• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Bake It With Love

  • Grilling
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Grilling
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Tips Tricks and Information

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2023 by Angela Latimer · 1 Comment

Shepherd's Pie vs Cottage Pie

Jump to Recipe
Pin image for shepherds pie vs cottage pie.

Shepherd's pie vs. cottage pie: Everything there is to know about these two delicious recipes and how you can tell them apart! You've probably seen these terms used interchangeably, but they are not the same! Keep reading to learn more about the key difference between shepherd's pie and cottage pie!

Difference Between Shepherd's Pie And Cottage Pie

Like Gordon Ramsay, I'm a real stickler for using the appropriate term when referring to a shepherd's pie. If it's made with beef, while delicious, that's technically not what is being advertised!

I expect rich, buttery lamb meat or mutton when I bite into a shepherd's pie. It's an all-too-common misconception that shepherd's pie and cottage pie are names that can be used interchangeably. So what's really the difference?

Large image of Gordon Ramsay Shepherds Pie out of the oven and ready to serve.
This hearty classic casserole is layered with tasty flavors and sure to be a family favorite!
Jump to:
  • Difference Between Shepherd's Pie And Cottage Pie
  • What Is Shepherd's Pie vs. Cottage Pie
  • Why Is It Called Shepherd's Pie
  • Why Is It Called Cottage Pie
  • What Is Cumberland Pie
  • How To Tell Shepherd's Pie, Cottage Pie, & Cumberland Pie Apart
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 😋 🥘 🍲 More British Favorites
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

What Is Shepherd's Pie vs. Cottage Pie

Shepherd's pie is a one-pan meal that is similar to a casserole and is typically baked in a baking dish. It began in Scotland and then quickly grew in popularity in Northern England and Ireland.

Once the dish reached Ireland, they decided to use their abundance of potatoes in place of a traditional pie crust. Rather than slice or dice them, they opted to mash them and created the mashed potato topping we know and love today.

Shepherd's pie includes minced or ground meat, vegetables, and a rich gravy that is baked beneath a mashed potato topping. Cottage pie is the same, except for one distinct difference- it uses beef instead of lamb! That's it!

Why Is It Called Shepherd's Pie

When you think about it, the answer is all in the name! Shepherd's pie features lamb meat or mutton because it was a popular meal amongst Irish shepherds who tended herds of lamb.

For shepherds, lamb meat was the most readily available protein. So naturally, they incorporated it into many meals!

Why Is It Called Cottage Pie

The term 'cottage' is in reference to this dish's humble beginnings. This was a common dinner for the lower class, who were too poor for more premium ingredients.

For the average citizen, beef was much more accessible than lamb meat. The other ingredients, like carrots and potatoes, were inexpensive and easy to source. So, they swapped the lamb for beef and kept the recipe the same.

What Is Cumberland Pie

A Cumberland pie is very similar to a cottage pie, with a few exceptions. The filling is still a savory mixture of beef and vegetables, and it does feature a potato topping.

Traditionally, a Cumberland pie has sliced potatoes on top rather than mashed. However, you will see many modern recipes feature a mashed potato topping.

It's also more common to use diced beef rather than ground or minced beef like cottage pie. The defining factor lies in the cheese and breadcrumbs that are sprinkled on top and baked until golden and crispy!

How To Tell Shepherd's Pie, Cottage Pie, & Cumberland Pie Apart

Strictly speaking, shepherd's pie is the appropriate term solely for a pie containing lamb or mutton.

The same pie made with beef should be referred to as cottage pie.

If you'd prefer to garnish your pie with breadcrumbs, it would be more accurate to call it a Cumberland pie!

Shepherd's PieCottage PieCumberland Pie
FillingsMeat, Gravy, & VegetablesMeat, Gravy, & VegetablesMeat, Gravy, & Vegetables
Meat UsedLamb or MuttonBeef (minced) Beef (chunks)
ToppingMashed PotatoesMashed PotatoesSliced Potatoes or Mashed Potatoes & Breadcrumbs
Quick Guide To Shepherd's Pie vs. Cottage Pie vs. Cumberland Pie

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ Recipe FAQs

Can I Make A Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie or Cottage Pie?

You can easily make a vegetarian version of shepherd's pie by swapping the meat for a ground meat substitute. At that point, you can really call it whatever you want! Vegetarian shepherd's pie or vegetarian cottage pie, they're the same thing since their only defining trait is the meat used.

Do You Have To Use Mince Meat For Shepherd's Pie?


Though traditional shepherd's pie calls for diced or ground lamb meat (or mutton), you can always put your own spin on it. It's fine to experiment with other cuts of meat, such as beef, turkey, or chicken, to create your own variation of shepherd's or cottage pie.

Does Cottage Pie Have A Pie Crust?

Neither shepherd's pie nor cottage pie includes a pie crust. They feature a mashed potato topping rather than a traditional pastry pie crust.

When it comes to deciding between shepherd's pie, cottage pie, or Cumberland pie, you really can't go wrong. Each is delicious in its own way, but now you'll know how to refer to them, so you always know what you're getting!

😋 🥘 🍲 More British Favorites

  • Yorkshire Puddings - These fluffy egg-based rolls are a beloved side dish in the UK!
  • Fork Biscuits - These classic English cookies are made with just 3 ingredients!
  • Dublin Coddle - A tasty Irish stew featuring potatoes, sausages, and bacon!
  • Cornish Pasties - Delicious hand-held mince meat pies that are perfect for lunch or dinner!
  • Guinness Lamb Stew - Guinness beer gives a depth of flavor to this lamb stew that will have everyone scrambling for seconds!
  • Bangers and Mash - Creamy mashed potatoes and juicy pork sausages with rich onion gravy!

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📖 Recipe Card

Large image of Gordon Ramsay Shepherds Pie out of the oven and ready to serve.
Print Recipe Leave A Comment
Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
5 from 2 reviews

Shepherds Pie vs Cottage Pie: What's The Difference (+Gordon Ramsay Shepherd’s Pie!)

Shepherd's pie vs. cottage pie: Everything there is to know about these two delicious recipes and how you can tell them apart! You've probably seen these terms used interchangeably, but they are not the same! Keep reading to learn more about the key difference between shepherd's pie and cottage pie!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 773kcal
Prep 15 minutes minutes
Cooking 40 minutes minutes
Total Time 55 minutes minutes
Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
  • 1 lbs ground lamb
  • 2 teaspoon each, salt & pepper (divided into 2 equal portions - 1 teaspoon each)
  • 1 large white onion (finely grated)
  • 1 large carrot (finely grated)
  • 2 cloves garlic (finely grated)
  • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoon tomato puree (or tomato paste, but then only 1 ½ tablespoons)
  • 1 cup dry red wine (I use Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir)
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme (chopped)
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary (chopped)
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 2 lbs russet potatoes (washed, peeled and quartered)
  • 2 tablespoon butter (unsalted)
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese (reserve some for topping, if desired)

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

The Mince

  • Bring a large cast iron skillet, skillet, or frying pan to high heat with the olive oil.
  • After the oil is hot, add in the ground lamb. Spread in an even layer and crisp one side, then turn and crisp the bottom side. Break apart the ground lamb after it is browned and crisped. Season the lamb with salt and pepper (use the first portion of salt & pepper, 1 teaspoon of each).
  • Add in the onion, garlic, and carrot and cook for about 2-4 minutes till vegetables are soft.
  • Pour in the Worcestershire sauce then the tomato puree and combine. Add in the red wine, thyme and rosemary and cook until most of the wine has evaporated off.
  • Pour in the chicken stock and cook for 3-4 minutes. Then turn heat off and set aside.
    ground lamb meat cooked and ready to assemble into shepherds pie

The Potatoes

  • In a large stockpot cover peeled potatoes with water then boil the potatoes for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Drain.
  • Mash potatoes either with a fork or a ricer if you have one.
  • Season with the remaining salt & pepper.
  • Stir in the butter, egg yolks and stir very quickly then add the Parmesan cheese and combine well. (Optional - reserve a few tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese for topping the Shepherds pie)

Assembling The Shepherd's Pie

  • Spoon the lamb meat into a casserole dish and then top with the potato. Using a spatula run the potatoes completely over the mince filling in any holes. It should look like a smooth mound.
    the first layer of the shepherds pie in the baking dish
  • Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese on the top and then using a fork drag along the top of the potatoes (this will give the potatoes a nice crunchy texture where they get raised by the fork).
    assembled shepherds pie before baking
  • Place in your preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 18-20 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and allow 5-10 minutes to cool before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 773kcal (39%) | Carbohydrates: 43g (14%) | Protein: 35g (70%) | Fat: 48g (74%) | Saturated Fat: 21g (131%) | Cholesterol: 192mg (64%) | Sodium: 359mg (16%) | Potassium: 1324mg (38%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 4g (4%) | Vitamin A: 2316IU (46%) | Vitamin C: 15mg (18%) | Calcium: 173mg (17%) | Iron: 5mg (28%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Dinner Recipes, Main Course, St. Patrick's Day
Cuisine American, English, Irish
« How To Soften Hard Cookies
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies »

Share This Recipe!

  • Share
  • X
  • Flipboard
  • Threads
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Thanks for coming! Ask anything - or let me know what you think: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Mikey says

    July 27, 2023 at 3:54 am

    For quite a while, I thought the distinguishing feature between shepherd's and cottage pie came down to the crust. That was, while shepherds was essentially a casserole, the cottage could be eaten by hand. The reason goes back to the days of my primary school's tuck shop (the Aussie kids' version of the cafeteria, in essence). Meat pies are, or at least were the goated snack food; it was certainly an item where I went. A potato-topped pie was available, getting the name "cottage pie". It took me years to connect the dots of "shepherd"="sheep".

    I've cooked cottage pie a few times beforehand; it is great for cold weather and shortage of ingredients (or just biding time until a grocery haul). I also did a pie with the homemade crust, having to go last minute to use some mash as the topping. Either way, I would recommend trying that at least once.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Author bio photo with cake.

Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

More About Me ->

Grilling Recipes

  • Tasty, easy cookout food ideas to make and feed a crowd this summer.
    Easy Cookout Food Ideas: Best Dishes To Bring To A Cookout
  • Square image of sliced Arrachera steak on a cutting board.
    Arrachera (Mexican Steak for Tacos)
  • Square image of sliced Denver steak on a cutting board.
    Denver Steak
  • Square image of grilled ostrich steaks.
    Grilled Ostrich Steaks
  • Square image of grilled pineapple.
    Grilled Pineapple
  • Square image of sliced grilled skirt steak.
    Grilled Skirt Steak
See more Grilled →

Tasty Dinner Ideas

  • A square image showing tender wok-fried strips of chicken breast with peppers (firecracker chicken) in a black bowl over white rice with a set of chopsticks.
    Panda Express Firecracker Chicken Breast
  • A square collage of four images showing easy summer crockpot meals including tender London broil pot roast, green beans and potatoes, grape jelly meatballs, and pork carnitas tacos.
    Summer Crockpot Meal Ideas
  • Panda Express honey sesame chicken copycat recipe plated with rice and garnished with more white sesame seeds.
    Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken
  • A square image showing a bowl of tender wok fried marinated chicken with celery, onions, and black pepper sauce.
    Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken
  • Best leftover lobster recipes page image featuring four favorite dishes in a square collage.
    Leftover Lobster Recipes
  • Square collage image featuring 4 tasty recipes using leftover hard boiled eggs.
    Leftover Hard Boiled Eggs Recipes
See more Main Dish →

Footer

As Seen On

As seen on these popular sites: Mashed, Tasting Table, Parade, MSN, Yahoo, Delish, The Pioneer Woman, Today, Taste of Home, and more.

↑ back to top

About

  • Meet The Team
  • Photo Sharing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Work With Me
  • Accessibility Statement

Recipes

  • Dinners
  • Desserts
  • Breakfasts
  • Cookies & Bars
  • Videos
  • Articles

AI-Free

Everything on Bake It With Love is created by me, where I share my experiences, with help from my team members and family.

I promise that BIWL is 100% free of AI content.

Get Social

Visit us on your favorite social media platforms!

Copyright © 2016-2025 Bake It With Love

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.