Easy Cottage Pie Recipe with Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes!

Easy Cottage Pie with Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes 🥔🧀

Full printable recipe:
👉 https://farfromthefarm.com/scalloped-...

Hi friends! I’m Mona from Far From The Farm, and today I’m sharing my British-style cottage pie made in a very real, American-kitchen way.

This recipe keeps the classic rich beef filling you’d expect from a traditional British cottage pie, but instead of mashed potatoes on top, I use boxed cheesy scalloped potatoes. It might sound unconventional, but it works beautifully and the whole family loves it.

It’s the kind of recipe that blends comfort from home with the shortcuts that make sense in everyday American cooking. Cozy, filling, and practical, especially on busy nights.

If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie, cottage pie is made with beef, while shepherd’s pie uses lamb. This one is firmly cottage pie, just with a slightly elevated and very easy twist on the topping.

For an authentic British flavour, I use Bisto gravy granules to make the beef filling rich, glossy, and deeply savoury. If you’re in the US and struggle to find British pantry staples, I’ve linked my favourite British food finds below.

🇬🇧 Shop British pantry staples I use (including Bisto):
👉 https://mave.ly/far-from-the-farm/pos...

This dish is perfect for meal prep, stretching your grocery budget, or making something warm and comforting without overcomplicating dinner.

This video is music-only with on-screen step subtitles, so you can pause, rewind, and follow along at your own pace.


Serve it with bread rolls or simple vegetables and enjoy a cozy, family-friendly dinner that feels like home.

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Ingredients

Serves 2 to 4

For the Beef Mixture
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/4 cup diced frozen carrots
• 1/4 cup diced frozen celery
• 1/2 cup diced frozen onion
• 2 cups cold water
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp Bisto Beef Gravy Granules
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup frozen peas

Bisto substitute (if needed):
• 1 beef stock cube dissolved in 2 cups hot water
• 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp cold water to form a slurry

For the Cheesy Potato Topping
• 8 oz boxed cheesy scalloped potatoes (two 4 oz boxes)
• 3 cups boiling water
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 4 tbsp salted butter, cold and sliced

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1
Brown the ground beef in a pot over low to medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks. No need to drain the meat.

Step 2
After about 10 minutes, add the diced carrots, celery, onion, salt, and pepper. Stir well and continue cooking until the vegetables begin to soften.

Step 3
Pour in 2 cups of cold water. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then lower the heat, cover, and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

Step 4
Turn off the heat and stir in the Bisto gravy granules and Worcestershire sauce until fully dissolved and thickened.
If using the substitute, stir in the prepared stock and cornstarch slurry until thick.
Set the beef mixture aside to cool slightly.

Step 5
Prepare the cheesy scalloped potatoes according to the box instructions.
In a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, combine the boiling water, milk, seasoning packets, and potatoes. Stir gently, dot with sliced butter, and bake at 425°F for 40 minutes.
When finished, cover loosely with foil and set aside.

Step 6
When ready to assemble, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Stir the frozen peas into the cooled beef mixture, then spread it evenly into the bottom of a 9 x 9 inch baking dish.

Step 7
Spoon the cheesy scalloped potatoes over the beef layer, spreading gently to cover.

Step 8
Bake uncovered in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 minutes, or until bubbling around the edges and lightly golden on top.

Step 9
Let rest briefly, then serve hot with bread rolls or a simple vegetable on the side.


Related Recipes:

the bread rolls featured: https://farfromthefarm.com/bread-mach...

the flavored honey cinnamon butter featured: https://farfromthefarm.com/texas-road...

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