Slow-Baked Beef and Ale Pie with Shortcrust Pastry

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-08 · Updated 2026-04-08

A rustic English comfort dish featuring a savory filling of beef, root vegetables, and malty ale, encased in a flaky buttery crust. This British-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 80 minutes, layers ground beef, medium onion, carrot into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 diced medium onion
• 2 peeled and diced carrot
• 2 diced celery stalk
• 2 minced garlic clove
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup dark ale
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 sheet (14 oz) puff pastry sheet
• 1 beaten egg

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook 1.5 lbs ground beef until browned, breaking it into small pieces with a spoon, then drain excess fat.
2. Step 2: Add 1 diced medium onion, 2 diced peeled carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks to the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes until vegetables are tender and edges begin to brown.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp dried rosemary, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Pour in 1 cup beef broth and 1/2 cup dark ale, then bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
5. Step 5: Transfer the filling to a 9-inch pie dish. Roll out 1 sheet (14 oz) puff pastry to fit the dish, then place over the filling. Trim excess pastry and crimp edges with a fork.
6. Step 6: Brush the pastry with 1 beaten egg, then bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and the filling bubbles around the edges.