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This is such an Easy Fish Pie recipe to have up your sleeve when the time calls for it.

It has a delicious cheesy mash topping, a really simple sauce and involves no pre-cooking of the fish at all. Just assemble all together for the ultimate comfort food.

Serving of easy fish pie recipe topped with mash

I think it’s easy to believe that fish pie can be one of those dishes that’s tricky to master, a bit of a faff and generally hard work. Not so!

I knew there had to be a way to make a classic fish pie recipe that was super simple, and I’m very happy to report that THIS is it!

This is honestly such an easy Fish Pie and is a fantastic go-to recipe for those cosy evenings with the family or for serving up to guests around the dinner table

This pie just feels good. It’s satisfying, nourishing and doesn’t involve using 5 pans or 20 techniques. This is the modified, simplified version of fish pie with a no-fail sauce, which doesn’t compromise on flavour.

It’s also perfect for batch cooking to get those freezer meals in for the future.


Why you’ll love this simple Fish Pie recipe

⭐️ Hearty and comforting

⭐️ Simple and delicious

⭐️ Perfect for batch cooking


Fish pie with crunchy cheese top

Why is this the BEST Fish Pie recipe?

The beauty of this recipe is that you really don’t need to pre-cook the fish beforehand, which overcooks the ingredients anyway.

As is always the case with these kinds of freezable dishes, this easy Fish Pie is perfect for making one for now and one for the freezer at the same time. Or you can prep it in advance and pop it in the oven when you’re ready, which makes it great for busy days or when entertaining

This Fish Pie, sometimes called Fisherman’s Pie as it’s closely related to Shepherd’s Pie, contains mixed fish pieces and prawns, covered in a tasty white sauce and topped with cheesy mash and breadcrumbs for a light crunch.

It then does its thing in the oven for about 30 minutes, making this as quick and easy as it gets.

Easy Fish Pie Ingredients

Easy Fish Pie ingredients laid out on a counter.
  • Fresh fish pie mix – I use a mixture of cod, salmon and smoked haddock
  • Prawns – Get ones already cooked
  • Potatoes – Go for something floury and fluffy in texture like King Edward, Maris Piper or Desiree (my preference)
  • Butter
  • Cheese – Grated cheddar is good here
  • Breadcrumbs – I used premade Panko because life is short
  • Milk – Full fat or semi-skimmed
  • Cornflour
  • Fresh chives
  • Salt and pepper

Four stages of building a fish pie from raw.

How to make Easy Fish Pie

  1. Boil up the potatoes for 10 minutes or so until soft enough to mash.
  2. Meanwhile, make your sauce: Mix a small amount of milk with the cornflour to make a paste. Add the remaining milk and the paste to a pan over a medium heat until it thickens. Add the chives and season.
  3. Add your fish into a dish and pour over the sauce. Drain your potatoes and mash with butter and season. Spread and smooth across the top of the pie filling.
  4. Sprinkle cheese and breadcrumbs over the top and bake in the oven for 30 minutes on 180C until golden brown and crispy.

Substitutions

  • Types of fish – Obviously go for the fish you like. A fish pie mix in most supermarkets contains the fish I’ve used here, but you can use the same weight of anything similar in cubes. Do try to include some smoked fish for flavour.

Fish Pie Leftovers

In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for a day or two. Reheat fully in the microwave or oven until piping hot before serving.

In the freezer This recipe freezes well. I tend to make it all up to the point where you put it in the oven and then freeze. Allow to defrost fully and then bake in the oven on the day you want to eat it.

Top tips for making quick Fish Pie

Make it ahead to save time later

I prepare it all up to the stage where you would put it into the oven. Then it will keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you come to cook it, it will take about 10-15 minutes longer to cook than if you were using a sauce/potatoes that’s already warm.

Check it’s cooked

Be sure to check that the pie is hot all the way through before serving (push a metal knife into the middle and when you pull it out it should be burning hot OR better still use a food thermometer like this one).

Other great make-ahead pie recipes

If it’s batch-cooked pies you’re after, you could try my Cottage Pie, Easy Chicken Pie, Cowboy Pie or Shepherd’s Pie too.

Creamy Fish Pie Recipe FAQs

What should I serve with Fish Pie?

Serve this with some simple greens, like peas, green beans or broccoli.

Why does fish pie sometimes go watery?

This can often happen when your mashed potatoes are too soft to start with. They need to be left a little thicker than normal.

It can also happen if your fish is fresh and gives off water as it cooks. But honestly? I think a tiny bit of water in the sauce is worth it rather than having overcooked fish or having the extra step of pre-cooking the fish.

Is this gluten free?

If you use gluten-free breadcrumbs (or omit them), this recipe is gluten free.

Do you put raw fish in a fish pie?

For this recipe, YES! No need to pre-cook. Everything cooks together nicely.

Can I use a frozen fish pie mix to make Fish Pie?

Yes, you can use a ready bag of fish pie mix in the supermarket, which is often better value and saves time. However, I would still defrost the fish before adding it to the dish so it doesn’t go too watery (usually fish doesn’t take long to defrost).

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

4.94 from 62 votes

Easy Fish Pie

This Easy Fish Pie recipe with delicious cheesy mash topping is the ultimate comfort food. It has a really simple sauce, involves no pre-cooking the fish, just assemble for a delicious, hearty favourite.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6 People

Ingredients 

  • 520 g Fresh fish pie mix, See notes
  • 175 g Cooked prawns

For the topping:

  • 1.25 kg Potatoes, Peeled and cut into chunks
  • 3 tbsp Butter
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 100 g Cheddar cheese, Grated
  • 50 g Panko breadcrumbs

For the sauce:

  • 400 ml Milk, Full fat or semi-skimmed
  • 30 g Cornflour, Cornstarch if you're in USA
  • 10 g Fresh chives, Finely chopped
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 180C.
  • Put your potatoes, with a sprinkle of salt, in a pan of boiling water and cook for 10 minutes or until a knife slides in easily.

To make the sauce:

  • While the potatoes are cooking, put the cornflour into a mug and mix with a small amount of the measured milk until it forms a paste.
  • Put the remaining milk into a sauce pan over a medium heat. Pour in the cornflour 'slurry' and whisk the sauce until it thickens and is smooth.
  • Add the chives and plenty of salt and pepper.

To make the pie:

  • Put the raw fish pie mix and prawns into the bottom of a large dish. Pour over the sauce.
  • Mash the cooked and drained potatoes in the saucepan and add the butter and salt and peppers. Spread over the top of the dish and sauce.
  • Sprinkle over the cheese and breadcrumbs.
  • Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until the top is crispy and golden and the fish is cooked through.

Notes

To serve: Serve this with some simple greens, like peas, green beans or broccoli
Check it’s cooked: Be sure to check that the pie is hot all the way through before serving (push a metal knife into the middle and when you pull it out it should be burning hot OR better still use a meat thermometer like this one)
Fish: A fish pie mix in most supermarkets contains cod, salmon and smoked haddock, but you can use the same weight of anything similar in cubes. Do try to include some smoked fish for flavour. Use cooked prawns. If you’re using frozen fish, allow it to defrost first
Potatoes: Go for something floury and fluffy in texture like King Edward, Maris Piper or Desiree (my preference)
Breadcrumbs: I used pre-made Panko because life is short, but you can use homemade too
Milk: Use full fat or skimmed milk
Make ahead: I prepare it all up to the stage where you would put it into the oven. Then it will keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you come to cook it, it will take about 10-15 minutes longer to cook than if you were using a sauce/potatoes that’s already warm
To freeze: Make it all up to the point where you put it in the oven and then freeze. Allow to defrost fully and then bake in the oven on the day you want to eat it
 

Nutrition

Calories: 345kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 31gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 155mgSodium: 509mgPotassium: 599mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 641IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 275mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Family Food
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Sarah Rossi founder of TamingTwins.com and author of 'What's for Dinner?' books.

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Hi, I'm Sarah. I help busy people decide 'What's for Dinner?' Find hundreds of recipes here, and also in my bestselling recipe book. Hope my recipes make your life easier ❤️

4.94 from 62 votes (55 ratings without comment)

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17 Comments

  1. I’ve only come across your terrific recipes recently & no longer have kids at home! For years I’ve only made roux sauces, have I been making a rod for my own back, does a cornflour work just as well?

  2. 5 stars
    Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.

  3. 5 stars
    This is the easiest and the tastiest fish pie I’ve tried! I used frozen fish and cooked it a bit longer. The whole family ate it. A new family favourite 🤩

  4. This is such a brilliant recipe. No more struggling with lumpy sauce and milk that looks ‘sour’ because of over heating. THANK YOU. ❤️