Toddler cottage pie recipe
Created by The Tesco Recipes team
This family-friendly cottage pie is packed with veggies that toddlers, older kids and adults are going to love. The recipe makes an extra two children’s freezer portions, which is ideal for when you’re short on time. Plus, it’s easy to double and batch cook for future you.
See method- Serves 2 adults and 2 children, plus 2 children's freezer portions
- Takes 1 hr 30 mins
- Freezable
Ingredients
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 celery stick, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 250g pack 5% lean beef steak mince
- 1 fresh thyme sprig
- 1 fresh rosemary stalk
- 150g drained tinned green lentils
- 1 large carrot, peeled and coarsely grated
- 1 large courgette, coarsely grated
- 100g spinach, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 400g tin finely chopped tomatoes
- 1kg Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
- 100ml whole milk
- 10g unsalted butter
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- Heat the oil in a large, lidded frying pan set over a medium-high heat and fry the onion and celery for 8-9 mins until soft. Add the garlic for another 1 min before stirring in the mince and herbs and cook, stirring regularly for 5-6 mins, until browned.
- Add the lentils, carrot, courgette and spinach and cook for another 5 mins until softened. Add the tomato purée, chopped tomatoes and 200ml water. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook with the lid on for 30 mins, stirring regularly. Season well with pepper before removing the thyme and rosemary stalks.
- Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in a large pan of boiling water for 15-20 mins until soft, then drain and mash with the milk and butter. Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200°C, fan 180°C.
- Put two-thirds of the filling into a 1ltr baking dish and spoon over two-thirds of the mash. Smooth with the back of a spoon, then bake in the oven for 25-30 mins until golden and bubbling. Allow to cool a little before serving. Put the remaining filling into two freezerproof containers and top with the mash. Allow to cool completely before freezing for up to 3 months.
- Tip: Make the mash dairy-free by using plant-based milk and butter.
- See more Kids' meals and food ideas
Freezing and defrosting guidelines
Assemble, then allow to cool completely before freezing. Cook from frozen but add 25-30 mins to the cooking time until piping hot throughout. In order to enjoy optimum flavour and quality, frozen items are best used within 3 months of their freezing date. For more tips on freezing and defrosting food, read our article Love Your Freezer.
- For top tips on protecting you and your family when preparing raw meat and poultry, visit Food Safety in the Home.
- When weaning your baby, introduce allergenic foods one at a time and not before 6 months.