Cottage Pie Soup (Shepherd’s Pie Soup Recipe)

Cottage Pie Soup – also called Shepherd’s Pie Soup – is all the comfort and classic flavor of traditional shepherd’s pie in a warm, cozy bowl. Made with seasoned ground beef, tender frozen vegetables, and savory broth with creamy mashed potatoes stirred right in. Every bite is rich and hearty. A satisfying twist that skips the baking but keeps all the flavor of your favorite shepherd’s pie.

Do you want more delicious twists to classic Shepherd’s Pie? Be sure and try Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole and Shepherd’s Pie Baked Potatoes.

Cottage Pie Soup Recipe (Shepherd’s Pie Soup)

This hearty soup is one of my favorite soups to make on a cold day when you need a little bit of comfort ❤️ Watch classic comfort food transform into a delicious soup with a creamy broth, mashed potatoes, frozen veggies, and ground meat. 

Traditionally, shepherds pie has a mashed potato topping with the beefy meat filling and veggies underneath. This soup has all those same components with a perfectly seasoned ground beef base, a richly seasoned beef broth base, frozen veggies like corn, carrots, and peas, and then homemade creamy mashed potatoes are mixed right into the soup!

So creamy, rich, flavorful, and a hearty soup with tons of warm & cozy flavors. 

What Is Cottage Pie Soup?

Cottage pie soup is a deconstructed version of the classic British dish, cottage pie (aka – also referred to as shepherds pie), with the same traditional ingredients such as mashed potatoes, beef, vegetables like carrots, peas, and onion in a cozy and creamy beef broth gravy base. 

It offers the same comforting flavors as a classic shepherd’s pie recipe, but in cozy soup form, that’s perfect for a chilly day in the fall and winter. 

How To Make Creamy Shepherd’s Pie Soup With Mashed Potatoes (Printable Recipe Card)

In a large pot, soup pot, or dutch oven cook and crumble the ground beef and onion, over medium-high heat, until the meat is browned and no pink remains. Crumble the beef into small, bite-sized pieces while it cooks. Drain any excess grease from the pot. 

Stir in the tomato paste until the meat is coated. Cook for 1 minute. 

Add the beef broth, fresh thyme, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into the pot. Bring to a boil.

Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the soup simmer for 20 minutes. While the soup is simmering you can make the mashed potatoes. 

Add the chopped potatoes into a saucepan and cover them with cold water. Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the potatoes simmer until fork tender; about 12 minutes. 

Drain the potatoes in a colander and then transfer the potatoes into a mixing bowl. Add the milk. Use a potato masher, or hand mixer, to mash the potatoes until smooth. Don’t overmash them or mash too aggressively, just a gentle hand to mash until smooth. 

Stir the mashed potatoes, frozen peas and carrots, frozen corn, and shredded cheddar cheese into the soup. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the frozen vegetables are heated through to your liking. 

Serve warm and enjoy!

How To Store Leftover Cottage Pie Soup

Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3-4 days. To reheat leftovers, place the soup inside a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring until heated through. 

To freeze, ensure the soup is completely cooled, then place it in a freezer-safe container or bag, leaving room at the top of the container for expansion while freezing. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup overnight in the fridge before reheating on the stove top or in the slow cooker. 

What Are Substitutions I Can Make?

• Ground Beef : Other options include ground lamb, ground pork, or even ground turkey if wanted.
• Beef Broth : Use beef stock or beef bouillon + water to create the broth. You could use chicken broth but I don’t recommend it; you want that beefy flavor from the beef broth in the soup. 
• Milk : The higher fat percentage of milk, the creamier the mashed potatoes will be. I use whole milk normally but half and half is another good option. 
• Russet Potatoes : I definitely recommend using the Russet potatoes in the recipe; they have a higher starch content and low moisture and they mash really smoothly, which makes them perfect for the soup. Another suitable potato substitute would be buttery Yukon gold potatoes if needed. 
• Cheddar Cheese : Choose your favorite cheddar cheese option – such as medium cheddar, mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, or extra sharp cheddar. 

Serving Suggestions For Shepherd’s Pie Soup

With all the vegetables, meat, and potatoes in one bowl, this really is a whole meal. But I still like to serve the soup with some Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Honey Cornbread Muffins, The Best Cornbread Recipe, toasted baguette slices, or purchase some bread or rolls from the bakery section or the frozen section at the grocery store. 

Recipe FAQ’s

What’s The Difference Between Cottage Pie and Shepherd’s Pie?

The main difference between the two is that traditionally a cottage pie is made with beef, while a shepherd’s pie is made with lamb. However, in the states, most people make either one with ground beef as it’s a more common ingredient. 

Is There Another Way To Mash The Potatoes If I Don’t Have A Potato Masher?

A couple of ways you can mash your potatoes if you don’t have a potato masher are to use an immersion blender, a handheld mixer, or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. 

Can I Use Leftover Mashed Potatoes?

Yes! This is a fabulous recipe to use up leftover mashed potatoes like these Crockpot Mashed Potatoes or make these Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes for extra creaminess in the soup. 

Do I Need To Thaw The Frozen Vegetables Before Adding Them?

No, you do not need to thaw the vegetables before adding them. The soup will be hot enough, and they will heat up quickly. If you prefer really soft vegetables, I suggest buying the microwaveable steamable frozen veggies and cooking them according to package directions. Then add them into the soup and simmer for the time listed. 

More Delicious Soup Recipes To Try

• Hamburger Soup
• Easy One Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
• Rice-a-Roni Chicken Soup
• Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
• Easy Vegetable Beef Soup
• Creamy Broccoli Wild Rice Soup
• Instant Pot Tomato Tortellini Soup