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Nigerian Meat Pie Recipe

Nigerian Meat Pie Recipe

2019-11-22
4 Stars (747 Voters)
...
The Nigerian meat pies are delicious pastries filled with minced meat, potato and carrots. The pastry is slightly flaky and very rich in flavor, the filling is moist and very flavorful. These meat pies are popular in west Africa and Nigeria. If you haven’t tasted the Nigerian meat pie you must try this recipe ASAP, they are the ultimate comfort food!
DIFFICULTY
Medium
YIELDS
12
PREP TIME
1½ Hours
WORK TIME
40 Minutes
RECIPE CUISINE
African
INGREDIENTS FOR YIELDS

For the pastry:

  • 4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour
  • 200g cold Butter, cubed
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) cold water

For the filling:

  • 3/4 pound (350g) Ground beef
  • 1 Potato, peeled and diced into small cubes 
  • 1 Large Onion, chopped
  • 1 Large Carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup (240ml) Water/beef broth
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Thyme
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 tablespoons Oil
  • 1 egg for brushing

DIRECTIONS

1. Make the pastry: in a large bowl mix together flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Add cubed butter and rub it with the flour until you get a crumbly texture.

2. Beat 2 eggs with cold water and add it to the flour mixture, mix until dough is formed. Do not over mix! Wrap the dough with cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3. Make the filling: in a large pan heat oil. Add onion and sauté for 5-6 minutes, until translucent. Add diced carrots and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the meat and cook, breaking it apart, for 4-5 minutes, until no longer pink. Season with salt, pepper, thyme and flour. stir and cook for 2 minutes more.

4. Add in cubed potatoes stir well. Pour in the water/broth. Stir.

5. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, until thickens. Set aside to cool.

6. Preheat oven to 350F (175C).

7. Divide the dough into 2-4 pieces (you also can roll the whole dough, dividing it just making it easier to work). Roll out the dough into 1/8-inch (1/4 cm) thickness. Cut out a round shape with your desired sized. Combine all the leftover dough and roll it again to make more circles.

8. Place about 1-2 tablespoons of the meat mixture in the center, brush the edges with water and fold over the dough. Seal it with your fingers or with a fork. Poke the pies with a fork to create a steam outlet while baking brush the pies with beaten egg.

9. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden. Cool slightly before serving.

More meat pie recipes that you may like: 

COMMENTS (105)
  • F
    Francine
    2/28/2020

    Your dough is a mess - I don't know how anyone used it - it keeps breaking up and now I don't know what to do for his supper... I just don't understand

    Reply
  • N
    Nkem
    3/8/2020

    The dough was very fine. I almost didn't use this recipe but glad I did. You may have to check if you missed out something on the ingredient list

    Reply
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  • P
    Precious A
    3/26/2020

    This dough is SOLID!! Everyone has complimented it. I used the same dough to make sausage rolls as well and it is great! Its possible you didn't mix in the butter with the flour well before adding the wet ingredients. Thanks for the recipe

    Reply
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  • S
    Salma Idris
    4/19/2020

    Francine you are such a bad cook that's why

    Reply
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  • V
    VICKY
    5/21/2020

    The dough is very perfect,have personally adopted it.

    Reply
  • V
    VICKY
    5/21/2020

    The dough is very perfect,have personally adopted it.

    Reply
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  • V
    VICKY
    5/21/2020

    The dough is very perfect,have personally adopted it.

    Reply
  • C
    Chrissy
    6/7/2020

    Then create your own dough na or go find another recipe. Why would you shoot someone’s creation down by calling it a mess? Yet you’re the one who can’t bake and need a recipe. No be you come be the mess bayi?

    Reply
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  • I
    Ijeoma
    6/14/2020

    Try using margarine instead of butter. This may give you a better result.

    Reply
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  • O
    Og
    8/24/2020

    YOU LIE! His dough actually saved me from being embarrassed. May God bless him for coming up with the most perfect and uncomplicated way of making meat pie dough. 💋

    Reply
  • L
    Lol
    7/5/2021

    Lol. He should make his own supper

    Reply
  • K
    Kemi
    2/17/2022

    You might want to try Pillsbury Pie Crust...readily available in grocery stores; works just perfect too. That's what I use ...all the best!

    Reply
  • T
    Temitope
    9/11/2022

    😂😂😂😂😂😂

    Reply
  • H
    Highschool
    11/7/2022

    You are not a good cook

    Reply
  • r
    rekky
    11/15/2022

    you are just mean and go and fuck your self

    Reply
  • G
    Gigi
    4/23/2023

    Francine- try again! It’s very worth it! I make a lot of biscuits as I grew up down south and this dough acts like that dough just a great big ol’ shaggy mess. But, as you work it together the fat in it gets soft I highly recommend that you weigh all ingredients. I took many baking classes and at one we all measured a cup of flour in class and then weighed them. EVERBODY’s weighed differently. I bet you will have no trouble if you weight everything in grams and stay brave in gathering up all the

    Reply
  • Y
    You
    10/7/2023

    Why you argue on their recipe. De yu za

    Reply
  • R
    Regina
    3/21/2020

    Francine is right - this dough mix is too dry if you use the US/Standard measurements; however, if you use the metric measures, it comes out fine. I noticed a lot of recipes convert 500g of flour to 4cups. If you actually measure it properly, 500g comes out to about 3.5 to 3.75cups. If you used 4 cups of flour, it is too dry. I also took 10 mins to knead the dough to proper consistency, so don't give up after a few mins.

    Reply
  • w
    webbswonderful
    11/1/2023

    The American cup measurement system is stupid.

    Reply
  • C
    Crystal Bottger
    4/2/2020

    I agree, I made it the first time with 4cups flour and it was a little dry although it did work it was hard to work with the dough and it was dry after baking but when I reduced the flour to 3.5 cups it was wonderful, thank you for the delicious recipe!

    Reply
  • o
    olajumoke
    4/14/2020

    can groundnut oil substitute for butter in meatpie. And also what make meatpie chewable and not hard

    Reply
  • V
    Victory
    6/20/2020

    Ur baking powder makes it hard

    Reply
  • V
    Victory
    6/20/2020

    Ur baking powder makes it hard

    Reply
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  • l
    liana
    2/22/2021

    yes i tried it worked

    Reply
  • P
    Presh
    4/17/2020

    Nice pies delicious food

    Reply
  • A
    Ayomide
    4/22/2020

    Do we actually need to add sugar. But the rest of the ingredients are superb. I love it thanks for the recipe

    Reply
  • S
    Serina
    5/15/2020

    I was looking for a meat pie recipe that used butter instead of margarine. Wow! Am I glad this is the one I decided to try! Great dough! The meat pies tasted just like home!

    Reply
  • A
    Adrienne
    5/16/2020

    This recipe was fantastic! I made a plant-based version for my husband (he’s Nigerian) and wow...he was thoroughly impressed! I would highly recommend. I do agree with dough aspect. I added twice the water and egg because it was a little dry to begin with.

    Reply
  • G
    Gloroa
    5/21/2020

    Pastry came out perfectly for me. Thanks

    Reply
  • A
    Aisha haruna
    5/22/2020

    For how long this will take without spoiling?

    Reply
  • V
    Violin
    5/23/2020

    I am not done but I know its coming out perfect

    Reply
  • F
    Funke
    5/26/2020

    Recipe left out the need to oil baking tray/foil/paper. Or did I miss it?

    Reply
  • C
    Chrissy
    6/7/2020

    Because if you use a parchment paper or good ol’ aluminum foil pan, you do not need any oil for the baking tray. I use a nonstick baking tray and it is recommended by its manufacturer not to use sprays on it (tasty brand) so I guess it’s optional at this point.

    Reply
  • A
    Abigael Peace
    5/30/2020

    Came out perfect and delish

    Reply
  • I
    Irene Amhande
    6/3/2020

    I will try mine tomorrow thank the recipe

    Reply
  • H
    Hanny
    6/9/2020

    Please what would mke the meatpie to be hard? Especially the back, even most times it breaks but the back will still be hard

    Reply
  • D
    Deronke
    6/11/2020

    Great recipe, came out so well. Thanks for sharing The cold butter and water also helped a great deal 👍

    Reply
  • C
    Chichi
    6/12/2020

    perfect recipe . the finished product came out nice.

    Reply
  • C
    Cute Sparklers
    6/15/2020

    Not tried it yet bit yet to try it

    Reply
  • M
    Mary
    6/20/2020

    Is the sugar necessary for the dough

    Reply
  • B
    Bolah
    6/21/2020

    This is the best recipe I have used! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • K
    Khadija
    6/26/2020

    How many meatpies can I get from this recipe?

    Reply
  • I
    Ishola odunayo
    7/2/2020

    It's very nice and good

    Reply
  • E
    Enkay
    7/9/2020

    I just made my pies, used your exact recipe to a T, and it came out just perfect. Thank you. I like that the video is well organised, very easy to follow with the subtitles. keep up the good work.

    Reply
  • A
    AS
    7/11/2020

    Delicious filling but the dough was very crumbly and difficult to work with. I think if I was to make these again I would use a different pastry recipe or add extra egg/water.

    Reply
  • I
    Iredamola
    7/14/2020

    The meat pie was perfect!! Everybody loved it. But I had to add a little bit more water to the dough. Thanks for the recipe

    Reply
  • M
    May
    7/15/2020

    I didn't add the sugar But the dough was very nice and easy to work with

    Reply
  • G
    Gift
    7/16/2020

    please is it actually necessary to put the dough in the fridge for 30 mins and must i cover it with cling paper?

    Reply
  • A
    Ada
    7/28/2020

    The recipe was excellent. Thank you!

    Reply
  • The Cooking Foodie logo
    The Cooking Foodie
    7/30/2020

    Glad you liked it

    Reply
  • T
    Tisha
    8/12/2020

    Delishous

    Reply
  • A
    Abby
    8/30/2020

    OMG... your recipe has saved me the stress of doing to Nigerian store to buy meat pie, which does not even taste as good. I have made meat pie with this recipe for the third with the same perfect result.

    Reply
  • A
    Anthonia Aiwekhoe
    10/20/2020

    I just tried it out let's see how it goes🙄🙄 I'm scared with the comments I'm seeing here thou

    Reply
  • S
    Susej Hillier
    11/1/2020

    I was so excited to make this recipe. However I found it a little bland. I have half the filling mix left so I can make more turn overs. Any suggestions to make the filling more savory? Also what diameter of soup dish did you use to make the circle of pastry? Mine was a little big so I was only able to make 6 turnovers.

    Reply
  • M
    Mariam Amin
    11/17/2020

    Maggi, Curry Powder and MSG help to make it more flavourful!

    Reply
  • K
    Kim
    11/4/2020

    Hello, thanks for this excellent recipe! I tried both ways 3.5 C and 4 C and feel the 4 C was better (but both worked out).

    Reply
  • M
    Mary
    12/7/2020

    I will do mine tomorrow and will give you my feedback

    Reply
  • L
    Liana
    2/22/2021

    Tried it and came out the way I wanted it to.

    Reply
  • C
    Chinwe
    4/17/2021

    OMG! Your recipe is the absolute best! Wow! Been having issues with my dough that keeps breaking! But this recipe is a life saver! Had to pause while making my pie to write this, I’m absolutely grateful for this! Thank you so much🙏

    Reply
  • A
    Ayetty Mama
    5/6/2021

    Perfect dough i love it

    Reply
  • P
    PrincY
    6/15/2021

    Came out nice thanks for recipe

    Reply
  • O
    Omoshalewa
    7/14/2021

    I will try mine tomorrow

    Reply
  • O
    Ob
    8/9/2021

    Omg this is going to be my staple meat pie dough recipe. Came out perfect. First meat pie recipe that I didn’t give up afterwards where everything becomes a mess. Make sure you mix everything well before moving to next steps. I winged my baking soda and sugar mix cuz I was lazy to reach for the measuring spoon, but it didn’t affect my dough which was easy to work with and not as sticky as I always find myself when making meat pie. At first I thought it was kinda soft (went over the water intake)

    Reply
  • E
    Ebamoyifa Onduku
    8/16/2021

    First time making meat pie and the recipe was simple and straightforward.The dough was excellent! My kids loved it! Thanks.

    Reply
  • S
    Sandra
    9/2/2021

    I love it It is helpful thank you

    Reply
  • H
    Happy
    9/20/2021

    Very nice like MAD O.

    Reply
  • L
    Lucy
    10/10/2021

    Many thanks for sharing your recipe, it turned out perfectly when I made a few batches today! Thank you SO much!

    Reply
  • I
    Innocentia Amadi
    11/24/2021

    Well done ✅ for sharing your recipe. I tried it out and it was nice. Thank you.

    Reply
  • B
    Bethsy
    12/6/2021

    Thanks for sharing,I tried it out and it was yummy

    Reply
  • r
    roqeebah
    12/25/2021

    I tried it but missed it out when mixing roux to bind ...the roux istoo much...what can i do in this case should i proceed with the dough or I shouldn't bother.... plz it's urgent, what can i do

    Reply
  • G
    Glory chikwem
    1/31/2022

    Please people should teach me how to do cake

    Reply
  • C
    Cynthia
    3/5/2022

    Haven't tried it yet but I believe it will come out delicious

    Reply
  • f
    fncbloke
    4/8/2022

    This looks suspiciously like a Cornish pasty to me.

    Reply
  • E
    Etim
    4/26/2022

    For me sugar, egg and baking powder inside the dough is X

    Reply
  • I
    Imani
    4/29/2022

    American here who is married to a Nigerian. Made this recipe for the first time tonight and my husband loved it! Based on other comments, i did the 3.5 cups of flour and i seasoned the meat with curry powder, knorr, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. This recipe got me MAJOR POINTS tonight from hubby and my in-laws!

    Reply
  • E
    Emanamfon
    8/9/2022

    I want the newsletter.

    Reply
  • O
    Ogunyemi OLUEAREMILEKUN MODUPE
    9/23/2022

    I love the recipe.i believe it's work better for me too.as others testifies

    Reply
  • O
    Oluwaseyifunmi
    10/2/2022

    I am just watching this video I will make sure I practice it

    Reply
  • G
    Grace
    10/13/2022

    Thanks for the recipe, I haven’t baked any Meatpie for years, this recipe helped me back on track!

    Reply
  • O
    Olufizzy✨
    10/14/2022

    Came out nice thanks for the great recipe

    Reply
  • O
    Oreoluwashindara
    10/30/2022

    The recipe is amazing! I tried it out with my mom and it came out perfectly😃 and tastes so yummy😋

    Reply
  • V
    Victoria
    1/31/2023

    Pls I love it, I will love to try I think 6 will need ur support

    Reply
  • S
    Sandra Ngondo
    3/7/2023

    Glad l went with this recipe.... Pies were very tasty and the pastry was the best

    Reply
  • M
    Muhammad
    3/10/2023

    Why is nutmeg not always acceptable despite it is also good

    Reply
  • B
    Blessing
    4/13/2023

    The recipes is a perfect one to used. I love it.

    Reply
  • C
    Christina
    5/15/2023

    Do I use salted butter or unsalted ?

    Reply
  • The Cooking Foodie logo
    The Cooking Foodie
    5/23/2023

    Always unsalted.

    Reply
  • B
    Berangère
    8/12/2023

    The recipe is very simple and perfect just follow the instructions u will get it right first use the quantity giving to u.

    Reply
  • P
    Praise
    10/6/2023

    Ayomide is right do we actually need to add sugar. It is just meat. Sugar in meat 🤔

    Reply
  • Y
    You
    10/7/2023

    thanks for this

    Reply
  • R
    Rodger Webb
    11/1/2023

    It looks like a Cornish Pasty to me.

    Reply
  • E
    Edeh Chinyere Mary Rose
    1/27/2024

    It looks like a Cornish pasty to me

    Reply
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