Lazy Cottage Pie

HeatherFeather's Note:

This is a tasty, quick, and easy dish to prepare when you have no time to plan for supper. This is so easy to prepare and will please a hungry group of children on a chilly day. You may substitute peas & carrots for the green beans if you prefer. You may also substitute ground lamb for the ground beef, or even leftover minced roasted beef/lamb (in which case just saute the onions alone and mix with the cooked meat). I usually use homemade leftover garlic mashed potatoes in this, but if all you have is instant, well - this is supposed to be a Lazy Mom's dish, so go ahead. I garnish this with a sprinkle of paprika if I am leaving out the cheese. Don't worry about the lack of salt & pepper in the meat - the soup provides all the seasonings and is the "secret" ingredient. Doubles well, and also can be made the day before, chilled and baked the next day for a hot lunch.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 lb extra lean ground beef
• 1 small onion , finely chopped
• 1 (15 ounce) can green beans , drained (or peas & carrots or mixed leftover veggies)
• 1 (10 ½ ounce) can condensed tomato soup
• 3 -4 cups leftover mashed potatoes (or prepare 6 servings instant)
• 1⁄8;-¼ cup cheddar cheese , shredded (optional)
• paprika , garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Brown beef and onion together in a large skillet, drain fat.
2. Place meat into a medium greased caserole dish (it doesn't matter what shape- you want to be able to have the meat spread in one layer).
3. Spread the beans on top.
4. Spread the unprepared soup on top of the beans using a spatula.
5. Next spread the mashed potatoes over all, sealing edges.
6. Sprinkle with cheese, if desired (I often omit).
7. Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 350 F or 180 C oven for about 20 minutes, or until bubbling.
8. NOTE:If you like, use a fork to make lines in the mashed potatoes (or, you could also pipe the mashed potatoes on top using a decorating bag with a wide star tip if you aren't feeling quite so lazy).

Reviews

[PugsAndKisses]

This dish was GREAT!!! I just HAVE to give it five stars; it is EASY, INEXPENSIVE, and TASTY! I used homemade mashed potatoes; and I put a handfull of shredded cheddar into the potatoes, then a little more on top. Thanks for the recipe!

[mums the word]

The cupboards were a bit bare today but fortunately I did have almost everything on hand to make this cottage pie. I added a few dashes of seasoned salt to the hamburger mixture as it cooked, switched the veggies to frozen mixed corn, beans, carrots and I used leftover mashed potatoes. I had to omit the cheese since I didn't have any but definitely would add it next time just to add more depth to the flavours (plus I am cheese crazy!) I brushed the potatoes with a wee bit of butter and sprinkled with celery salt and paprika. All in all, a pretty good little recipe that is budget friendly and the ingredients are usually on hand. Thx Heather.

[knjblazer]

I forgot to rate on my previous post.... excellent and easy dinner idea! We loved it!