
Category: Dinner
Method: Oven, Stovetop
Cuisine: Irish

Ingredients

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4 cups mashed potatoes (either store-bought or homemade. I like The Pioneer Woman’s recipe)
Sea salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
6 medium carrots, cut into halves and then quarters
6 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 pounds ground beef
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar (as always, I love Cabot!)
4 cups mashed potatoes, either store-bought or homemade. I love this recipe from the Pioneer Woman.

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Instructions

Heat oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat.
Add carrots, celery, onion, and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
Add flour and tomato paste and stir for 1 minute.
Add beef and cook until browned. Add 1 cup water, bring to a boil, and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 450. Mix 1 cup of cheddar into mashed potatoes. Put the beef mixture into a large casserole and spread mashed potatoes over the top of it. Scatter 1/2 cup cheese over the top.
Bake until golden and bubbling, about 15-20 minutes. Let it cool slightly and then serve!

Equipment We Used to Make This Recipe

Notes

Need to add something to your kitchen equipment to make this recipe? Below are some of the items we used in the Framed Cooks kitchen to help cook this up. These are affiliate links to things we use and love, which helps to pay for all that bacon I keep buying (without any extra cost to you)! Thanks for using them to keep our kitchen cooking…xoxo!

Keywords: kid friendly cheddar topped cottage pie, how to make cottage pie, cottage pie recipe

Find it online: https://www.framedcooks.com/cheesy-cottage-pie/