Cowboy pie
Prep
20 mins
Cook
1 hr
Servings
6
Difficulty
Medium
When I'm craving comfort food that doesn't require a lot of fuss, this is my go to. Cowboy pie brings together hearty sausages, baked beans, and a creamy mashed potato topping that feels like a warm hug on a plate. The best part is how budget friendly it is, using simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Those baked beans pack a real nutritional punch too, loaded with fiber that keeps you feeling satisfied long after dinner. The whole thing comes together in about an hour, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something satisfying without spending all evening in the kitchen.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 2 tspsunflower oil
- 11 onion finely chopped
- 18 pork sausages cut into bitesize pieces
- 12 garlic cloves crushed or finely grated
- 2 tsphot smoked paprika
- 12 x 410g cans baked beans
- 3 tbspbarbecue sauce
- 1 kgpotatoes peeled and roughly chopped
- 50 gbutter
- 4 tbspmilk
- 75 ggrated cheddar
- 2 tbspchopped chives to garnish(optional)
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
First, make the mashed potato. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil over a medium heat, then carefully tip in the chopped potatoes. Cook for 15-20 mins until tender. Drain, then tip back into the pan and leave to air-dry for a couple of minutes before mashing. Tip in the butter and milk, and stir through until combined. Set aside with the lid on to keep warm.
- 2
Heat the oven to 200C/180C/gas 6. While the potatoes are cooking, heat the oil in a frying pan or saucepan over a medium heat and fry the onion for 6-8 mins until softened. Tip in the sausage pieces and fry for 4 mins until browned all over, then add the garlic and cook for 1 min before stirring in the smoked paprika and cooking for 1 min more. Pour in the beans and barbecue sauce and cook until just about to simmer before removing from the heat.
- 3
Spoon the sausage and bean mixture into an ovenproof tin or dish (ours was 20x20cm), then spoon over the mashed potato and sprinkle the grated cheddar on top. Bake in the oven for 25-30 mins until bubbling round the edges and the cheese is golden. Remove from the oven and scatter over the chives, if using.
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