Jamaican Beef Patties. Spicy, flavorful beef stuffed in an amazing, easy buttery dough. They come together quickly and fly off the table even faster. Simply delicious comfort food!
Making your own pastry can be intimidating, but it doesnโt have to be. Trust me, itโs a breeze if you have a food processor. And even if you donโt, you only have to sacrifice a few more minutes.
Whatโs not to love about Jamaican meat patties? Theyโre the real MVP of all meat pies because theyโre snackable anytime. Besides, saying no to these goodies is impossible, especially with a flaky, buttery crust and a tasty meaty filling. Just talking about it makes me drool.
Spoiler alert: Itโs spicy, mouthwatering, and highly addicting! ๐
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Contentโฆ Spicy Jamaican Beef Patty Recipe |
Spicy Jamaican Beef Patty Recipe
Jamaican meat patties are a beautiful yellow color from turmeric and creamy butter. The spicy beef filling enjoys curry powder, cumin, garlic, onions, hot pepper, allspice, thyme, paprika, and curry. If youโre a heat lover, add diced scotch bonnet pepper to the filling.
How to Make Jamaican Beef Patties
Make the Crust
- Mix flour, salt, sugar, and turmeric in a food processor or by hand, and blend well. Add the butter and shortening, followed by vinegar and water in small amounts, pulse until combined, and the dough holds together in a ball. (Photos 1-4)
- Roll โ Place the dough on a well-floured surface. Divide it evenly into two parts and roll them out. (Photos 5-6)
- Shape โ Using a 4-5โณ large-mouth glass or bowl, cut out circles by gently pressing the dough and releasing it, shaping the meat patty dough. Continue cutting out circles until theyโve all been cut. (Photos 7-8)
- Chill โ Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until ready to use.
Make the Filling
- Saute โ Add 2 tablespoons of oil to a saucepan, followed by onions, garlic, paprika, thyme curry, chili powder, white pepper, allspice, and chicken bouillon. Saute it for about 2 minutes. (Photos 9-11)
- Ground Beef โ Add Meat and Breadcrumbs and continue cooking for 10 or more minutes, frequently stirring, to prevent burning. Then add about ยฝ cup of water. (Photo 12)
- Adjust Flavor โ Finally, add green onions and parsley and adjust for salt and pepper seasoning. (Photos 13-14)
- Cool โ Remove from the heat and let it cool.
Assemble
- Fill โ Scoop a heaping tablespoon of filling into each circle, and brush with egg white around half of the circle. Fold over and twist with fingers gently to seal the edges of the meat pie. (Another way of sealing is by pressing the tines of a fork along the edges of the dough and brushing with an egg wash.) (Photos 15-16)
- Bake โ Carefully arrange the patties on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve hot or at room temperature, and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Tomato Sauce โ Add a sweet and tangy flavor base to the meat filling.
- Add Veggies โ You canโt go wrong with diced bell pepper, carrots, potatoes, green beans, and corn.
- Meaty Swap โ You can also use any ground meat you prefer, such as ground chicken or pork, for a savory patty with a lighter flavor. If you want a healthier option, try an all-veggie filling with carrots, peas, potatoes, and more.
- Cheesy Beef Patties โ Enjoy an enticing cheese pull by adding your favorite cheeses, such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Gruyere, to your filling.
Tips and Notes
- Keep your dough as cold as possible for easy shaping and a tender-flaky-buttery dough.
- Avoid overworking the dough so the butter wonโt completely blend into the dough.
- Freeze any leftover meat mixture to use for another time.
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
Frozen Jamaican beef patties make a quick and easy snack; assemble them 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 the patties directly from frozen in a 375โ/190โ oven for about 30 minutes. Another reason to make them ahead.๐
If you have leftover meat patties (highly doubtful), you can refrigerate them for 3 days in an airtight container. You can also wrap them with plastic or aluminum foil and freeze them for up to 2 months.
Reheat meat patties in a 350โ/177โ oven, air fryer, or toaster oven for about 10 minutes or until heated through. The microwave works, but the crust wonโt crisp up.
What to Serve With Jamaican Beef Patties
Enjoy them on their own for snacks, or turn them into meals by adding simple yet delightful side dishes. Plantain chips and coleslaw are classics.
More Savory Pie Recipes to Try
- Tomato Pie
- Shepherds Pie
- Aloo (Potato) Pie
- Meat Pie (Tourtiere)
- Vegan Pot Pies
- Ground Beef and Potato Casserole
By Imma
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=โRbin77mlโ upload-date=โMon Aug 06 2018 19:57:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)โ name=โJamaican Meat Pie (Jamaican Beef Patty)โ description=โJamaican Beef Patty โ Spicy flavorful beef stuffed in an amazing super easy buttery dough.Comes together quickly and flies off the table. Simply Delicious!!!โ]
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
Patty Crust
- 4 cups (480g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 2 tablespoons (24g) sugar
- ยฝ tablespoon (9g) salt
- ยฝ-2 teaspoons (1-6g) turmeric
- 5 ounces (140g) unsalted butter
- 5 ounces (140g) shortening
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup (236ml) ice water
Beef Filling
- 1 tablespoons (15ml) cooking oil
- ยฝ 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
- ยผ cup (30g) bread crumbs
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons (7-8g) parsley, chopped (optional)
- ยฝ scotch bonnet pepper, chopped (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Patty Crust
- Mix flour, sugar, salt, and turmeric in a food processor or by hand, and blend well. Add the butter and shortening, followed by vinegar and water in small amounts, pulse 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.
- Using a large-mouth glass or bowl, about 4-5", cut out circles by gently pressing the dough and releasing it, shaping the meat patty dough. Continue cutting out circles until they've all been cut.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until ready to use.
Meat Pie Filling
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a saucepan. Add the onions, garlic, paprika, allspice, curry powder, thyme, white pepper, chili powder, and chicken bouillon. Saute for about 2 minutes.
- Add meat and breadcrumbs and continue cooking for 10 minutes or more, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Then add about ยฝ cup of water.
- Finally, add green onions and parsley and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Remove from the heat and let it cool.
Assembly
- Preheat the oven to 375โ/190โ.
- Scoop a heaping tablespoon of filling into each circle and brush with egg white around half of the circle. Fold over and twist with fingers gently to seal the edges of the meat pie. (Another way of sealing is by pressing the tines of a fork along the edges of the dough.)
- Carefully arrange the patties on a baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes.
- Serve warm, and enjoy!
Tips & Notes:
- You can freeze the assembled beef patties and bake them later.
- Keep your dough as cold as possible for easy shaping and a tender-flaky-buttery dough.
- Avoid overworking the dough so the butter wonโt completely blend into the dough.
- Freeze any leftover meat mixture to use for another time.
- Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
San says
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 ๐
ImmaculateBites says
Thank you so much San!
Joanna says
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, Iโve never been successful. This is the first and only time Iโve nailed it. Thank you! I look forward to making more of your recipes!
ImmaculateBites says
High Five!!! So happy to hear when the whole family enjoys it . Thanks for taking the time to share this with me.
Happy Cooking!!!
Tara says
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 itโs 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!!!
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Tara!
The shortening is not for the onions, itโs for the dough. You can sub with butter.
Lynn says
As a diabetic I donโt 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 canโt eat breadcrumbs then they certainly shouldnโt be eating something wrapped in dough.
Shannon Chin says
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 havenโt 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.
Lizzy says
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.
ImmaculateBites says
WooHoo! Thank you so much Lizzy. You are too kind!
Harriett says
Shortening
Harriett says
How much is 5 oz of shorting
5 oz of butter
Delca says
Can you potatoes in the meat filling?
ImmaculateBites says
You sure can.
Harriett says
Hi when I was 20 years old I was living with my aunt in phillidafia was my first time trying it. Very good. I donโt have a food processor. Is there another way I can make my dough.
ImmaculateBites says
You can use a Cake mixer, or do it by hand.
Tina says
Just finished eating these amazing patties!! Thankyou so much they are lush!!
Merita says
How and I make my meat not too spicy Iโm not a spicy fan but my boyfriend is he Jamaican so he will be okay but maybe Iโll add a little spicy kick in it I wonโt 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 whatโs not good so I end up didnโt 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
ImmaculateBites says
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 itโs 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!!!
Nancy Blue says
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 couldnโt 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 Iโm on your site daily trying something delicious.
ImmaculateBites says
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.
Hilda says
Please can i use margarine in place of butter?
They look yummy and thanks for the recipe.
ImmaculateBites says
You sure can.
Melanie says
Hi just wanted to know if I leave out the shortning can I substitute with something else eg more butter ? As I am Struggling to find any shortning in the uk? Any suggestions, or maybe there could be a alternative shortning in the uk which I havenโt heard of.
Thanks
ImmaculateBites says
Just replace with butter.
Cheryl says
Shortening is any other solid fat. E.g. lard, margarine, etc., A lard/butter mix makes beautiful, very light and crumbly pastry! Lard has been used in pastry since time immemorial and tends to produce a lighter pastry than all-butter.
Janet says
Can you use store dough (Pillsbury) ?
I do not have a food processor or mixer.
ImmaculateBites says
The texture would be different but itโs still going to do the Job. Try not to stuff it too much.
Michele says
I mixed the dough by hand (using a spoon, then fork, then my hands) with no problems. Donโt use store-bought dough, it will spoil the authentic taste!
ImmaculateBites says
Awesome! Thanks for sharing Michele!!!
Vicky says
Thank you for this recipe! Been making or for a year for my family and itโs my husbands favorite dish! I use 1/2 hamburger and 1/2 ground sausage ( thatโs what we had on hand the second time and everyone raved about it!). Thank you for making me a culinary star in my family! ๐
ImmaculateBites says
My pleasure!!! Nothing makes me smile more.
Caroline Wipff says
Looking forward to making this this weekend! Thank you! Lovely blog.
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks Caroline. Do let me know how it works out for you.
Sylvia says
Imma, these look so good. Curious, can these patties be made with seafood filling? I was thinking about shrimp . Iโm trying ground turkey filling tonight.
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks girl. I have never tried it with shrimp. So cannot say with certainty. Might just have to create another version with shrimp. Ground turkey sounds great!!!