Cottage Pie - Master Cookbook Recipe # 53

Name: Cottage Pie - Master Cookbook Recipe # 53
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 6-8
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 5 lbs. Russet potatoes, peeled and cut; 1/4 cup salted butter; 1/4 cup sour cream; 3/4 cup milk; 2 tsp salt; 3/4 tsp black pepper; 1 1/2 lbs. ground chuck (or ground beef); 1 small onion, diced; 2 (15 oz.) cans mixed vegetables (reserve the liquid); 1/2 cup McCormick brown gravy mix; 1 tsp Weber Steak & Chop seasoning; 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

This dish is the ultimate comfort food. While often used interchangeably, Tammy notes the distinction: Cottage Pie uses beef, while Shepherd’s Pie traditionally uses lamb. This version features a savory beef filling topped with a mountain of light, fluffy mashed potatoes.

This is recipe #53 in Tammy’s Master Cookbook.

Prep time: 30 minCook time: 45 minTotal time: 1 hr 15 min

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Ingredients

For the Potatoes:
5 lbs. Russet potatoes, peeled and cut
1/4 cup salted butter
1/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup milk
2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp black pepper
For the Beef Filling:
1 1/2 lbs. ground chuck (or ground beef)
1 small onion, diced
2 (15 oz.) cans mixed vegetables (reserve the liquid)
1/2 cup McCormick brown gravy mix
1 tsp Weber Steak & Chop seasoning
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Make the Potatoes: Simmer the peeled and cut potatoes in a stockpot over medium heat for about 25 minutes or until tender. Drain well. Add the butter, sour cream, milk, salt, and pepper. Beat with a mixer until the potatoes are light and fluffy.
Brown the Beef: In a large skillet, brown the ground chuck with the diced onion. Drain any excess grease.
Create the Filling: Stir in the steak seasoning, gravy mix, Worcestershire sauce, and the liquid drained from the cans of mixed vegetables. Cook over medium heat until the liquid has evaporated and the meat is well-coated.
Assemble: Spray a baking dish (a 3-quart cast-iron skillet or a 9x13 dish works great).
Spread half of the mashed potatoes on the bottom.
Layer the drained mixed vegetables over the potatoes.
Add the beef mixture on top of the vegetables.
Spread the remaining potatoes over the top as the final layer.
Bake: Place in a 400°F oven and bake until the potato peaks are golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

Notes

Using a deep cast-iron skillet helps achieve those perfectly crisped edges!

Tip: For a beautiful presentation, use a fork to create ridges or "peaks" in the top layer of potatoes before baking; they will turn a lovely golden brown in the oven.