Heat oil in a large, oven-safe 10 ½ to 11-inch skillet or 3-quart Dutch oven (or larger) over medium-high heat. If you don’t have an oven-safe pan, you can simply transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish before baking. Add the ground beef and crumble the meat using a wooden spoon. Cook for 2-4 minutes or until most of the meat browns; drain any excess grease, leaving just 1 tablespoon.

Add the mirepoix and season the veggies with a small pinch of salt. Allow the veggies to cook down until the onions are translucent, about 6-8 minutes.

Add the minced garlic and let cook for 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and allow it to coat all the ingredients in the skillet. When it smells toasty, sprinkle the ground meat mixture with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch. Stir to combine and let cook for 15 seconds before adding the Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, and beef stock. Scrape the skillet using the wooden spoon to loosen anything that may be stuck on.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 425°F.

Allow the beef mixture to come to a simmer before reducing the heat to just above low; cover, and let it simmer for 10-13 minutes or until the liquid thickens to a gravy-like thickness that coats the beef and veggies. Remove the bay leaves, stir in the peas, taste, and adjust with salt and pepper as desired.

At this point, if your pan isn’t oven-safe, transfer the cottage pie mixture to a 3-quart greased baking dish. Top with shredded Irish cheddar cheese and lay the tots out in a single layer over the cheese. Bake the cottage pie recipe for 20-25 minutes or until tots are golden brown, crispy, and cooked through. Let cool for several minutes before serving.