Scottish Mince Beef Pie

ByJanice Pattie May 19, 2020January 12, 2025

Cut through the crisp buttery puff pastry crust of this traditional Scottish Mince Beef Pie to find the delicious beef and onion filling. It’s so easy to make using ready-made puff pastry and with no pre-cooking needed for the minced (ground) beef.

What is a Scottish Mince Beef Pie?

The Mince Round

The more commonly known Scottish Mince Pie is made using shortcrust pastry and is filled with cooked beef mince and gravy. This is also often called a mince round.

My Grandfather’s Scottish Mince Beef Pie Recipe

My paternal grandfather was a butcher in Dundee, that’s him in the photograph with my grandmother on the right. He had his own butcher shop from the 1930s to 1960s.

Because being a butcher was a reserved occupation, he remained in the town and worked there all through WWII. His shop was demolished along with many of the old tenements in the Hilltown area and after that, he worked for other butchers.

My grandfather’s pie recipe is different from the classic mince round. You make the pie with puff pastry and a seasoned minced (ground) beef filling that goes into the pie uncooked, and is firm when the pie is cut.

What does the mince beef pie taste like?

The filling in the pie is similar to a good burger or meatloaf encased in crisp puff pastry.

Can you buy this type of mince beef pie?

You can easily buy the Mince Round type of pie with a cooked beef mince filling. But I haven’t seen my grandfather’s type of mince beef pie in any butchers in recent years which is a shame as it is really delicious. Fortunately, my Mum got the recipe from my grandfather and I got the recipe from her many years ago.

What kind of minced (ground) beef should I use?

Use the best mince you can afford, preferably Scotch Beef but any good quality beef will make a good pie. Use beef which has some fat in it because the fat adds flavour.

How do you make puff pastry?

I make the pie with ready-made puff pastry. For this pie, I buy a block of puff pastry rather than the ready rolled sheets. Buy two packs if you want to use the ready-rolled sheets because one is not big enough to make a base and lid.

If you would like to make your own puff pastry then there is an excellent step-by-step recipe at Feast Glorious Feast.

How to make Scottish Mince Beef Pie

Let me take you step-by-step through the simple process of making this classic pie.

You will need:

Good quality minced (ground) beef
Puff pastry
Onion
Worcestershire sauce
Eggs
Salt & pepper
2 bowls
Rolling pin
Pastry brush
Knife
Fork
23 cm ovenproof plate (or pie tin)

Mix the ingredients

Put the minced beef in a bowl with the finely chopped onion, seasonings and a beaten egg.
Mix with a fork, then get your hands into the bowl and make sure all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed together.

Start to build the Scottish Mince Beef Pie

Take the puff pastry and divide in two. You need a little less pastry for the base, so cut a slightly larger piece for the top.
Roll out the pastry. Use the plate to check that it is large enough.
Line the plate with the pastry and cut off any excess.
Put the beef mince mixture on the pie plate, leaving approximately 2.5 cm of pastry still visible.
Brush the edges of the pastry with a beaten egg.

Put the lid on the pie

Roll out the remaining puff pastry and cover the beef mince mixture.
Press down around the edges then cut away the excess pastry.
Crimp the edges with your fingers and thumb to seal the pie.
Make two slits in the top of the pie to release the steam as it bakes.
Brush the top of the pie with the egg in order to give it a nice shiny top.

Bake the pie

Place the pie on a baking tray because some of the juices may leak out.
Bake until the pie is golden brown which will take about 40 minutes.

How should I serve Scottish Mince Beef Pie?

I always serve Scottish Mince Beef Pie with potatoes. I usually serve it with mashed potatoes, however, it’s nice with new potatoes.

Why not serve it with traditional Scottish Slow Cooker Stovies or Rumbledethumps? Serve any other vegetables you like, I chose carrots because that’s what my grandmother would serve with the pie but my recipe for Air Fryer Roasted Swede would also be a good choice with this pie.

About the gravy

I can happily eat this pie as it is without any gravy. However, my family disagrees. I suggest you try it and see if you think it needs gravy. If you want to make gravy then I have an excellent recipe for Easy Blender Onion Gravy.

More Pie Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen

Easy Cheesy Vegetable Lattice Pie is impressive enough for Sunday lunch and simple enough for a weeknight supper.
Haggis, Neeps, and Tattie Pie is a thrifty way to stretch one haggis into a feast for eight people.
Speedy Beef and Vegetable Pie is just the sort of pie that all my family loves.

More Pie Recipes

Puff Pastry Egg & Bacon Pie – Feast Glorious Feast
Puff Pastry Potato Tart – Curly’s Cooking
Steak Pie with Peas, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy – Christina’s Cucina