In association with Iceland
Easy Cheesy Cheat’s Cottage Pie is a delicious and hassle-free version of this traditional British staple. Using frozen ingredients removes the need for any chopping or peeling so it’s much quicker and easier!!
I love Cottage Pie but I’ll admit that it’s a dish I never make.
After a day’s work, the last thing I want to do is spend ages chopping up vegetables and mashing potatoes!
So when Iceland and their #PowerofFrozen campaign challenged me to come up with a dish to “Cut the Hassle” I came up with this Easy Cheesy Cheat’s Cottage Pie.
I love finding quicker ways of making dishes that don’t compromise on quality. This dish is a total winner as it’s just as delicious as the more long-winded version.!
My family loved my Cottage Pie and hubby said it was much better than a shop-bought one (he has a long memory as I haven’t bought one for many years).
We were all amazed at the quality and taste of the frozen beef and I have to say that I was a little worried when I bought it.
I was going to buy the Minced Steak but as my local branch of Iceland is quite small this wasn’t something they stocked so I picked up the Beef Mince with Onions instead.
I hadn’t cooked with frozen mince in 25 years and after that brief encounter, I never ventured there again.
I’d just met my now hubby and remember having to cook a meal for my dad and him as my mum was away.
The supermarket had run out of fresh mince and I was forced to buy frozen to my Chilli con Carne.
Well, it was the worst meal I’d ever cooked due to the poor taste and quality of the mince; not a great way to impress your new boyfriend!
So I was very impressed with this mince as it tasted great and I also didn’t have to go to the bother of peeling any onions.
I thought that my pan would be swimming in fat after frying the mince but I have to say there wasn’t that much fat to drain off.
For £2.50 I think the Iceland Mince and Onions is a steal and I didn’t even use the whole pack!
I shall certainly be buying this again as it’s perfect to have in the freezer as a standby to knock up a quick meal!
The Iceland Mashed Potato is a great time saver in this Cottage Pie as are the Mixed Vegetables which I also served alongside.
Hubby is usually a bit sniffy about frozen mixed vegetables as am I, but even these got the thumbs up from hubby (as well as the rest of us)!
So I’d like to say a big “thank you” to Iceland for opening up my horizons to foods I would never have thought to buy before! They’re great quality, good value for money, and time-saving too! And boy do I need lots of the latter!
More Recipes Using Frozen Ingredients
For more recipes using frozen ingredients, you should also try these dishes:
- Grilled Seabass with Lemon Garlic Butter & Colcannon – Fab Food 4 All
- Quick & Spicy Prawn Curry – Fab Food 4 All
- Skinny Haddock, Bacon and Mushroom Chowder – Fab Food 4 All
- Spicy Beef and Bean Feast – A Glug of Oil
- BBQ Sardines with Wild Garlic Salsa Verdi – Foodie Quinne
- 15 Min Thai Red Prawn Curry – Recipes from a Pantry
- Lobster Mac and Cheese – Emily’s Recipes and Reviews
- Spicy One Pot Prawn Curry – Supergolden Bakes
Do try my Easy Cheesy Cheat’s Cottage Pie as I’m sure you’ll be impressed!
Pin for later!
NB: This is a commissioned post for Iceland, all views are those of myself and my family.
Leave a comment and rating below when you’ve made this recipe; I love getting your feedback! You can also share your pictures by tagging @FabFood4All over on Instagram.
Easy Cheesy Cheat’s Cottage Pie
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 650 g Frozen minced beef with onion
- 2 tbsp Plain flour
- 2 Cups Frozen mixed vegetables
- 500 ml Beef stock
- 1 tbsp Creamed horseradish sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- Ground pepper
Topping
- 600 g Frozen mashed potato
- 15 g Unsalted butter (a knob)
- 75 ml Milk
- 75 g Grated mature Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat the oil over a medium to high heat in a large non-stick pan/wok and fry the beef and onions until beef starts to brown (10 – 15 minutes).
- Drain the fat (a colander is the easiest way to do this).
- Stir in the flour and cook for a minute.
- Add the stock, horseradish sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, mixed vegetables and ground pepper (no need for salt as stock and cheese have plenty).
- Bring the pan to the boil and then reduce to a simmer for about 15 minutes with a lid on removing it for the last 5 minutes until you have a meaty sauce.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Meanwhile microwave the mashed potato according to the instructions (about 9 minutes in total) and then beat in the butter, milk and half the grated Cheddar.
- Put the meat sauce into a dish, spoon over the potato and then fluff up with a fork whilst filling in the gaps.
- Sprinkle on the rest of the grated Cheddar and place in the oven for about 25 minutes until top golden and meat bubbling.
- Serve with more mixed vegetables.
Melanie Edjourian
It’s always good to have quick cheats for weekday meals. I do use frozen foods when I’m in arush.
Camilla
Exactly right Melanie:-)
Lucy
What a great recipe, I will have to look for the frozen mince and onions and mash as I think they would really help save time on a busy night for the family after work and school.
Camilla
Thank you Lucy, yes they’re fabulous products as well as the mixed veg:-)
Stuart Vettese
I’m all for using frozen items when I can – they are just as good as fresh, locking in all the nutrients especially with the veg. Must try the mince out though – looks delicious!
Camilla
Thanks Stuart, yes I was very impressed with the mince:-)
Valentina
Great recipe Camilla! I will try to cook it for my boyfriend, who loves these kind of pies 🙂
Camilla
Thanks Valentine, do let me know what your boyfriend thought:-)
Hananh
This looks delicious, I haven’t had cottage pie in years – I need to change that!
Camilla
Me neither Hannah, it’s just such a lot of work usually!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
This looks so easy! I haven’t had cottage pie in years but I always enjoyed it as a kid. Love the idea of using cheesy mash too – cheese takes everything to the next level 😉
Camilla
Thanks Becca, yes cheesy mash rocks:-)
Rachel
I havent made cottage pie in absolutely ages and ages, I always opt for Shepherds pie, but this looks so good x
Camilla
Thanks Rachel, Shepherds Pie is great too:-)
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs
This recipe is pure genius! I had no idea frozen mash was even a thing! You’ve taken all of the long prep and hard work out of this classic dish. Looks like we’ll all be eating cottage pie mid-week now 😀 thanks a bunch!
Camilla
Thanks Emma, yes frozen mash has only recently come onto my radar and I need to use it more often, especially as a pie topping, so very quick and easy!
Sarah Maison Cupcake
That looks fantastic, my son and husband’s type of dinner!!
Camilla
Thanks Sarah:-)
Emily
What a fantastic and convenient meal! Shows how great frozen products can be – and yummy too! x
Camilla
Thanks Emily, yes it really does:-)