Can cottage pie be frozen?
Yes! Cottage Pie is the perfect meal to make ahead of time and freeze, ready for when you need it. Simply follow the recipe steps and assemble the pie. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking, then cover with foil and bake at 200°C (400°F) (180°C/350°F fan-forced) for 45 minutes, covered, and an additional 30 minutes, uncovered.
Can I make cottage pie vegetarian?
Yes! Replace the minced (ground) beef with canned lentils and replace the beef stock with vegetable stock. You can also omit the butter, milk and parmesan, if desired. Simply spray the top of the mashed potatoes with olive oil prior to baking instead.
What extra vegetables can I add to cottage pie?
You can add up to 3 cups of vegetables to this cottage pie recipe. Grate the vegetables using a good-quality box grater so that they melt into the sauce, or finely chop for a more chunky pie filling. Broccoli (including the stalks!), cauliflower, mushrooms, baby spinach leaves, kale and peas are all great additions. You can use frozen or fresh vegetables.
What is a mashed potato shortcut?
You can top the cottage pie with store-bought potato gems/tater tots/hash browns for a super quick and easy dinner or use store-bought mashed potato (although this will hike up the overall cost of the meal).
Watch how to make Cottage Pie
What are some other pie recipes?
If you love a comforting pie or pie-style recipe, I think you’ll love these:Beef Stroganoff Cottage Pie with Crispy Parmesan ToppingFamily Beef and Potato PieChicken Mushroom PieButter Chicken Pot Pie 5 from 11 reviews Note 2 – If the gravy is too thick, add 1 tbsp of water at a time until it is at your desired consistency. If it is too thin, continue cooking on high heat, stirring regularly until it meets your desired consistency. It should be thick enough for the mashed potato to sit on top without sinking.
MAKE AHEAD
Follow the recipe steps and assemble the pie. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking, then cover with foil and bake at 200°C (400°F) (180°C/350°F fan-forced) for 45 minutes, covered, and an additional 30 minutes uncovered.
LEFTOVERS
Refrigerate for up to 2 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw completely overnight in the fridge before reheating. Leftovers are best frozen in individual serves and reheated in the microwave.
