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For fish-lovers (and fish-tolerators) is there anything more warming, filling and comforting in the depths of winter than a bubbling classic fish pie? A rich mix of chunky fish, creamy sauce and cheesy, fluffy mash is just the thing on a cold night.

Balance it out by serving with our crunchy lemon garlic green beans with parmesan cheese as a side dish.

top dow view of fish pie with a spoon holding the creamy filling of fish pieces

Even though I love spending time in my kitchen, especially when the evenings are long and dark, it’s crucial to have a quick and easy fish pie recipe to hand. It’s not as tricky as you might think! Delicious, nutritious and satisfying, everyone at the table will enjoy it and be asking for more.

Aside from the fish, you are likely have most of the ingredients in already so it can be a great way to use up the last few potatoes, greens and milk in your stores. Some supermarkets also sell a ‘fish pie mix’, making this dish as affordable as it is tasty.

Personally, I like to choose the fish I know my family loves. That’s part of the beauty of this recipe; you can tailor it to your own taste.

top down view of a casserole dish with baked mashed potatoes

What is fish pie?

Much like its famous cousin, Shepherd’s pie, fish pie is a traditionally British pie topped with mashed potato. Traditionalists will also emphasise the potato topping, not pastry.

They might also insist on using smoked fish and boiled eggs. But as you’ll see in my recipe, rules are made to be broken!

While the fundamentals of a recipe need to be followed, this dish is about enjoyment and comfort. Make it your own by selecting the ingredients your family will eat. Don’t like eggs?

Leave them out. Not a fan of spinach? Try kale or even peas. Not into mash? Well, give pastry a go and let us know how you get on!

Which fish to use

We like salmon, smoked haddock and cod in my house. My recipe uses prawns, as they are considered traditional, but you could easily substitute them for another firm fish (pollock or hake are readily available alternatives).

If you find smoked haddock too strong a flavour, go for unsmoked, or substitute for more cod or salmon, for example. Or pick up a fish pie mix, this means you can avoid buying large quantities of fish that might not get used.

I recommend using fresh fish too. Frozen and then defrosted fish can make your sauce watery!

process images of making cream sauce for fish pie

How long does it take?

The first time might seem like a daunting task, but if you break the recipe down into component parts; preparing the potato topping, making the sauce, assembling the pie, and the oven time, it’s quick and easy.

If you are really pushed for time, the first 2 stages can be prepared a day ahead. Then assemble the pie when you are ready to cook it. I recommend cooking it the next day for it to still be at its absolute best.

Recipe Tips and Notes

Use potatoes that are best mashing such as floury/starchy potatoes. Maris Piper in the UK or Yukon Gold in the US.
I prefer using fresh fish as frozen and defrosted fish tends to release water while cooking and makes the sauce too watery.
In this recipe I use Gruyère cheese but any sharp cheese such as a mature cheddar could be used.
Avoid using Mozzarella as it’s too mild to stand up to the bold fish flavour, especially if you use smoked haddock.
While prawns are a classic addition to the fish pie, I personally prefer using fish mix only. Salmon, smoked haddock and cod are my favourite mix.
Lastly, spinach could be omitted or substituted with kale.

Storage and Leftovers

In my opinion, it’s definitely a dish worth working on a devouring straight from the oven. It’s an instant reward! But if you’re planning on freezing your pie, make sure to leave out the boiled eggs and peas from your recipe.

Cover the cooked and then cooled pie with clingfilm and a layer of foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost the pie thoroughly before cooking it the second time around.

Leftovers will keep 2 to 3 days in the fridge, but I’m betting there won’t be a scrap left! No-one can resist picking those crispy, potatoey bits from around the edges of the dish either.