RecipesUK 
Lancashire Hotpot
A traditional northern English lamb casserole with sliced potato topping.
Ingredients
- 800g lamb shoulder, diced
- 2 onions, sliced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tbsp oil or dripping
- 500ml lamb or beef stock
- 1 tsp thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 large potatoes, thinly sliced
- Salt & pepper
Method
- 1
Heat oil in a casserole dish and brown lamb pieces. Remove and set aside
- 2
Add onions, carrots, and garlic. Cook 10 minutes until softened
- 3
Return lamb, add thyme, bay, stock, salt, and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes
- 4
Transfer to oven dish. Layer thin slices of potato over top, overlapping. Brush with butter
- 5
Cook at 170°C for 2 hours. Finish at 200°C for 20 minutes to crisp topping
Swaps & variations
- Add parsnips
- Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce
- Add black pudding slices
- Top with buttered breadcrumbs
Storing & freezing
Refrigerate 4 days. Freeze cooked filling separately for 3 months.
Grow it yourself
- Potatoes: Choose a waxy variety for top layers (Charlotte, Maris Peer). Plant in spring
- Carrots: Direct-sow into loose soil. Keep moist
- Onions: Plant sets March-April
- Herbs: Thyme and bay are perennial
- Net carrot beds to stop carrot fly
- Use mulch to retain moisture
- Garlic spray reduces aphids on onions
- Potatoes: Harvest when skins set and plants die back
- Carrots: Pull when brightly coloured and firm
- Herbs: Pick fresh thyme sprigs before flowering
Want meals like this matched to your goals and preferences?
Build my meal planMore recipes to explore
UKApple CrumbleA wholesome twist on the British classic — sweet baked apples under a crunchy oat-and-almond topping, naturally sweetened with no refined flour or piles of sugar.UKFull English BreakfastThe classic British fry-up with all the traditional components.UKShepherd's PieClassic British lamb pie with fluffy mashed potato topping.UKLeek & Potato SoupA creamy, comforting British soup perfect for cold days.UKRoast Root VegetablesA simple, vibrant British roast of seasonal root vegetables.UKRhubarb & Strawberry JamA classic British preserve combining tangy rhubarb with sweet strawberries.