Meat pies are the epitome of comfort food, and this recipe brings that classic dish right to your kitchen with ease. Inspired by the hearty, home-style cooking of the Pioneer Woman, this meat pie recipe is designed to be both satisfying and straightforward, perfect for family dinners or cozy weeknight meals. You’ll find a detailed ingredient list and simple, step-by-step instructions below to guide you in creating this delicious dish.
Meat Pie Ingredients for a Pioneer Woman Inspired Meal
To craft this comforting meat pie at home, you’ll need a selection of readily available ingredients that combine to create a rich and flavorful filling. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
• Savory Meats: The heart of this Pioneer Woman meat pie lies in a blend of ground beef and ground pork. This combination offers a depth of flavor and a satisfying texture that is both hearty and delicious. Using a mix ensures the pie isn’t too lean or too fatty, achieving a perfect balance.
• Essential Vegetables: Simple yet crucial vegetables form the aromatic base of the filling. You’ll need a potato and an onion. A yellow or white onion works perfectly, providing a mild, savory note. For the potato, a Russet or Yukon Gold variety will hold its shape well after boiling and add a creamy texture to the meat mixture.
• Robust Spices and Seasonings: To elevate the flavors of the meat and vegetables, a blend of spices and seasonings is key. This Pioneer Woman inspired recipe utilizes garlic, mustard powder, dried thyme, dried sage, ground cloves, salt, and pepper. Garlic provides a pungent base, while mustard powder adds a subtle tang. Thyme and sage contribute earthy, aromatic notes, and ground cloves offer a warm, slightly sweet depth. Salt and pepper are essential for enhancing all the flavors.
• A Touch of Water: Adding just a quarter cup of water to the ground meat mixture as it cooks is a simple yet effective technique. This helps to keep the meat moist and aids in distributing the flavors of the seasonings evenly throughout the filling.
• Perfect Pie Crust: The foundation and lid of this comforting pie are made with a double pastry crust. For convenience, you can use a store-bought pie crust. Alternatively, for a truly homemade touch, consider making your own double pastry crust from scratch. A homemade crust adds an extra layer of love and flakiness to your Pioneer Woman meat pie.
Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Pioneer Woman Meat Pie
Making a homemade meat pie might seem like a daunting task, but this Pioneer Woman inspired recipe simplifies the process into easy-to-follow steps. Here’s a brief overview of how to bring this classic comfort food to life in your own kitchen:
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Prepare the Potatoes: Begin by boiling the potato until it’s tender. Once cooked, mash it until smooth. Mashing the potatoes ahead of time ensures they are ready to be incorporated into the meat mixture seamlessly.
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Cook the Savory Meat Filling: In a large skillet, cook the combination of ground beef and ground pork along with the water, diced onion, minced garlic, and all the specified seasonings. Cook until the meat is browned and the onions are softened, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully. Ensure to break up the ground meat as it cooks to achieve a pleasing texture in the filling.
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Combine and Fill: Once the meat mixture is cooked, gently stir in the mashed potatoes. This will create a hearty and cohesive filling. Carefully pour this savory mixture into the bottom pie crust. Ensure it’s evenly distributed for consistent flavor in every bite.
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Top and Bake to Golden Perfection: Cover the filled pie with the top pie crust. Crimp the edges to seal the pie and create a decorative finish. Bake in a preheated oven until the crust is beautifully browned and the filling is heated through. The golden-brown crust is a visual cue of the deliciousness waiting inside.
Serving Suggestions for Your Pioneer Woman Meat Pie
Meat pie, especially this Pioneer Woman inspired version, is a satisfying meal on its own. Traditionally, it’s often served simply as is, allowing the rich flavors to shine. However, to create a more complete and balanced meal, consider these serving suggestions:
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Classic Gravy: A generous ladle of beef gravy over a slice of meat pie is a truly classic pairing. The savory gravy complements the hearty filling and adds an extra layer of richness.
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Roasted Vegetables: Balance the richness of the meat pie with a side of roasted vegetables. Roasted parsnips and carrots, or a medley of your favorite seasonal vegetables, offer a sweet and earthy contrast.
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Fresh and Creamy Sides: Lighten the meal with classic side dishes like creamed peas or mashed potatoes. While mashed potatoes are already in the pie, serving them on the side offers a different texture and can be comforting alongside the pie. A fresh garden salad also provides a refreshing counterpoint to the richness of the pie.
Storing and Reheating Your Homemade Meat Pie
If you happen to have leftovers of this delicious Pioneer Woman meat pie (though it’s so good, there might not be!), storing it properly ensures you can enjoy it again later.
Store leftover meat pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, reheat it thoroughly. For the best results and to maintain the crust’s texture, reheat the meat pie in the oven. Alternatively, for a quicker option, you can reheat individual slices in the microwave. Ensure the pie is heated through to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before serving.
Community Praise for this Hearty Meat Pie Recipe
This meat pie recipe has resonated with home cooks, earning praise for its ease and deliciousness. Here’s what home cooks are saying:
One Allrecipes community member raves about its excellence, noting, “Excellent pie. Just the right amount of seasoning. I used instant potato flakes to thicken it and doubled the recipe to make two pies. This will be my meat pie recipe from now on.” This highlights the recipe’s adaptability and satisfying flavor profile.
Another enthusiastic home cook, jshell43, describes this meat pie as the quintessential “comfort food,” adding, “So easy to put together, it’s almost a complete meal in itself. Just add a nice garden salad and voila…dinner is served!” This feedback emphasizes the recipe’s simplicity and its ability to create a complete and comforting meal.
pdm shares a personal touch, saying, “We replaced half the ground pork with ground beef. This recipe was easy, the result was yummy and reminded us of the French Canadian meat pie we have had many times over the years.” This comment showcases the recipe’s versatility and its ability to evoke familiar and beloved flavors.
Enjoy creating this Pioneer Woman inspired meat pie in your own kitchen and experience the joy of homemade comfort food!
