Jamaican Beef Patties – Immaculate Bites

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 doesn’t have to be. Trust me, it’s a breeze if you have a food processor. And even if you don’t, you only have to sacrifice a few more minutes.

What’s not to love about Jamaican meat patties? They’re the real MVP of all meat pies because they’re 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: It’s spicy, mouthwatering, and highly addicting! 😋

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 you’re 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 – Place the dough on a well-floured surface. Divide it evenly into two parts and roll them out. (Photos 5-6)
• Shape – Using a 4-5″ 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 they’ve all been cut. (Photos 7-8)
• Chill – Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until ready to use.

Make the Filling

• Saute – 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 – Add Meat and Breadcrumbs and continue cooking for 10 or more minutes, frequently stirring, to prevent burning. Then add about ½ cup of water. (Photo 12)
• Adjust Flavor – Finally, add green onions and parsley and adjust for salt and pepper seasoning. (Photos 13-14)
• Cool – Remove from the heat and let it cool.

Assemble 

• Fill – 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 – 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

1. Tomato Sauce – Add a sweet and tangy flavor base to the meat filling. 
2. Add Veggies – You can’t go wrong with diced bell pepper, carrots, potatoes, green beans, and corn.
3. Meaty Swap – 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.
4. Cheesy Beef Patties – Enjoy an enticing cheese pull by adding your favorite cheeses, such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Gruyere, to your filling.

Tips and Notes

1. Keep your dough as cold as possible for easy shaping and a tender-flaky-buttery dough.
2. Avoid overworking the dough so the butter won’t completely blend into the dough.
3. 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 375℉/190℃ oven for about 30 minutes. Another reason to make them ahead.😉

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 350℉/177℃ 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

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

1. Tomato Pie
2. Shepherds Pie
3. Aloo (Potato) Pie
4. Meat Pie (Tourtiere)
5. Vegan Pot Pies
6. Ground Beef and Potato Casserole

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