Easy Individual Meat Pies with Beef and Vegetables

Individual meat pies are an easy way to wrap a savory beef and vegetable filling inside flaky pie dough. They're fun for kids to help assemble and easy to customize with ingredients your family already enjoys.

Our basic version uses cooked ground beef and potatoes, but you can change the filling with different cooked meats, vegetables and seasonings. Fold the dough over the filling, seal the edges and bake until the crust is golden brown.

Individual beef meat pies filled with beef and vegetables

Start Here: Individual Meat Pies

Making meat pies? Start with the Easy Individual Beef Meat Pies.
Learning the technique? See How to Fill, Fold and Seal Meat Pies.
Want a different filling? Try the combinations under Easy Meat Pie Filling Ideas.
Want another beef version? Try the Stuffed Philly Beef Pies.
Want to see the technique? Watch the Cornish Pasty Video.

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What Can You Put in a Meat Pie?

A simple meat pie filling starts with cooked meat + vegetables + seasonings. Ground beef and potatoes make an easy combination, but leftover beef, chicken or pork can also be used.

Keep the Filling Simple

Use ingredients that are already cooked before filling the pie dough. Keep the filling fairly dry rather than saucy so the dough is easier to fold and seal without leaking during baking.

Once you learn the basic method, individual meat pies are an easy way to turn cooked meat and vegetables into a completely different meal.

They are great for school lunches, picnics and prep-ahead freezer meals.

Easy Individual Beef Meat Pies

These easy individual meat pies use pie dough wrapped around a simple cooked beef and vegetable filling. Our pictured version combines ground beef with potatoes, but you can use other cooked vegetables or leftover meat too.

Individual beef meat pies filled with beef and potatoes

Ingredients

Pie dough or ready-made pie crusts
Cooked ground beef
Cooked diced potatoes or hash brown potatoes
Seasoning salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 egg, beaten, for egg wash

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
Roll out the pie dough and cut it into circles. Use larger circles for larger meat pies or smaller circles for kid-size individual pies.
Combine the cooked ground beef and potatoes and season with seasoning salt and black pepper.
Place a small amount of filling on one side of each piece of dough, leaving space around the edges.
Fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape.
Pinch the edges closed, then press with a fork to help seal the pie.
Place the meat pies on the prepared baking sheet and cut two small slits in the top of each pie to allow steam to escape.
Brush the tops lightly with beaten egg.
Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and baked through.
Cool slightly before serving.

Don't Overfill the Pies

Leave enough space around the edge of the dough so it can be folded and sealed securely. Too much filling can make the pies difficult to close and more likely to leak while baking.

Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can help spoon the cooled filling onto the dough, fold the pies, press the edges with a fork and brush on the egg wash. An adult should handle hot filling, the oven and the baking sheet.

Cornish Pasties Recipe

How to Fill, Fold and Seal Meat Pies

Once the filling is cooked and cooled slightly, assembling individual meat pies is simple. Keep the filling away from the edges so the dough can be sealed securely before baking.

Steps for filling, folding, sealing and baking individual meat pies

1. Roll and Cut the Dough

Roll out the pie dough and cut it into circles. Use larger circles for full-size hand pies or smaller circles for kid-size individual pies.

2. Add the Filling

Spoon a small amount of the cooked beef and vegetable filling onto one side of the dough. Leave an empty border around the edge for sealing.

3. Fold and Seal

Fold the dough over the filling to make a half-moon shape. Pinch the edges together, then press around the edge with a fork to help seal the pie.

4. Vent, Brush and Bake

Cut two small slits in the top so steam can escape. Brush the dough lightly with beaten egg, then bake until the crust is golden brown and baked through.

Cool the Filling Before Adding It

Let the cooked meat and vegetable filling cool slightly before placing it on the pie dough. A very hot filling can soften the dough and make the pies harder to fold and seal.

Easy Meat Pie Filling Ideas

Once you know how to assemble individual meat pies, you can change the filling with different cooked meats and vegetables. These are especially useful for turning leftovers into another family meal.

Beef & Potato

Combine cooked ground beef with diced cooked potatoes, mashed potatoes or hash browns. Season with seasoning salt and black pepper for the simple filling used in our basic meat pies.

Beef, Peas & Carrots

Mix cooked ground beef with peas and finely diced or cooked carrots. Add salt, pepper and a favorite herb or seasoning blend.

Chicken, Peppers & Onions

Combine shredded cooked chicken with diced bell peppers and onions. Add a little shredded cheese if you'd like a cheesy filling.

Leftover Roast Beef

Chop leftover roast beef into small pieces and combine it with cooked potatoes, carrots, peas or other leftover vegetables.

Make Your Own Meat Pie Filling

Use the basic formula of cooked meat + cooked vegetables + seasonings, then add a small amount of cheese or another favorite ingredient if desired. Keep the mixture fairly dry so the pies are easy to fill and seal.

Kids Cooking Recipe Cards

Kids can practice measuring, preparing vegetables, following recipe steps and helping assemble family meals.

Stuffed Philly Beef Pies

These stuffed Philly beef pies wrap thinly sliced steak, peppers, French onion flavor and cheese inside pizza or bread dough. Make one larger pie to slice for the family or divide the dough into smaller portions for individual hand pies.

Recipe by Christy, El Centro, California

Stuffed Philly beef pie with steak, peppers and cheese

Ingredients

1 package frozen or homemade pizza dough or bread dough, thawed
1 1/2 pounds sirloin steak tips
1 can French onion soup
1/2 cup finely diced bell peppers, such as red, green and yellow
1/4 cup shredded cheese, such as mozzarella or Monterey Jack
Pinch of salt
Pinch of black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
Cut the sirloin into small pieces, then pound the pieces between sheets of plastic wrap until very thin.
Cook the steak in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through.
Add the French onion soup, diced bell peppers, salt and black pepper. Continue cooking over low to medium heat until the peppers soften and most of the liquid has cooked away.
Remove the skillet from the heat and let the filling cool slightly.
Roll the dough into a large 10-12 inch circle for a family-size pie, or divide the dough into smaller circles for individual pies.
Spoon the beef and pepper mixture onto the center of the dough, leaving enough empty dough around the edges to seal the pie.
Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the beef filling.
Fold or roll the dough around the filling and pinch the seams and ends closed securely.
Place the filled dough seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for about 35-45 minutes for a larger pie, or until the dough is golden brown and baked through. Smaller individual pies may bake more quickly.
Allow to cool slightly, then slice and serve.

Keep the Filling from Getting Too Wet

Let most of the liquid from the French onion soup cook away before filling the dough. A drier filling is easier to wrap and helps prevent the dough from becoming soggy.

Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can measure the peppers and cheese, help roll the dough and sprinkle the cheese over the cooled filling. An adult should cut and cook the steak and handle the hot skillet, oven and baking sheet.

Philly Cheese Steak Recipe

Good for Picnics & On-the-Go Meals

Christy shared that her family enjoys these on hiking trips and picnics. Once the pies have cooled, slice or wrap them for an easy portable meal.

More Savory Dough & Pie Recipes

If your family likes individual meat pies, try more recipes that wrap, layer or bake savory fillings with dough. These recipes give kids more practice rolling, filling, folding and assembling family meals.

Meat pie boat filled with meat and vegetables

Meat Pie Boat
Turn pie dough into a fun meat pie boat. Substitute cooked ground beef for the meat in this recipe to make an easy beef version.

Individual pie pops made with pie dough and fruit filling

Turn Pie into Hand Pies
Use pie dough and a favorite fruit filling to make small individual pies or pie pops for a fun sweet version of the hand-pie technique.

Homemade calzones filled with meat and cheese

Homemade Calzones
Fold pizza dough around meat, cheese and vegetables for another easy handheld meal.

Chicken Pot Pie Fillings
Try one of these chicken pot pie recipes, then use the filling with the individual hand-pie method above to make smaller chicken pies.

Savory chicken pies for a kids cooking party

Have a Hand Pie Cooking Party
Turn individual savory pies into a kids cooking party where everyone can fill, fold and seal their own hand pie with favorite ingredients.

Make Almost Any Pie into a Hand Pie

Once you know how to fill, fold and seal dough, you can use the same technique with many favorite pie recipes. Choose a filling that isn't too runny, spoon a small amount onto one half of the dough circle, fold it over, seal the edges and bake until golden.

Cornish Pasty Recipe Video

Individual meat pies are similar in shape and assembly to traditional pasties. Watch this video to see another way to prepare, fill and bake a savory hand pie.

Cornish Pasties Recipe

More Easy Beef Recipes

Individual meat pies are just one way to turn beef into a family meal. Try more easy beef recipes with different fillings, flavors and cooking methods.

Homemade Hamburger Patties
Learn how to shape homemade beef patties and try several easy hamburger variations.

Easy Shepherd's Pie
Layer seasoned beef and vegetables with mashed potatoes for another easy savory pie-style dinner.

Stuffed Bell Peppers
Fill bell peppers with cooked ground beef, rice and vegetables for an easy all-in-one dinner.

How to Make Meatballs
Practice mixing, shaping and cooking ground beef for homemade meatballs.

Individual Meat Pies FAQ

What can you put in individual meat pies?

Individual meat pies can be filled with cooked beef and vegetables such as potatoes, peas, carrots, onions or peppers. You can also use other cooked meats and vegetables to create your own filling combinations.

Does the meat need to be cooked before making meat pies?

For the recipes on this page, yes. Cook the meat before adding it to the pie dough. This also makes individual meat pies a useful way to use leftover cooked meat.

Can you use ready-made pie crust for individual meat pies?

Yes. Ready-made refrigerated pie crust is an easy shortcut, or you can use homemade pie dough. Roll or cut the dough into portions before adding the filling.

How do you keep meat pies from opening while baking?

Don't overfill the dough and leave an empty border around the filling. Fold the dough over, pinch the edges together and press around the edge with a fork to help create a secure seal.

Why do you cut slits in the top of a meat pie?

Small slits allow steam from the hot filling to escape while the pie bakes. Cut one or two small vents in the top before brushing the dough with egg wash.

Can you use leftover beef in meat pies?

Yes. Chop leftover cooked roast beef into small pieces and combine it with cooked potatoes, carrots, peas or other vegetables for an easy meat pie filling.

How can kids help make individual meat pies?

Kids can spoon cooled filling onto the dough, fold the pies, press the edges with a fork, cut vents with an age-appropriate tool and brush the tops with egg wash. An adult should handle hot filling, sharp tools as needed, the oven and hot baking sheets.

Share Your Meat Pie Recipe

Does your family have a favorite meat pie filling or hand pie recipe? Share your favorite combination of meat, vegetables, cheese and seasonings with us.