Description
A comforting and hearty Guinness Cottage Pie, featuring a savory ground beef filling enriched with Guinness beer and vegetables, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Filling
- 1 pound ground beef (85/15 or leaner)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 8 ounces Guinness beer (or beef broth)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cups frozen peas and carrots
Mashed Potatoes
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and halved or quartered
- ½ cup heavy cream or milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Optional Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Begin cooking the potatoes by placing them in boiling water to prepare for the mashed potato topping while you prepare the meat filling.
- Cook the Meat Filling: In a 10-inch oven-safe skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef along with the diced onion. Season with salt and pepper. Add the butter and minced garlic, cooking until fragrant. Stir in the all-purpose flour to help thicken the mixture, then pour in the Guinness beer (or beef broth), Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and dried thyme. Add the frozen peas and carrots and cook for a few minutes to combine flavors, then remove from heat.
- Mash the Potatoes: Boil the peeled potatoes until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain and return the potatoes to the pot. Mash them thoroughly while gradually stirring in heavy cream or milk until smooth and creamy. Mix in butter, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Assemble and Bake: Evenly spread the mashed potatoes over the meat filling in the oven-safe skillet. Place the skillet uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the pie is heated through and the top is lightly golden and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, and serve the pie hot for a deliciously comforting meal.
Notes
- Using Guinness beer adds a rich depth of flavor, but substituting beef broth is a great alternative.
- Russet potatoes are ideal for mashing due to their starchy texture; avoid waxy potatoes to achieve fluffy mash.
- Cook the meat filling in an oven-safe skillet to avoid transferring during baking, which keeps cleanup simple.
- For a smoother mashed potato topping, you can pass the potatoes through a ricer before adding cream and butter.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
