How do you define comfort food? Maybe it’s food that you grew up with that brings back fond memories (sloppy joes or mac & cheese, anyone?). Maybe it’s something that you rely on when you’re stressed or feel like you want to curl up under a mound of blankets and hibernate.
However you define comfort food, it doesn’t have to be unhealthy, ground you to the couch, “I’ll surely regret this later” kind of food. For me, comfort food is usually something warm and hearty that not only feeds the body but the soul too. It’s the food equivalent of a really good book you can’t put down or a Harry Potter ⚡ movie marathon. My Cottage Pie with Horseradish Cauliflower Mash fits neatly into this category. It bridges the gap between comfort food and food you can feel good about later.
What’s the difference between Cottage Pie and Shepherd’s Pie?
Shepherd’s pie is traditionally made with lamb meat, specifically. Cottage pie swaps out the lamb for beef, or even turkey, if you want to be a rebel. Otherwise, they are really the same beast. Traditionally, both dishes are also topped with mashed potatoes before baking, but I prefer the easy swap of low-carb creamy horseradish cauliflower mash as my cottage pie topping.
Tools needed
- A large dutch oven or cast-iron skillet is my go-to for this recipe, so it can go from stovetop directly to the oven. However, you may also brown the beef in a traditional skillet and transfer to an oven-safe baking dish.
- A large microwave-safe bowl
- A cutting board
- A good knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- A food processor is my preferred tool for blending the cauliflower to mash, however, this can alternatively be done in a high-powered blender or with a hand mixer.
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Easy meal prep and freezing
This Cottage Pie is a favorite of ours for weekly meal prep because it reheats so well. Portions keep well stored in microwavable airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
This recipe also stores exceptionally well in the freezer for up to two months. When freezing, I like to store the Cottage Pie in freezer-friendly baking trays covered in tin foil so they can go from freezer directly to the oven. To reheat, I generally set the oven to 375 degrees F (190 C) and bake with the tinfoil top intact until warmed through (about 1 hour). If you thaw the pie in the fridge the night before you can generally cut the baking time in half.
A note for special diets
This Cottage Pie is grain-free, gluten-free, and friendly for Paleo and Keto diets if prepared as written below.
For Whole30 diets, you may wither omit the peas or substitute them for diced celery.
But sometimes, I just want a little cheese – who doesn’t? If your diet allows dairy, this cottage pie can level-up with the addition of 1 cup of shredded white cheddar or gruyere, which I sprinkle on top of the filling right before I layer the cauliflower mash. You can also blend this directly to the mash if you prefer.

Cottage Pie with Horseradish Cauliflower Mash
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 large portions 1x
- Category: Mains
- Cuisine: British
Description
Cottage Pie with Horseradish Cauliflower Mash is comfort food and food that you can feel good about later. It fits Paleo, Keto, and Whole30 diets.
Ingredients
For filling:
- 2 tbsp garlic oil (may sub 2 tbsp avocado oil plus 2 cloves minced garlic)
- 2 lb grass fed beef (may sub ground turkey or blend 50/50)
- 1 1/2 cups green onion, chopped
- 1 1/4 cups frozen peas (may omit or sub for diced celery for Whole30 diets)
- 1/14 cups frozen carrots
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (may sub 1 tbsp dried)
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
For cauliflower mash:
- 1 medium head (about 5 cups) cauliflower, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter (or ghee for Whole 30)
- 2 tbsp horseradish paste
- 1 tbsp garlic oil (may sub 1 tbsp avocado oil and 1 clove minced garlic)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 1/2 tbsp chives, chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
For the filling:
- In a large dutch oven or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, add garlic oil and ground beef. Brown fully and then drain excess grease.
- Lower heat to medium. Add green onions to the meat mixture and cook 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
- Add frozen pea and carrot mixture, parsley, cumin, salt, pepper. Stir gently and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes or until peas and carrots are cooked through. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust if needed.
For the cauliflower mash:
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl combine chopped cauliflower and ghee.
- Microwave for 6 minutes. Remove from heat, stir to coat butter over the top of the cauliflower, and microwave for an additional 6 minutes. The cauliflower should be easily speared with a fork at this point.
- Add cauliflower, horseradish, garlic oil, salt, and pepper to your food processor. Pulse until well-blended and creamy. If you do not have a food processor, this can be done in a blender or even with a hand mixer, though I find it turns out creamiest in a food processor.
- Stir in chives until well incorporated and taste for salt and pepper. Adjust if needed.
- Spread the cauliflower mixture over the top of your meat and veggie mixture
- Place the pie in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. The top of the cauliflower mash should be starting to turn slightly golden by this point. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 479
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 509 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 117 mg
Oh yum, this sounds like my kind of comfort food. I love the sound of the Horseradish Cauliflower Mash and I’ll definitely be pinning this one!
This looks delicious! I never knew..or had thought about the difference between shepherd’s and cottage pie – so that was interesting to learn! I love your swap with cauliflower – I need to try it!
Ahhh I just want to faceplant into that dutch oven! Looks so amazing!
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Love the looks of that Cottage Pie! The added horseradish paste and garlic oil to the cauliflower mash sounds absolutely delicious.
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This is classic comfort food and that mash sounds amazing. Definitely one to make at the weekend!
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Now I’m a huge fan of cottage pie and have even enjoyed it with a cauliflower mash – but, your cauliflower horseradish mash sounds so delicious! What a tasty twist!
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This dish looks so good! Great comfort food for sure!
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I didn’t know the difference between cottage pie and shepherd’s pie, though it makes sense when you think about it. This sounds delicious!
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I love horseradish and of course the cauliflower instead of potatoes make for a delicious comfort meal that is good for you. Delicious!
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This sounds really good! I’m going to have to try this for sure!
Wow that sounds like the perfect thing to warm me up on a chilly day!
This looks really great! I made a similar dish recently, and love the cauli mash! Great for low carb meals, too!
This would definitely be classified as a comfort dish for me too! I love that you used cauliflower mash on top!! Your cottage pie looks simply scrumptious!
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This looks like it would be such a tasty dish! I am definitely going to have to give this a try.
Yes Please!! Love this healthy alternative. This post is full of information about this dish and the differences!
Wow! This sounds like the perfect comfort food!
Oh, this looks super yummy. I will definitely have to try this. I love trying new recipes!!
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The horseradish and cauliflower mash sounds like something I would love to try. I haven’t made shepherd’s (or cottage) pie in a while so I am going to add that to our next week’s menu plan. I will use your recipe and I am positive my family will love this unique twist.
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I hope you all love it! It’s such a hearty, comforting dish.
Oh my goodness! I want to eat this now!
This sounds so yummy! I always make my sheppards pie with ground turkey, but the mashed cauliflower is another great swap.
I love this healthier version of a shepherds pie! Definitely adding to my list to try!
Oh I LOVE this! Love that it uses grassed beef! Love that is has cauliflower mash instead of potatoes. And it’s still heart and comforting. Great recipe!
★★★★★
I love putting a twist on some of our favorite recipes to change it up. Will have to try our favorite shepard’s pie with cauliflower mash next time I make it.
This looks so yummy!
Such a tasty recipe, looks so delcious!
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This looks so good! I’ve never thought of using cauliflower mash before.
This looks delicious. I think my kids will love it!
I love the addition of horseradish! I never know when to use horseradish, and I love this idea! Sounds delicious.
i recently made vegetarian shepherds pie which i learned is cottage pie..such a comforting dish right?
I would like to make this, this weekend!! YUM!!!
This looks yummy! We’ve been needing some new recipes to try out!
This looks so good! I am traveling to Ireland at the end of the month and I am going to see if I can find this dish in a restaurant. Thanks for sharing!
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This looks really yummy! I’ve never heard of cottage pie before, but I should try it out.
What a beautiful tasteful looking pie. Cauliflower mash makes this pie so low-carb. I absolutely love this. Can’t wait to make this for my family.
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YUM! I love love love cauliflower mash now that I have an Instapot so this is going on the menu board ASAP!
I love shepherd’s pie, err cottage pie, and I really love that you’ve used cauliflower in place of the usual mashed potatoes because that means less carbs for the diabetics in my life. The earthiness of the cumin in your filling is amazing and goes well with the horseradish. I would never have thought to pair those two flavors, but it works brilliantly. Awesome recipe!
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I’m a sucker for cottage pie and have always swapped potatoes for sweet potatoes. I really really like your idea to use cauliflower mash and that touch of horseradish surely takes it to the next level.
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I love the bit of kick that horseradish gives to mashed potatoes! This looks like total comfort food. Yum!
I agree comfort food feeds the body and the soul. And this is a perfect example! What a great idea to have on top a cauliflower mash instead of potato mash!
This looks and sounds like perfect comfort food at its best!!! Love the idea of cauliflower mash too!
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I usually lighten up our sheperd’s pie by covering it in mashed potatoes, but I’m thoroughly intrigued by your cauliflower mash. Can’t wait to try this!
this delicious cottage pie would be a real hit at my house for dinner!! Everyone will love it!
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So yummy! That cauliflower mash looks absolutely divine
I’ve been searching for what to make this week and I would love to try cottage pie!
I don’t eat red meat but would consider making this with turkey like a rebel. Haha! Looks delicious!
I LOVE the zing from horseradish in this dish. It is amazing how a small amount can take a dish from ordinary to extraordinary..
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This sounds so good! Love the kick the horseradish addition would add!
This is one of the most delicious I’ve come across. I love cauliflower anything and cauliflower mash is my go-to recipe anytime. Love it
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So delicious and comforting! Perfect for Sunday dinner!
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Easy to make comfort food is my favorite, especially a good Shepherd’s Pie! Love this!
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I looove that this isn’t topped with potatoes! Also, that spoon is pretty gorgeous… 😉
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Love the spoon set also! An old Anthropologie find!
Wow. I’ll never get my topping to look like your topping but it’s still delicious!
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I love comfort food! And this cottage pie with horseradish is a must-try recipe.
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I so love the way you have put those mashed around the dish. I have tried to make it, but not as nice as yours. The pie was still perfect
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Oh, interesting! I didn’t know that there was a difference. And now I need to make this cottage pie!
I did not know there was a difference between shepherd’s pie & cottage pie. I have been eating cottage pie the whole time as I’ve not really had a pie made with lamb before. I simply love that you add horseradish to the cauliflower mash. That is genius!!
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how did you make the cauliflower mash topping so beautiful! I love it!
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This looks incredibly cozy and comforting, and since it’s gotten really chilly here lately, I’m going to need to make this right away!
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What! This recipe truly blows me away. So unique, and I’ve never had this before! I’m excited to try this out!
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I love the addition of horseradish! You took amazing to a whole new level!!
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I usually only have horseradish during Passover, but NOW I need to have it on had. THIS is a must make!
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