🍽️ Hearty and Cheesy Loaded Shepherd’s Pie (Cottage Pie)
Overview
This is the ultimate comfort food classic: a rich and savory Shepherd’s Pie—or more accurately, a Cottage Pie since it uses ground beef—elevated with a creamy, cheesy mashed potato topping and crispy bacon bits. This dish is perfect for a cozy family dinner and is substantial enough to be a complete meal. It’s a wonderful way to use simple ingredients to create a deeply satisfying, freezer-friendly, and hearty dish that the whole family will love.
⭐ Why This Recipe is a Winner
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Ultimate Comfort Food: Layers of savory beef, fluffy potatoes, and melted cheese.
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Easy to Scale: Perfect for feeding a crowd or prepping for leftovers.
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Freezer Friendly: Great for making ahead and freezing for busy nights.
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High-Protein Meal: A complete, satisfying, and filling dinner option.
📝 Ingredients
For the Savory Meat Filling (The Heart):
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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1 large yellow onion, chopped
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2 pounds (approx. 900g) lean ground beef (for Cottage Pie) or ground lamb (for traditional Shepherd’s Pie)
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1 cup chopped carrots and/or celery (optional, for flavor depth)
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1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
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1 teaspoon dried thyme
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1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper
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1/4 cup all-purpose flour
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2 cups beef broth (low sodium)
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1/2 cup frozen peas (added at the end)
For the Cheesy Mashed Potato Topping (The Crown):
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4 pounds (approx. 1.8kg) Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
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1/2 cup milk or heavy cream, warmed
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1/4 cup (1/2 stick or 56g) butter
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1 teaspoon salt and pepper
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1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (divided)
For the “Loaded” Garnish:
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1/2 cup crispy cooked bacon, crumbled (or ground sausage/pancetta)
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1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
