Meat Pie

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Flavor-packed: Rich meat filling with fragrant vegetables and a well-seasoned gravy creates deep, satisfying flavors.

• Make‑ahead friendly: Prep the filling in advance, store it in the fridge or freezer, then assemble and bake whenever you’re ready.

• Versatile: Adaptable to ground beef, chunky stewed beef, or cultural variations (Australian, French-Canadian, Nigerian).

• Family favorite: Ideal for weeknight dinners or weekend meals, and everyone loves it.

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Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

• Olive oil

• Onion, garlic, carrot, celery (diced)

• Ground beef or chunky beef cubes

• Flour, tomato paste

• Red wine (optional), Worcestershire sauce, beef stock

• Puff pastry or shortcrust + puff pastry

• Egg wash, optional seeds (e.g., black sesame)

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a pan. Sauté onion, garlic, carrot, and celery until softened (6–8 min).

2. Add beef; brown thoroughly. Sprinkle in flour and cook briefly to thicken.

3. Stir in tomato paste, then add red wine, Worcestershire sauce, and stock. Simmer 30–35 min until thickened.

4. Let filling cool in pan or tray; refrigeration helps set the mixture.

5. Place filling in a pie dish lined with pastry. Cover with puff pastry lid, seal edges, cut a steam vent. Brush with egg wash; add seeds if desired.

6. Preheat oven to 200 °C (fan). Bake 25–30 min until pastry is golden and filling is bubbling. Rest 5 min before serving.

Servings and timing

• Serves: 4 (25 cm pie)

• Prep time: ~20 min

• Cook time: 30–35 min (filling) + 25–30 min (baking)

• Total: ~1h 15min (excluding cooling)

Variations

• Use chunky beef cubes and slow-cook in stock or stout (Guinness) for a deeper stew-like filling.

• Make it mini: fill small ramekins or make hand pies/empanadas.

• Swap proteins: mix ground beef + pork in French-Canadian tourtière style, adding spices like sage, thyme, or cloves.

• For a lighter version, add extra vegetables: mushrooms, peas, zucchini, or grated broccoli.

Storage/reheating

• Chill leftovers: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

• Freeze filling or assembled pie: Filling keeps up to 3 months frozen; pies can be frozen unbaked or after baking, tightly wrapped.

• Reheat: In oven at 180 °C until hot throughout; microwave reheating works too, though crust may soften.

FAQs

1. Can I prepare the filling ahead of time?

Yes! You can make the filling a day or even weeks ahead—store cooked filling in the fridge (up to 4 days) or freezer (up to 3 months), then bake when ready.

2. What is the best pastry to use?

Traditionally, use a sturdy shortcrust base and a flaky puff pastry lid. For simplicity, store-bought pastry (shortcrust or puff) works well.

3. Can I use only puff pastry?

Yes—use puff pastry for both top and bottom if you prefer, though it may be less structured than using shortcrust for the base.

4. How do I ensure the filling isn’t soupy?

Thicken with flour and simmer until gravy reduces to a thick consistency. Refrigerated filling also firms up nicely.

5. Can I make individual mini pies?

Absolutely! Use ramekins or fold semicircles into hand pies; bake for ~20 min at 200 °C until golden.

6. What can I serve with meat pie?

Classic sides include steamed peas, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, tomato sauce or gravy.

7. Can I add other vegetables?

Yes—carrot, celery, zucchini, broccoli, and mushrooms all enhance flavor and texture.

8. How do I store a baked pie?

Cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat in oven at 180 °C to retain crispness.

9. Can I freeze a fully baked pie?

Yes, wrap tightly and freeze. Reheat from frozen in oven at 180 °C until hot—typically 40–50 min.

10. What variations exist internationally?

• Tourtière (French-Canadian): beef + pork with spices and grated potato.

• Australian meat pie: chunky beef stewed in rich gravy topped with puff pastry.

• Nigerian meat pie: hand-pie version with similar spiced filling.

Conclusion

This meat pie recipe delivers comforting flavor, flexibility, and convenience. Whether you crave a classic ground-beef pie, a rich chunky-beef variation, or cultural styles like tourtière, this guide covers you. Ideal for make-ahead meals, freezer-friendly dinners, or customizable family favorites—prepare once, enjoy many times.