Easy Beef Taco Hand Pies

Beef Taco Hand Pies are mouth-watering seasoned pastries filled with delicious scoops of seasoned ground beef flavored with chili peppers, spices, and shredded cheese. Perfectly served with salsa, sour cream, beans, and cilantro rice.

Busy weeknights will be much more enjoyable with this yummy Mexican recipe, hinting towards a likeness of taco empanadas. Beef Taco Hand Pies – is a perfectly easy recipe for your weekly taco night!

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What do you need to make Beef Taco Hand Pies?

This easy hand pie recipe is sure to be a hit with your friends and family. Store-bought pie pastries make it even easier BUT our own pie crust recipe is incredible if you’d like to give it a go. You can even make it ahead of time and store it for a few days until you’re ready to use it.

Pie Filling

Here’s your ingredient checklist on what you’ll need for this savory filling:

• Pie pastry crust, 2 9-inch pastries * store-bought or try our homemade pie crust – See Coogan’s Favorite Pie Crust Recipe
• Olive oil
• Bell pepper, 1/2 medium – diced
• Onion, 1 large – diced (red onion is our favorite flavor)
• Garlic, 3 cloves – minced
• Ground beef, 1 pound (or substitute with lean meat like ground turkey)
• Salt, (to your preferred taste)
• Pepper, (to your preferred taste)
• Tomato paste, 1/2 of a 6-ounce can
• Diced green chilis, 1 4-ounce can – drained
• Beef broth, 1/2 cup
• Cumin, 1 tablespoon (or your favorite taco seasoning mix)
• Ground roasted chili peppers (or chili powder), 1 tablespoon (or 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes)
• Mexican cheddar cheese blend, 1 cup – shredded

Pie Pastry Egg Wash

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Egg (including the egg yolk), 1 medium
• Water, 1 tablespoon

Optional Topping:

• Dried parsley, 2 tablespoons
• Paprika, 2 tablespoons
• Sour cream

How do you make Beef Taco Hand Pies?

Heat oven to 350° F. Heat the olive oil, onions, and bell peppers in a large nonstick skillet and cook over medium heat until softened, then add in the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the ground meat to the large skillet and cook beef using a spatula to break it up as it browns over medium-high heat. Season with salt and pepper.

Next, drain the fat (grease) from the skillet.

Add in the tomato paste, green chilis, beef broth, cumin (or your favorite taco seasoning mix), ground roasted chili pepper flakes (or red pepper flakes) to the beef mixture and combine well. Continue to cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes.

Taste test the taco meat and add additional seasonings to your preferred taste.

Once you’re satisfied with the heat and flavor, remove from heat and set to the side while you prepare your pastry squares or dough circles (whichever shape you prefer).

Sprinkle flour over a large flat surface and using a rolling pin, roll out the pie pastry onto the floured surface. Cut into squares using a paring knife or a square-shaped storage container pressed down into the dough. You can also use a large biscuit cutter or cookie cutter.

You will need an equal number of squares (or circles) to ensure a top and a bottom square for each of the taco hand pies.

RECIPE TIP:

Boxed pie crust tastes delicious, flaky crust, and will work well with this recipe but if you have the time, I implore you to try our super easy homemade pie crust. It has an incredible flavor and will enhance any recipe you use it in. You can find the recipe here.

After you’ve cut out all your squares, roll out the remaining dough scraps to cut out a few more pastry squares.

Scoop a spoonful of the beef mixture onto one pastry square, sprinkle with a bit of shredded cheddar cheese, and top with another pastry square to create these mini taco pies.

Crimp together and press the edges of the squares (or pie dough rounds) using the bottom of a fork. Continue to pinch edges along the outer edges on each of the remaining beef taco hand pies.

Place a large piece of parchment paper (or foil) over a large baking sheet and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Transfer the assembled pies to the baking sheet and cut a few small steam vents on the top of each pie with a sharp paring knife.

Create an egg wash for the tops of the hand pies …

First, mix together the egg and water in a small bowl. Brush the egg wash over the top and edges of each completed hand pie with a basting or pastry brush.

Then, sprinkle with paprika and dried parsley.

Lastly, bake in the oven for 20 minutes on the middle rack or until the crust turns a beautiful golden brown color.

What side dish foods go well with this easy hand pie recipe?

Rice just seems to be the most perfect fit to serve with this easy Beef Taco Hand Pie recipe but other great options would include:

• Brown rice, white rice, cilantro-lime rice, or wild rice
• Black beans or refried beans
• Sweet Corn Casserole
• Salsa and sour cream
• Any vegetable dish or side salad

Looking for more tasty and easy recipes? Try a few here:

• Italian Chicken and Acorn Squash Couscous
• Chicken & Pork Crostina Pasta
• Creamy Beef and Potatoes
• Wild Rice Chicken Casserole – (Easy Recipe)
• Meat and Potato Timballo Pie

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