Guinness cottage pie is a hearty dish filled with ground beef, onions, and vegetables. Topped with a mashed potato crust, this savory pie is perfect for celebrating St. Patrick's Day, or as a weeknight meal.
To save time, I recommend starting your potatoes, then preparing the meat filling while your potatoes boil.
Meat filling
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat, add onions and crumble ground beef into pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until beef is browned and onions begin to turn translucent.
Add butter and minced garlic, stirring to combine. Cook for another 30 seconds, then add flour and stir to coat. Cook for another minute.
Add Guinness, worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and thyme to pan, stirring until incorporated. Add frozen peas and carrots and stir to combine. Remove pan from heat and set aside until potatoes are ready.
Mashed potatoes
Peel potatoes and cut in half, or as needed to get uniform size throughout.
Place in a large pot and cover with water. Over medium-high heat, bring to a boil. Reduce to medium heat and simmer until potatoes fall apart when pierced with a fork. Drain well.
Add heavy cream and drained potatoes back to your stock pot. Using a potato masher or an electric mixer, blend potatoes and heavy cream until no lumps remain. Add butter, salt, and pepper, and mix until combined.
Spread mashed potatoes into an even layer over your prepared meat filling. Optionally, add texture to the top of your pie using a fork.
Bake pie uncovered for 30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbling around the edges. Remove from oven. Optionally, garnish with chopped parsley just before serving.
Video
Notes
Filling may bubble over the edges of your pan while baking. I suggest adding a layer of foil to your lower oven rack to catch any potential drips.
Guinness beer can be substituted with beef broth.
A 10.25 inch Lodge cast iron skillet was used for this recipe. If you do not have an oven safe skillet, simply cook your meat filling on the stove top, then transfer your filling into any 2 quart oven safe baking dish.
Leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.