There’s not really anything to say except “Yes, please!” A taco cottage pie has to be the ultimate family comfort food. The familiar flavors will draw even the pickiest eaters in, and that crispy potato topper will have them coming back for seconds. Lay out some enticing garnishes and everyone can choose their own flavor adventure when it comes to topping their taco pie!
Ingredients
For the cottage pie:
1 tablespoon oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 lb (900 g) lean ground beef
1½ cups store-bought salsa
1 package taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons chili powder)
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
One 28 oz (800 g) package tater tots
For serving (Mix and match, and get creative):
Chopped fresh cilantro
Sliced green onions
Chopped tomatoes
Shredded lettuce
Sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
In a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the garlic, onions, and peppers, and cook for 5 minutes or until vegetables are soft. Move the vegetables to the sides of the pan and add the beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Stir the beef and vegetables together and cook, breaking the beef up, for 8 minutes or until the beef is browned. Stir in the salsa and taco seasoning, and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Turn off the heat. Using the wooden spoon, distribute the beef evenly over the bottom of the skillet. Scatter 1½ cups of the cheese evenly over top. Arrange the tater tots in one layer on top.
Bake for 25–35 minutes or until the tots are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
Serve and garnish as desired. Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
COTTAGE SWAP: To up the vegetables in this dish, you can add up to 1 cup of frozen vegetables (think peas, carrots, corn, etc.) with the salsa.
Notes
Excerpted from The Essential Cottage Cookbook by Andrea Buckett. Copyright © 2025 Andrea Buckett.
Photographs by Betty Shin Binon. Published by Appetite by Random House®, a division of Penguin
Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.