Mini Holiday Meat Pies
These adorable Mini Holiday Meat Pies are packed with spiced beef filling wrapped in buttery shortcrust pastry and topped with festive pastry stars.
These Mini Holiday Meat Pies are a holiday favourite in our house, especially with the kids who love dipping them in ketchup! Each pie is filled with savoury spiced beef, wrapped in buttery shortcrust pastry, and topped with a festive pastry star. Made in a muffin tray, they’re perfectly portioned and incredibly easy to prep ahead of time. Perfect for Christmas parties, holiday buffets, or a cozy family dinner that everyone will love!
The Best Meats for Your Holiday Filling
While this recipe uses ground beef for its rich, hearty flavour, you can easily customize the filling with other ground meats. Ground pork creates a slightly sweeter, more tender filling, while turkey or chicken offers a leaner option that’s still delicious. For the best flavour and texture, choose ground meat with at least 15-20% fat, which keeps the filling moist and flavourful rather than dry. You can also mix meats, like combining beef and pork for extra depth, which is a classic technique in many traditional meat pie recipes. Whatever meat you choose, make sure to cook it thoroughly before adding the broth and spices.
Holiday Spice Blend
For achieving that signature Holiday spice blend, the secret lies in using a fragrant combination of nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove. When blended, these spices perfectly mimic the warm, complex flavour of pre-mixed allspice seasoning. Whether you opt for the convenience of using allspice or enjoy creating your own custom blend of these three spices, the result is typically traditional. A gentle spice level that even the pickiest kids will readily accept. I leave the cloves whole, but you can grind them up if you prefer.
Dipping Sauces and Condiments
While ketchup is the hands-down favourite with kids, serving your mini meat pies with a variety of dipping sauces makes them even more fun and festive. Try offering a sweet-and-tangy fruit chutney, cranberry sauce for a holiday touch. Tomato relish, BBQ sauce, or a spicy chilli sauce are great for those who like a bit of kick. Setting out a selection of dips lets everyone customize their pies and makes serving them at parties even more interactive and enjoyable.
*Here is my homemade ketchup recipe
Other Christmas Appetizers
Mini Holiday Meat Pies
Equipment
- silicone muffin tin standard size
- round cookie cutter 10 cm diametre
- star cookie cutter 5cm *optional
Ingredients
Meat Fillling
- 600 g ground beef
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 250 ml chicken broth or beef broth
- 40 g rolled oats or quick oats
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 2 cloves
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ⅓ nutmeg
- salt and pepper
Crust
- 2 packs shortcrust pastry premade
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add ground meat with salt and pepper and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned all over, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in the spices, broth, and oats. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has almost completely evaporated. Remove from heat, discard the cloves if they are whole and let cool slightly.
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Prepare a silicone muffin tin, grease a metal muffin tin, or line with paper liners.
- Roll out the pre-made shortcrust pastry and cut out circles approximately 10 cm in diameter. Press each pastry circle into the muffin cups, making sure they come up the sides.
- Spoon the cooled meat filling into each pastry cup, filling them generously but not overflowing.
- Cut out stars (or any desired shape) from the remaining pastry and place one on top of each pie.
- In a small bowl, beat together the egg yolk and a splash of milk until well combined. Brush the top of each pie generously with the egg wash.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and crispy.
Video
Notes
- Serve these warm with cranberry sauce, fruit chutney, or ketchup for dipping.
- Ensure the muffin tin is generously greased, even if using non-stick, to guarantee the mini pies release easily without tearing the crust.
Nutrition
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