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fully baked cottage pie in cast iron skillet with golden brown potato top

Easy Cottage Pie Recipe with Ground Beef (Cast Iron Skillet)

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Ingredients
  

  • Filling:
  • - 2 lb ground beef
  • - 3–4 carrots chopped
  • - 1 large onion chopped
  • - 3 cups white wine
  • - 2 tsp thyme
  • - 1 tsp sage
  • - 1 tsp garlic powder
  • - 1 tsp mustard powder
  • - 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • - 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • - 1/4 cup flour
  • - Water or beef stock as needed
  • - Salt & pepper
  • - 1 stock cube or demi-glace
  • - 10 oz frozen peas
  • - Fresh rosemary optional
  • Potato Topping:
  • - 2 lb potatoes
  • - 1 stick butter
  • - Milk
  • - 2 egg yolks
  • - 2 oz cheddar cheese
  • - Salt
  • - Chives optional

Instructions
 

  • Brown beef in a 12-inch cast iron skillet. Add carrots and onions and cook until moisture evaporates.
  • Add tomato paste and flour; cook 2 minutes.
  • Deglaze with wine. Add Worcestershire, spices, stock cube, and enough water/stock to cover.
  • Simmer 30 minutes until thick. Stir in peas and rosemary.
  • Boil potatoes, then mash with butter, milk, cheese, egg yolks, and salt.
  • Spread potatoes over cooled filling. Create ridges and dot with butter.
  • Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
  • Rest 20 minutes, top with chives, and serve.

Notes

- Cooling the filling prevents sinking.
- Egg yolks help the potatoes brown beautifully.
- Wine adds depth; replace with broth + 2 tsp vinegar if needed.