Jamaican Beef Patties
Spicy, flavorful Jamaican beef patties deliver a juicy, spicy meat filling stuffed in an easy, buttery dough. They come together quickly and fly off the table even faster. Absolutely delicious comfort food!
Making your own pastry can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s super easy with or without a food processor. Sometimes I use it, and other times I love getting my hands in the dough.
Just so you know, we ate these guys every day while we were in Jamaica, and we even watched them being made. But when replicating them at home, I couldn’t help making a few tweaks with readily available ingredients in my area.
What Makes Them Unique
Have you noticed that almost every culture has its version of a handheld meat pie? Cornish pastries in England, empanadas in Spanish-speaking countries, salteñas in South America, and, in China, xian bing is a flatbread loaded with spicy ground pork.
Jamaicans took this treat to the next level by adding turmeric to the flaky, buttery pastry dough. Their iconic curry spice blend adds loads of flavor and a good amount of heat. That sounds close enough to health food to me.
How to Make Jamaican Beef Patties
- For the filling, sauté the aromatics, add ground beef and break it up, add the bread crumbs, water, and the rest of the seasonings, and simmer.
- For the crust, mix the dry ingredients, grate in the frozen butter, add the vegetable shortening, then the water, and knead until smooth.
- Roll out the dough, add more shortening, fold it over, and roll it out again.
- Add the filling to the dough, brush the seams with an egg wash, fold, cut, brush the finished patties with more egg wash, and bake.
Recipe Tips and Twists
- Personalize your filling with a little tomato paste for extra umami. Grated cheese on top of the filling when assembling wouldn’t hurt either.
- Add more diced veggies to the filling and replace the meat with diced mushrooms for a vegetarian version.
Make-Ahead and Leftovers
Frozen patties make a quick and easy snack; assemble and freeze them on a baking sheet in a single layer. After they freeze for about an hour, store them in a freezer ziplock bag until the craving hits. Bake as many patties as you want directly from frozen in a 375℉ (190℃) oven for about 30 minutes.
Freeze any leftover meat mixture for later, or add it to meat sauces over pasta, soups, and stews.
Leftover patties will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 3-4 months. Crisp them back up in a 350℉ (180℃) oven, air fryer, or toaster oven for about 10 minutes or until heated through. The microwave works, but the crust won’t crisp up.
What to Serve With Jamaican Beef Patties
Turn these treats into a complete meal with a side of coleslaw, fried plantains, and rice and peas. Hot sauce is a must; Caribbean pepper sauce and my favorite hometown pepper sauce are good choices.
More Savory Pie Recipes to Try
By Imma
Watch How to Make It
This blog post was originally published in August 2016 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”Rbin77ml” upload-date=”Mon Aug 06 2018 19:57:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)” name=”Jamaican Meat Pie (Jamaican Beef Patty)” description=”Jamaican Beef Patty – Spicy flavorful beef stuffed in an amazing super easy buttery dough.Comes together quickly and flies off the table. Simply Delicious!!!”]
This blog post was originally published in August 2016 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video
Jamaican Beef Patties
Ingredients
Beef Filling
- 1 tablespoons (15ml) cooking oil
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon (3-4g) granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon (3g) paprika
- 1 teaspoon (2-3g) allspice
- 1 teaspoon (2-3g) curry powder
- 1 teaspoon (2g) dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon (2-3g) white pepper
- 2 teaspoons (5g) chili powder
- 1 teaspoon (4g) chicken bouillon powder (optional, or replace with salt)
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
- ¼ cup (30g) bread crumbs
- ½ cup (118ml) water
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons (7-8g) parsley, chopped (optional)
- ½ scotch bonnet pepper, chopped (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
Dough
- 4 cups (480g) all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
- 2 tablespoons (24g) sugar
- ½ tablespoon (9g) salt
- ½-2 teaspoons (1-6g) turmeric
- 5 ounces (140g) unsalted butter, frozen
- 5 ounces (140g) shortening, very cold
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup (236ml) ice water
- 1 egg, lightly beaten with a tablespoon of water for the egg wash
Instructions
Meat Pie Filling
- Heat the oil in a saucepan or deep skillet. Add the onions, garlic, paprika, allspice, curry powder, thyme, white pepper, chili powder, and chicken bouillon. Sauté for about 2 minutes.
- Add the ground beef, break it up, and cook until no longer pink. Add the breadcrumbs and about ½ cup of water, and simmer until slightly thickened.
- Add the green onions and parsley, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, and optionally make the filling smoother with an immersion blender.
- Remove from the heat and let it cool. While it's cooling, make the crust.
The Crust
- Mix flour, sugar, salt, and turmeric in a food processor or by hand, and blend well. Grate in the butter and shortening and mix in until you have coarse crumbs.
- Add the vinegar and water in small amounts, pulse or mix with your hands until combined, and the dough holds together in a ball.
- Place the dough on a well-floured surface. Divide it evenly into two parts and roll them out.
- Arrange six spoonfuls of filling on one side of each piece of dough, brush the seams with the egg wash, fold the other side of the dough over the filling, and cut with a pastry wheel or a sharp knife. If using a knife, crimp the edges with a fork.You could also cut circles out, fill each circle, brush the edges with egg wash, fold, and crimp.
- Refrigerate covered for about 30 minutes or until ready to bake.
- Preheat the oven to 375℉ (190℃).
- Carefully arrange the patties on a baking sheet, brush them with the rest of the egg wash, and bake for about 30 minutes.
- Serve warm, and enjoy!
Tips & Notes:
- Keep your dough as cold as possible for easy shaping and a tender, flaky crust.
- Avoid overworking the dough so the butter doesn’t melt and disappear into the dough.
- Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
Imma,
I want to make this but need clarification. You listed Pie crust as an ingredient but I did not see it in the instructions. Did you meant to put pie crust as a heading?
Also, Can I use Panko if I don’t have breadcrumbs? Also, If I don’t have cookie sheet parchment paper what can I do?
Thanks!
Yes, I did. Recipe updated . Yes you sure can panko works as well. If you don’t have parchment paper use foil instead .
Happy Cooking !!!
Thank you very much! Appreciate the prompt response!
Loved this recipe. I made 150 meat patties for a birthday party and they were a big hit. Absolutely yummy. Will return to this.
Virtual High Five! You go girl!!! Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.
Delish…. Made 150 meat patties for a birthday party. I added 1 half a tsp of curry in the oastry and cut the tumeric in half. Just plain yummy. Will definitely return to ths recipe
Imma, sincere thanks for all you do. I absolutely love your pictures.
Have you tried this with whole wheat or other healthier flour?
I spend about 20 bucks a week on Jamaican chicken patties, and eat them for lunch almost daily. I am clueless in the kitchen but I would like to try to make a more nutritious version. I am on a healthier journey, and have lost over 60 pounds and counting.
Congratulations KayG! That is quite an achievement ! Unfortunately, I haven’t tried it yet with any other healthier flour .This is a suggestion -try it out by cutting half of the white flour and replacing it with whole wheat flour. So the taste is not overwhelming at first.
Very good. Thanks
Awesome!
I am so thankful I found your site! Tonight I made just the recipe for the filling and served it on top of white rice.. It was AMAZING! Hubby and I both love it. I am finally in love with cooking again after years of being in a rut cooking the same 10-12 dishes over and over again.
My plan is to try something new every other day. Your recipes are sure to make it a wonderful, spicy adventure. Thank you!
Love the way you describe the recipes Lynn – wonderful spicy adventure .So glad to hear hubby is having a blast with it. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me .
You can serve with what? Or eaten as they are? I want to make these for dinner tomorrow.
You eat them as they are.
Was looking for authentic Jamaican beef patties, and here they are – can’t wait to get stuck in with this one!
Imma, your recipes make my mouth water – just made the Jamaican Saltfish dumpling for my husband and 2 girls today, and it went down a treat!
I am from London, yet can’t find any good Jamaican takeaways here without paying an arm and leg, so thank you for the site – so glad I found you!
Awesome! Glad to have you on board Rebecca. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. Believe me, I know how pricey it can be… especially if you are trying to feed the whole family. Happy Cooking!!!!
In the text you mention cumin but it is not found in the recipe.
I just made them following recipe but something was missing in flavour. I now realize it must be the cumin. They are good. Dough is definitely superb. I will just have to try again!;-)
I didn’t use cumin here. If you like cumin go for it. Adjust to taste.
This sounds like a great recipe and I would like to make it for a Jamaican-themed party that I am attending this weekend. I’m just not clear on what the measurement is supposed to be for the turmeric. It says “½ – 2-teaspoon turmeric” but does that mean 1/2 teaspoon or 2 teaspoons or 2 1/2 teaspoons? Could you please clarify? Many thanks in advance.
Hi Colleen! You can use 1/2 teaspoon or up to 2 teaspoons of turmeric. If you are making it for a party I would stay between 1/2 -1 teaspoons. Some might not like the pungent flavor . Happy cooking
Great recipe as always..I do know that people put breadcrumbs in the patties.
There are many recipes for diabetics so there is no need to feel slighted.If people would watch their diet & eat smaller portions the risk of diabetes would decrease. Patties are certainly a welcome addition to be eaten as a treat. Keep up the great work with your blog & continued success 🙂
Thank you so much San!
Thus recipe has made me so happy!!! My husband is from Zimbabwe and lives for years in the Cayman Islands where we met. I made these last night and we devoured them! Even my kids love them! They taste so authentic and are so easy to make. Making dough is my Achilles heel, I’ve never been successful. This is the first and only time I’ve nailed it. Thank you! I look forward to making more of your recipes!
High Five!!! So happy to hear when the whole family enjoys it . Thanks for taking the time to share this with me.
Happy Cooking!!!
Hello, I am a little confused, I used to live in NYC and ate many Jamaican patties. I never heard of putting BREAD CRUMBS in it. Another thing why would you use shortening to cook the onions etc. when the hamburger meat makes it’s own grease.??? There are people who are diabetic and may feel a little slighted since the recipe has things in it that would make their sugar go up. Why not invest in recipes for them since the number of them are increasing in this country!!!
Hi Tara!
The shortening is not for the onions, it’s for the dough. You can sub with butter.
As a diabetic I don’t get slighted regarding a recipe that uses ingredients I am not supposed to eat. I either make substitutions or I simply move on and find a different recipe. If someone can’t eat breadcrumbs then they certainly shouldn’t be eating something wrapped in dough.
It always bothers me when people come to someones page, and instead of commenting on the pros or cons of a recipe, or even worse, when they haven’t even tried the recipe, they are critical, and complain about things that have nothing to do with the recipe at all. Tara should at least try the recipe, or if it is not what she is looking for, at least keep her negative feelings to herself. I think your page is wonderful. I have not tried to make these yet, but I am going to since your other recipes are so good, for example, the Braised Chicken in Coconut Milk. Delicious.
Awesome recipe!!! I tried an actual Jamaican beef patty recipe from my Jamaican friend and let me tell you how your recipe by far is more authentic, delicious and easy to prepare! if I could give you any advice its to please keep up the fabulous work! I already gave your recipe to 10 co-workers and 3 of them are Jamaican.
WooHoo! Thank you so much Lizzy. You are too kind!
Shortening
How much is 5 oz of shorting
5 oz of butter
Can you potatoes in the meat filling?
You sure can.
Hi when I was 20 years old I was living with my aunt in phillidafia was my first time trying it. Very good. I don’t have a food processor. Is there another way I can make my dough.
You can use a Cake mixer, or do it by hand.
Just finished eating these amazing patties!! Thankyou so much they are lush!!
How and I make my meat not too spicy I’m not a spicy fan but my boyfriend is he Jamaican so he will be okay but maybe I’ll add a little spicy kick in it I won’t mine I have try beef patty and most of them there very spicy my eyes cryies and my mouth burn very bad and I start coughing which what’s not good so I end up didn’t eat anything but I love meat with pie not the spicy part lol please let me know what can I do so it will be even for both of us
Just omit the cayenne pepper and DO NOT include scotch bonnet pepper. This what I do sometimes. Cook the beef and divide in half. In one half I add cayenne pepper to make it spicy hot , maybe scotch bonnet depending on preference. Cayenne pepper gives it enough heat . So it’s ok to use cayenne pepper only. Then I assemble . Make sure you are able to differentiate between the two after baking . This way everyone can eat to their hearts desire. Happy Cooking!!!
It was my birthday on 8/24 and I decided to do all Jamaican cuisine I prepared brown stewed chicken, rice and beans along with cabbage it was my intent to purchase beef patties but I couldn’t find the mini patties so I made these beef patties and they were a hit, my whole dinner was awesome now all my friends are asking me to make them for them. Thank you so much Imma I’m on your site daily trying something delicious.
Happy Belated Birthday Nancy! So happy everything worked out well for you. Thank you so much for giving my recipes a try and for the feedback.
Please can i use margarine in place of butter?
They look yummy and thanks for the recipe.
You sure can.