Cottage Pie - a comforting family favourite with a rich savoury beef filling topped with creamy mashed potato and sweet potato for a delicious golden topping. It is the kind of hearty meal that never goes out of style and always feels like proper comfort food.
Growing up, cottage pie was always one of those dinners that appeared regularly on the table and for good reason. A rich meaty filling topped with fluffy mash is hard to beat, especially on colder evenings when you want something warming and satisfying that the whole family will happily dig into. Sweet potato adds a lovely natural sweetness and creaminess without needing lots of butter or cream, and mixing a couple of eggs into the mash before baking helps give it that delicious golden finish on top.
Calories in Cottage Pie
This recipe serves 4 and is 506 calories per serving.
If you're looking for more recipes by calories, you'll find plenty of options grouped by calorie range here: Slimming Eats Low Calorie Recipes
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie needs using a reliable calorie calculator. The calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use. Using your own calculations helps ensure you're meeting your individual needs. A calorie calculator can help you make informed choices and stay on track with your goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Extra Lean Ground Beef - Keeps the filling rich and hearty while staying a little lighter than regular beef mince.
- Carrots, Onion and Garlic - These form the flavour base of the cottage pie filling, adding sweetness, savoury flavour and plenty of depth as everything cooks down together.
- Frozen Peas - Add a little sweetness and colour to the filling.
- Beef or Vegetable Stock - Creates a rich flavourful gravy for the meat filling.
- Tomato Paste - Adds richness and helps deepen the flavour of the sauce.
- Marmite - Optional, but adds a delicious savoury depth to the filling without overpowering it.
- Balsamic Vinegar - Adds a slight sweetness and helps balance the richness of the beef.
- Worcestershire Sauce - Gives the filling extra depth and classic savoury flavour.
- Fresh Thyme and Rosemary - Add lovely earthy flavour that works perfectly in cottage pie.
- Salt and Black Pepper - Important for seasoning and balancing all the flavours.
- Spray Oil - Used for frying the vegetables and beef without needing lots of oil.
For the Topping:
- White Potatoes and Sweet Potato - White potatoes create a fluffy mash while sweet potato adds natural sweetness and creaminess. You can use either on their own or a mixture of both.
- Chicken or Vegetable Stock - Used instead of lots of butter or cream to mash the potatoes while still keeping them creamy and flavourful.
- Salt and Black Pepper - Season the mash and bring out the flavour of the potatoes.
- Eggs - Mixed into the mash to help create that lovely golden topping once baked in the oven.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
Cottage pie is really easy to adapt depending on the flavours you enjoy or what ingredients you have on hand.
- Add curry powder or mild curry spices to the beef filling for a delicious curried cottage pie twist.
- Stir through extra chopped tomatoes or passata for a richer tomato based filling.
- Swap the beef for turkey, chicken or lamb mince for a different variation.
- Lentils or mushrooms can be added to bulk out the filling and make it more budget friendly.
- Add extra vegetables like mushrooms, celery, corn or spinach for even more flavour and texture.
- Top with all sweet potato or all white potato, or you can either add some mashed carrots or swede depending on your preference.
- A little grated cheese sprinkled over the mash before baking gives a delicious golden cheesy topping.
- Add a spoonful of wholegrain mustard to the mash for extra flavour.
- Swap the rosemary and thyme for mixed herbs or oregano for a slightly different flavour profile.
- A pinch of chilli flakes or smoked paprika adds a little warmth to the filling.
- Worcestershire sauce can be replaced with soy sauce if needed.
- For a creamier mash topping, stir through a little light cream cheese or soured cream.
Side Suggestions
Cottage pie is already a really hearty filling meal, but it pairs perfectly with some simple vegetable sides to round everything out. Steamed greens like broccoli, green beans, peas or cabbage all work really well alongside the rich beef filling and creamy mash topping.
A simple green salad can add a little freshness, while roasted vegetables like carrots, parsnips or Brussels sprouts are delicious if you want something extra comforting. If you love plenty of sauce with your mash, a little extra gravy on the side is always a great addition too.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
Storing
Allow the cottage pie to cool before covering or transferring to an airtight container and storing in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing
Cottage pie freezes really well, making it perfect for batch cooking. Allow to cool completely, then wrap well or transfer to freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. You can freeze the whole pie or individual portions depending on what works best for you.
Reheating
Defrost overnight in the fridge if frozen. Reheat in the oven, covered loosely with foil, until heated through and piping hot in the centre. Individual portions can also be reheated in the microwave until thoroughly heated through.
More Ground Beef (Mince) Recipes
Looking for more recipes for that 1lb of ground beef in your fridge? Check out these:
See more Ground Beef Recipes →
or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.
All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.
Recipe Card
Cottage Pie
Cottage Pie - a comforting family favourite with a rich savoury beef filling topped with creamy golden white and sweet potato mash.
Ingredients
- 455g (1lb) of extra lean ground beef
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
- ½ cup (120mls) of frozen peas
- 3 cups (720ml) of beef or vegetable stock
- 2-3 tablespoons of tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon of marmite (optional)
- splash of balsamic vinegar
- splash of Worcestershire sauce
- Fresh Thyme and Rosemary
- Salt and black pepper
- Spray oil
For the topping:
- 700g (24.5oz) of white potatoes, cubed
- 500g (17.5oz) of sweet potato, cubed (or you can use just white or just sweet potato)
- Chicken or vegetable stock
- salt and black pepper
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Spray a large frying pan over a medium high heat with spray oil, add the onion and garlic to the pan and cook until softened. Add the carrot and cook for a further 3-4 mins.
- Add in the ground beef, fresh thyme and rosemary and cook until browned, breaking up any big lumps with the back of a wooden spoon.
- Add the stock, tomato paste, marmite, Worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar and bring to the boil, reduce heat and allow to simmer for approx 20mins until sauce thickens.
- Set aside and allow to cool completely (I find this works better to layer the potatoes on top)
- Preheat oven to 200c/400f (gas mark 6)
- Add the sweet and white potato to a pan and just about cover with chicken stock, bring to a boil and cover and simmer till fork tender.
- Drain the water from the potatoes and season to taste with salt and black pepper, add the eggs and mash until smooth.
- Add the ½ cup of frozen peas into the meat mixture, and transfer it all to a oven proof dish.
- Top with the mashed white and sweet potato and roughly smooth over with a fork. Spray over the top with some spray oil.
- Bake in the oven for approx 30 mins, until the mash is slightly golden on top. You can then brown the top under a grill for an additional few mins to make the top more golden if you prefer.
- Serve with your choice of side and Enjoy!!!
- Optional: top the potatoes with some cheese to make a yummy cheese crust.
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- ❄️ Freezer Friendly - see storing, freezing and reheating section
Do not copy, paste, or post full recipes, screenshots, or any other content from Slimming Eats to social media or other websites. This is strictly prohibited. All recipes, text, and images on Slimming Eats are copyright protected.
Recipes are updated regularly with tips, improvements, and clarifications. Sharing screenshots or copied text outside this website can result in outdated or incomplete versions being used. To ensure the most accurate and up-to-date recipe, always share using the buttons at the top of the post, which link the user directly back to the recipe on Slimming Eats.
Nutritional information is an estimate and should be used for informational purposes only. Ingredient values vary by brand, so always calculate using the ingredients you use and the tools provided by your chosen programme.
It is the reader’s responsibility to ensure that any products or ingredients used in Slimming Eats recipes are allergen-free (for example gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free, and/or dairy-free). Slimming Eats assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatements about products, opinions, or comments on this site.
Check Legal section, for Full Disclaimer, Disclosure and Privacy Policy.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 506Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 3gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 194mgSodium 780mgCarbohydrates 71gFiber 9gSugar 9gProtein 38g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
Chrissy says
We both loved this, the light & crispy potato topping was great, the egg made all the difference, I will be making it again very soon. 🙂
Anonymous says
I am making this tomorrow, just wondering how much thyme and rosemary i should use roughly?
Lisa.
Anonymous says
you only need a sprinkling. Enjoy!!! 🙂
Julieanne Gibney says
Hi, I made this today & it was fecking fantastic. I just wondered is this still syn free, I only realised its dated as 2010. I just joined slimming world here in Ireland. Excited to have syn free delicious food. Best wishes.
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
Hi there, yep this recipe is still free :). All my recipes even the old ones, have the ingredients clearly listed out, to make it easy for you to double check, just incase any rules have change. Hope that helps 🙂
Tammi says
What would you recommend as a substitute to celery and peas? Can't wait to try this but have 2 fussy eaters in the house!
Rona says
what temp for the oven Lovely?
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
Sorry I must of missed it when typing up lol. 200c/400f
Rona says
thank you! xx
Annie says
Best syn free cottage pie I have tasted in a long time, Thank you
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
So glad you enjoyed it Annie, thanks for posting
Catherine Shaw says
It is so good to find a website that you can trust. I am desperate to lose weight and rubbish in the kitchen but following these very clear tried and tested receipts I actually think I can do it . The cottage pie was amazing as was the fish pie , thank you Siobhan for all your hard work.
Gems says
I made this cottage pie the other day, following your recipe hon, I omitted the marmite because you either love it or hate it right? I also used fresh peas as opposed to frozen. I must say it really is delicious, and a massive hit in my house! Yet another fab recipe I've tried from your blog hon.
sandra says
Absolutely lovely will definitely be doing this again
Peej says
Hi
Looking forward to making this, however would a batch freeze well if so I’ll double up
Thanks
Peej
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
Hi Peej, this is perfect for freezing. Enjoy!!
Rebekah says
This looks so good! But Worcestershire sauce isn’t gluten free
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
Hi Rebekah, unfortunately, that is incorrect. Some are gluten free 🙂 - such as this Lea and Perrins (Ingredients: distilled white vinegar, molasses, water, sugar, onions, anchovies, salt, garlic, cloves, tamarind extract, natural flavorings, chili pepper extract. Contains anchovies) as you can clearly see here on the lea and Perrins website where it also tells you it is indeed gluten free. http://www.leaperrins.com/Products/The%20Original%20Worcestershire%20Sauce. Heinz Worcestershire is also gluten free, so it's worth checking the ingredients, not all are equal.
Sophie Morley says
Do you still use the egg if you use Swede as a topping?
Mary says
Is this really just 8sp per portion on WW. I am getting much more so am very confused. I use a lot of these recipes on WW and have never checked SP before.
Mary says
Is this really just 8sp per portion on WW. I am getting much more so am very confused. I use a lot of these recipes on WW and have never checked SP before.
Shevy (Slimming Eats) says
The points are calculated using a nutritional calculator for the ingredients k used. Sometimes there will be variations due to branded items etc. But yes it is indeed 8 Smart Points for the ingredients I used as per the recipe.
Lynne says
Hi, I’m new here and your recipes are amazing, thank you. Question, should I freeze after putting the topping in but before going in the oven (made 2 ). Thanks in advance
Siobhan (Slimming Eats) says
yes that would be the best time to freeze, but it does also freeze fine fully cooked, enjoy;
Lorna Campbell says
This recipe is truly delicious.. I halved it, as I'm on my own but made it in 2 individual dishes.. I've just had the second one tonight & it tastes even better since I made on Sunday.( today is Tues) This will be a regular for me.. I actually made it in my Ninja on bake setting (160°c)for the 30mins and it came out perfectly delish...
Thanks for a great recipe Siobhan....
Regards, Lorna