Description
This Guinness Cottage Pie is a comforting classic Irish-inspired dish featuring a savory ground beef filling enriched with Guinness beer and topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Perfectly baked until golden and bubbly, it’s a hearty, satisfying meal ideal for family dinners.
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
- Prepare for Cooking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Begin by preparing the potatoes for mashing as you prepare the meat filling.
- Make Meat Filling: In a 10-inch oven-safe skillet, cook the ground beef and diced onion over medium heat until the meat is browned and the onions softened. Season with salt and pepper. Add the butter and garlic and cook until fragrant. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir to combine. Slowly pour in the Guinness beer, stirring to deglaze the pan and incorporate all ingredients. Then stir in Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and dried thyme. Finally, mix in the frozen peas and carrots. Remove from heat once all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Make Mashed Potatoes: Boil the peeled and chopped potatoes in salted water until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well and return to the pot. Mash the potatoes until smooth, then mix in the heavy cream or milk, butter, salt, and pepper until creamy and seasoned to taste.
- Assemble and Bake: Evenly spread the mashed potatoes over the meat filling in the same oven-safe skillet. Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the topping is heated through and starts to turn golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot and enjoy this hearty, comforting dish.
Notes
- Guinness beer can be substituted with beef broth for a milder flavor.
- Use a potato masher or ricer for best results when mashing potatoes to ensure a creamy texture.
- Make sure the skillet is oven-safe to safely transfer from stovetop to oven.
- For extra richness, add a tablespoon of grated cheddar cheese on top before baking.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish
