Family Meat Pie is a classic dish that brings warmth and comfort to any dining table. It’s a savory pie filled with tender beef, flavorful vegetables, and a rich sauce that is enveloped in a flaky pastry. This recipe is not only perfect for family gatherings but also makes for fantastic leftovers.

Why Make This Recipe

Making Family Meat Pie is a great way to enjoy a hearty meal that can feed a crowd. It’s a dish that allows for simple preparation yet delivers rich flavors. The best part is that it can be easily customized to your family’s preferences. Plus, who doesn’t love a crispy pastry shell cradling a delicious meat and vegetable filling? It’s sure to become a family favorite!

How to Make Family Meat Pie

Ingredients:

800g / 1.6lb chuck beef (3.5cm / 1.4" cubes)
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbsp olive oil (plus more as needed)
30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter
200g / 7 oz mushrooms (smallish, halved)
125g / 4 oz streaky bacon (cut into 1 x 1.5cm / 0.4 / 0.6" cubes)
1 onion (cut into 2cm / 0.8" cubes)
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 celery (cut into 1cm / 0.4" slices)
1 carrot (halved, 1cm / 0.4" slices)
330ml / 11 oz Guinness
2 cups beef stock (homemade or store bought low sodium)
1 cup water
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp coarsely crushed black pepper (more as needed)
4 tbsp flour
60g / 4 tbsp unsalted butter (softened)
1 quantity shortcrust pastry
1 sheet puff pastry (for lid)
1 egg (lightly whisked)
Ketchup or Aussie Tomato Sauce (for serving)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F (160°C fan).
Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a pot and brown the beef in batches. Remove beef into a bowl.
Clean the pot if necessary. Add bacon and cook until golden, then remove into the bowl with beef.
Melt butter in the pot and cook mushrooms until golden. Set aside.
Add onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Cook until onion is soft and sweet. Add oil if needed.
Return beef and bacon to the pot, add Guinness, water, stock, salt, and pepper. Stir and bring to a simmer. Cover and transfer to the oven for 1 hour.
Add mushrooms and cook for another hour. The meat should be tender.

Thicken Sauce and Cool:

Remove the pot from the oven. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes to reduce the sauce.
Mix together butter and flour until smooth (this is called Beurre Manié).
Stir the mixture into the sauce, cooking until thicker.
Let it cool completely, preferably overnight.

Assemble and Bake:

Prepare the shortcrust pastry in a 23cm / 9” pie dish and let it cool.
Preheat the oven to 200°C / 390°F (180°C fan).
Fill the pie with the cooled filling, packing it nicely.
Add the puff pastry lid, trimming the edges, and crimp to seal.
Brush the top with egg and make a small incision to let steam escape.
Bake for 45–50 minutes until golden. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

How to Serve Family Meat Pie

Serve the meat pie warm, perhaps with ketchup or Aussie tomato sauce on the side. It’s perfect with a simple salad or some steamed vegetables.

How to Store Family Meat Pie

Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the pie before baking. Just be sure to wrap it well. When you’re ready to eat, bake it straight from the freezer, adding some extra time to the baking process.

Tips to Make Family Meat Pie

Make sure to brown the meat well for deeper flavors.
Let the filling cool completely before assembling. This helps to keep the crust crisp.
Feel free to add more vegetables or substitute with what you have on hand.

Variation

You can customize this recipe by adding other vegetables like peas or corn, or even different types of meat if preferred.

FAQs

1. Can I use a different type of meat?
Yes, you can use lamb or chicken, but adjust cooking times accordingly as they may cook faster than beef.

2. Can I make this pie ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the filling and pastry ahead of time. Assemble and bake when ready to serve.

3. Is it okay to use store-bought pastry?
Yes, using store-bought pastry can save time and make the recipe quicker while still being delicious.

Enjoy your homemade Family Meat Pie! It’s sure to bring smiles around the table.

Family Meat Pie

A classic hearty dish filled with tender beef, flavorful vegetables, and rich sauce, enveloped in a flaky pastry crust, perfect for family gatherings.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 30

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine British

Servings 6 servings

Calories 500 kcal

Ingredients

Meat and Stock Ingredients

800 g 800g chuck beef (cut into 3.5cm cubes) Tender beef cut into cubes for cooking.
330 ml 330ml Guinness Adds deep flavor to the filling.
2 cups 2 cups beef stock Homemade or low sodium store-bought stock.
1 cup 1 cup water

Vegetable Ingredients

200 g 200g mushrooms (small, halved)
125 g 125g streaky bacon (cut into cubes)
1 1 onion (cut into cubes) Cut into 2cm cubes.
2 cloves 2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 1 celery (cut into slices) Cut into 1cm slices.
1 1 carrot (halved, sliced) Halved and cut into 1cm slices.

Miscellaneous

3/4 tsp 3/4 tsp salt For seasoning throughout the recipe.
1/2 tsp 1/2 tsp pepper Freshly ground for better flavor.
2 tbsp 2 tbsp olive oil Additional as needed for cooking.
30 g 30g unsalted butter For cooking mushrooms.
4 tbsp 4 tbsp flour For thickening the sauce.
60 g 60g unsalted butter (softened) For sauce thickening.
1 quantity 1 quantity shortcrust pastry For the pie base.
1 sheet 1 sheet puff pastry (for lid)
1 egg 1 egg (lightly whisked) For brushing the pie.
Ketchup or Aussie Tomato Sauce For serving.

Instructions

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F (160°C fan).
Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper, then heat oil in a pot and brown the beef in batches. Remove beef into a bowl.
Clean the pot if necessary. Add bacon and cook until golden, then remove into the bowl with beef.
Melt butter in the pot and cook mushrooms until golden. Set aside.
Add onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Cook until the onion is soft and sweet, adding oil if needed.
Return beef and bacon to the pot, add Guinness, water, stock, salt, and pepper. Stir and bring to a simmer. Cover and transfer to the oven for 1 hour.
After 1 hour, add mushrooms and cook for another hour. The meat should be tender.

Thicken Sauce and Cool

Remove the pot from the oven and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes to reduce the sauce.
Mix together butter and flour until smooth (this is called Beurre Manié).
Stir the mixture into the sauce, cooking until thicker.
Let it cool completely, preferably overnight.

Assemble and Bake

Prepare the shortcrust pastry in a 23cm pie dish and let it cool.
Preheat the oven to 200°C / 390°F (180°C fan).
Fill the pie with the cooled filling, packing it nicely.
Add the puff pastry lid, trimming the edges, and crimp to seal.
Brush the top with egg and make a small incision to let steam escape.
Bake for 45–50 minutes until golden. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Make sure to brown the meat well for deeper flavors. Let the filling cool completely before assembling to keep the crust crisp. Feel free to add more vegetables or substitute with what you have on hand.

Keyword comfort food, Family Recipe, Homemade Pie, Meat Pie, Pie Recipe