A family favourite Beef & Spinach Cottage Pie topped with cheesy mashed potato!
This quick and easy dinner is loaded with vegetables and will be on the table in just 35 minutes!
This post is sponsored by Hello Fresh
If you're looking for a quick, easy and comforting family dinner, then this classic Beef & Spinach Cottage Pie is just what you need.
A rich veggie-packed beef filling topped with cheesy mashed potato and then grilled until golden and delicious!
Just like my Devilled Sausages, Beef Burgers and Mexican Tortilla Lasagne recipes, this simple pie is perfect for feeding hungry families on busy weeknights!
Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
This simple beef cottage pie is such a favourite in our house!
- Kid-friendly - this classic recipe is a guaranteed winner with the kids! The flavour and texture makes it perfect for toddlers and kids (even the fussiest of eaters love it!).
- Gluten-free - beef cottage pie is naturally gluten-free making it a great option for those following a gluten-free diet.
- Ready in 35 minutes - perfect for busy weeknights, this beef pie will be ready to serve in just over half an hour!
- Made from basic ingredients - using pantry and fridge staple ingredients makes this family dinner a budget-friendly option.
- Freezer-friendly - found yourself with leftovers? No problem! Store them in the fridge for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
What You Need
Our beef cottage pie is made entirely from basic ingredients.
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.
For The Cheesy Mash
- Potatoes - 4 medium/large, peeled and chopped into chunks. Choose a variety of potatoes suitable for mashing (such as white Sebago, Desiree, Dutch Cream or Pontiac potatoes).
- Butter - use salted or unsalted butter.
- Milk - while you can use skim/light milk, full cream milk is best as it gives a richer, creamier taste.
- Salt - just a pinch.
- Cheese - mix grated cheddar cheese through the mashed potato (and add an additional sprinkle over the top before grilling for the ultimate cheesy finish!).
For The Beef & Spinach Filling
- Olive oil.
- Onions - 4 medium brown onions, finely diced.
- Garlic - you can use fresh garlic cloves and crush them yourself, or use jarred minced garlic. Note: 1 teaspoon of minced garlic = 1 fresh clove.
- Celery - use 2 celery stalks, wash and dice finely.
- Carrots - use 2 medium/large carrots, peel then grate.
- Beef mince - you can use regular or lean beef mince for this recipe.
- Tomato paste - for a rich and intense tomato flavour.
- Beef stock powder - use a good quality brand (such as Vegeta)
- Baby spinach leaves - these will wilt down to virtually nothing once heated with the beef filling (perfect for fussy eaters!).
Equipment Required
To make this Beef & Spinach Cottage Pie with Cheesy Mash, you will need:
- Medium saucepan
- Frying pan
- Baking dish
- Oven/grill.
Step By Step Instructions
It's SO easy to make beef cottage pie at home!
Just 15 minutes prep time and ready to eat in just 35 minutes!
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.
Step 1 - Prepare The Cheesy Mash
Bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to the boil.
Once boiling, add peeled and chopped potatoes and cook for 15 minutes or until they can be easily pierced with a fork.
Drain the potatoes and return to the saucepan.
Add the butter, milk and salt and mash until smooth.
Add the grated cheese and mix to combine.
Cover and set aside to keep warm.
Step 2 - Cook The Vegetables
In a large frying pan over high heat, add 1 tbs of olive oil and cook the diced onion and grated celery and carrot for 5 minutes or until softened.
Set aside in a separate bowl.
Step 3 - Brown The Beef
Wipe the frying pan clean and add 1 tbs of olive oil.
Cook the beef and minced garlic for 3 minutes, using a spoon to break up any chunks of mince as you go.
Step 3 - Cook The Filling
Add the tomato paste, water and beef stock powder. Stir to combine.
Add the reserved vegetables and the baby spinach leaves and stir just until the spinach leaves have wilted.
Step 4 - Grill The Cottage Pie
Pour the beef filling into a medium baking dish.
Spread the cheesy mash over the top of the filling.
Add a little extra grated cheese on top before grilling (optional).
Place under a grill set to medium-high for 5-7 minutes or until the mash is golden.
TIP: If you don't have a separate grill, use the grill setting in your oven and place the baking dish on a high rack near the grill.
Expert Tips
- Choose a variety of potatoes that is best for mashing (such as white Sebago, Desiree or Pontiac potatoes).
- Save time by starting to prep and cook the vegetables and mince while the potatoes cook.
- You can use store bought liquid beef stock in place of the stock powder and water.
- Setting the vegetables aside in a separate bowl allows the beef to brown.
- If your beef filling seems too thick, add a small dash of water and stir through.
- For an extra cheesy mash, add an additional sprinkle of grated cheese over the top of the mash before grilling.
- You can place the baking dish directly under a grill. Alternatively, use the grill setting in your oven and place the dish on a high rack (close to the grill).
- Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat beef cottage pie in the microwave or oven until piping hot in the centre.
- Freeze any leftovers for up to 3 months. Allow to defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
FAQs
Here in Australia, white Sebago, Desiree, Dutch Cream or Pontiac potatoes are great for mashing. Russet and Yukon Gold are also popular varieties for mashing but not readily available in Australia.
While they're very similar, cottage pie traditionally is made with beef whereas Shepherd's pie is made with lamb.
This beef cottage pie is packed with vegetables making it an entire meal on it's own! However, you can also serve it with garlic bread, lightly steamed greens, roasted vegetables or even a simple green salad.
Related Recipes
Need kid-approved, quick and easy family dinners on the table in no time?
Here's a few of my most popular simple weeknight dinners:
Hello Fresh
This Beef & Spinach Cottage Pie is available from Hello Fresh in their range of home delivered meal kits.
Order your meals via the Hello Fresh website or on their app and have them delivered straight to your door.
With over 20 easy to follow, pre-measured meals to choose from each week, Hello Fresh is a great option for those who would like to take the stress out of meal planning and grocery shopping, all the while saving time and money too!
Using fresh, seasonal ingredients, the Hello Fresh meal kits are the perfect option for easy and delicious customisable family meals.
WANT EVEN MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Facebook or Instagram. And if you love baking, then please come and join my Facebook cooking club group or subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Beef & Spinach Cottage Pie with Cheesy Mash
Ingredients
For The Cheesy Mash
- 4 potatoes medium/large
- 80 g butter
- 4 tbs milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 80 g cheddar cheese grated
For The Beef & Spinach Filling
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 brown onions medium
- 4 garlic cloves or 4 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 stalks celery diced finely
- 2 carrots medium/large, peeled and grated
- 500 g beef mince
- 140 g tomato paste
- 2 teaspoon beef stock powder or use ½ cup liquid beef stock and omit the water
- ½ cup water
- 100 g baby spinach leaves
Instructions
- Bring a medium saucepan of lightly salted water to the boil. Peel the potatoes and cut into chunks. Once the water is boiling, add the potatoes and cook for 15 minutes (or until they can be easily pierced with a fork).
- Drain the potatoes well, then return to the saucepan. Add the butter, milk and salt and mash until smooth. Mix through the grated cheese and cover (to keep the mash warm).
- Finely dice the brown onion and celery. Grate the carrot. Mince the garlic cloves.
- Heat 1 tbs of olive oil in a large frying pan over high heat.Add the onion, celery, carrot and a pinch of salt and cook (while stirring) for 5 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl and set aside.
- Return the frying pan to high heat and add 1 tbs of olive oil.Cook the beef mince and garlic for 3 minutes or until browned (use a spoon to break up the chunks of beef).
- Add the tomato paste, water and beef stock powder to the frying pan. Mix to combine.
- Add the reserved vegetables and the baby spinach leaves and stir for 1 minute or until the leaves have wilted. Note: if the filling seems too thick, add a small dash of water and stir through.
- Pour the beef filling into a medium baking dish. Spread the cheesy mash over the top. Add a little extra grated cheese on top before grilling (optional).
- Place under a grill (or into an oven with the grill setting on medium-high) for 5-7 minutes or until the mash is golden on top.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Choose a variety of potatoes that is best for mashing (such as white Sebago, Desiree, Dutch Cream or Pontiac)
- Save time by starting to prep and cook the vegetables and mince while the potatoes cook.
- You can use liquid beef stock in place of the stock powder and water.
- Setting the vegetables aside in a separate bowl allows the beef to brown.
- If your beef filling seems too thick, add a small dash of water and stir through.
- For an extra cheesy mash, add an additional sprinkle of grated cheese over the top of the mash before grilling.
- You can place the baking dish directly under a grill. Alternatively, use the grill setting in your oven and place the dish on a high rack (close to the grill).
- Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat in the microwave or oven until piping hot in the centre.
- Freeze any leftovers for up to 3 months. Allow to defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
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