Best Sides For Pies: The Ultimate Mashed Potato Recipe!

Every Pie Deserves A Proper Side!!

Now, we're not saying you can't enjoy a pie on its own… plenty of us at Chunk HQ have demolished a pie straight from the oven without a second thought! But if you're building the ultimate pie dinner, it's hard to beat the classic pie and mash combination.

Fluffy potatoes and a rich pie filling. That's comfort food done properly - and it's exactly why mash tops our list of the best sides for pies.

So today we're sharing our go-to mashed potato recipe for pies, along with a few simple ways to take your mash from good to great!

Why Mash Is One Of The Best Sides For Pies

Us brits have been pairing pies with potatoes for generations, and it's simple really: a good mash soaks up gravy beautifully, balances rich pie fillings, and adds a little extra comfort to every bite!

Whether you're tucking into a Steak & Ale, a Chicken, Leek & Bacon, a Homity Pie, or a classic Steak & Kidney Pie, a bowl of buttery mash rarely goes amiss - which is exactly why it's earned its spot as the ultimate pie side.

The Perfect Mashed Potato Recipe For Pies

Ingredients:

• 1kg floury potatoes (Maris Piper work brilliantly)
• 75g butter
• 100ml warm milk
• Salt
• Black pepper

Method:

1. Peel and chop the potatoes into even chunks.
2. Place into a large pan of salted water.
3. Bring to the boil and simmer for around 15 to 20 minutes until tender.
4. Drain thoroughly and leave to steam dry for a minute or two.
5. Add the butter and begin mashing!
6. Gradually add the warm milk until smooth and fluffy.
7. Season generously with salt and pepper.
8. Get your pies out of the oven and serve!

6 Ways To Upgrade Your Pie Side

1. Crispy Bacon Mash 🥓

Cook a few rashers until crispy, chop them up and scatter through your mash. The salty crunch works brilliantly against rich pie fillings.

Perfect with: Chicken & Mushroom Pie - the smoky, salty bacon adds a savoury edge that plays well against the creaminess of the mushroom filling.

2. Chive Mash 🌿

Fresh chives bring colour and a gentle onion flavour without overpowering the pie. Simple but effective.

Perfect with: Chicken, Leek & Bacon - chives echo the leek's gentle oniony note, so the whole plate feels joined-up rather than two separate dishes.

3. Mature Cheddar Mash 🧀

If cheese makes most things better, mash is no exception. Stir through a generous handful of mature cheddar while the potatoes are still hot.

Perfect with: Steak & Ale Pie - the sharpness of a mature cheddar cuts through the richness of the ale gravy, so neither one overpowers the other.

4. Spring Onion Mash 🧅

A pub classic. Finely sliced spring onions add freshness and bite to every forkful.

Perfect with: Homity Pie - the fresh bite of spring onion lifts the pie's cheesy, veg-heavy filling and stops the plate feeling too heavy.

5. Garlic Mushroom Mash 🍄

This one's a little indulgent! (Fry sliced mushrooms with butter and garlic until golden, then fold through the mash.

Particularly good with: Steak & Kidney Pie - earthy garlic mushrooms deepen the savoury, meaty flavour of the kidney filling rather than competing with it.

Ready To Put It To The Test?

No matter the pie, these mash ideas, will help turn any dinner into a cracking one!!

Now all that's left to decide is: what's going on top of your mash...?

Go on - take a Chunk!