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What makes an Aussie meat pie so good?

Looking for the best meat pies in Australia? We’ve got you covered! - by Rhys McKay
  • 01 Oct 2019
What makes an Aussie meat pie so good?

The meat pie is one of Australia’s most popular dishes. Some might even consider it our national dish. It’s just about the only thing people will eat at footy games, nearly hundreds and thousands of pies are sold at AFL finals games. We even have a yearly contest for pies, the Great Aussie Pie Competition, where we determine which pie and pie maker is the best of that year! 

But what makes the Aussie meat pie such an enduring national food? And where can you get your hands on this classic Australian snack? Let’s take a look!

RELATED: Kmart Pie Maker fans are now making VANILLA SLICE pies in the $29 gadget

What is a meat pie?

As its name suggests, a meat pie is a pie filled with meat; usually beef, lamb, chicken, or pork. Though they’re most popular in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, meat pies can be found everywhere, and come in all shapes and sizes.

In Latin America and the Philippines, one of the most popular forms of the meat pie is the empanada – a baked or fried pastry filled with ground beef, chicken, or pork, and an assortment of vegetables. In India, they have samosas, which are filled with peas, potatoes, lentils, chicken or beef, and lots of spices. While in the US, some of the most popular types of meat pies are chicken pot pies and shepherd’s pies. 

A slice of shepherd's pie on a rustic, wooden table
Getty

What makes Australian meat pie different?

Australian meat pies don’t differ too much from British meat pies, except that they’re usually small enough to fit in your palm. Because of this, they’re often called hand-warmers, or pocket pies, and are usually sold as a snack in bars, at footy games, and on the street. These days, the Aussie meat pie is so ubiquitous that you can get a frozen batch in every Woolworths and Coles around the country. According to one source, each Aussie consumes 12 pies a year on average!

As mentioned, Aussies seem to take pride in the humble meat pie. And who can blame us? They’re not just delicious and convenient snacks; they’re also versatile and allow room for innovation. Whereas the classic choice used to be a steak and kidney pie, there are tons of bakeries that are coming up with new ideas for flavours and fillings.

mrs_macs View Profile
74 likes - View Post on Instagram
Sometimes you just need a helping hand. #mrsmacs #satisfyinglysimple. . . . . #satisfyinglysimple #foodie #foodporn #pie #pies #perthfoodies #melbournefoodie #sydneyfood #brisbanefood #brisbane #queenslanders #melbourne #justanotherdayinwa #yummy #instagood #meatpie

8 must-try Aussie meat pies

Four’n Twenty’s Classic Meat Pie

If there’s one pie that’s synonymous with football, it’s a Four’n Twenty pie. Established in 1947, Four’n Twenty has been serving meat pies to footy fans for nearly 70 decades now, and they’ve shown no signs of stopping. Their pies are best paired with a large dollop of ketchup and a cold beer.

Must try: While its classic meat pie is, well, a classic; Four’n Twenty’s Chunky Beef Pie is filled with tender chunks of steak that’ll make any meat lover’s heart soar. 

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🥧🏈Australia's Original Fan Food 🥧🏈

Balfours’ Footy Pie

As the oldest bakery in Australia, Balfours has had plenty of time to perfect its pies. Their famous square Footy Pie is, as its name suggests, another staple at AFL games.

According to Balfours, five square pies are consumed every minute. If that’s not a sign that these pies are irresistible, we don’t know what is!

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Nothing goes together quite like a pie + sauce + local footy! #Balfours

Mrs Mac’s Beef Party Pies

Who says you can only enjoy meat pies at a live footy game? While Mrs Mac’s sells regular-sized pies too, one of its best-sellers is party pies. These bite-sized pastries are the perfect snacks to serve when you’ve got all your mates over to catch a game on TV.

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Qualifying Finals time. A #mrsmacs definitely qualifies. #satisfyinglysimple

Tiger Pie

Harry’s Cafe de Wheels is a historic pie cart that was first put up in Woolloomooloo in 1938. The cart is famous for their signature “tiger pie”, a chunky lean beef pie topped with mashed potatoes, mushy peas, and gravy. You could say the pie is a cross between meat pie, shepherd’s pie, and a pie floater – a pie floating in a sea of pea soup!

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The classic Tiger Pie with mashed potatoes, mushy peas and gravy. How do you like yours?⠀ *⠀ * ⠀ * ⠀ #harryscafedewheels #harrys #sydney #australia #sydneyfood #sydneyfoodie #sydneyeats #visitaustralia #visitnsw #visitsydney #instasydney #instaaustralia #food #foodie #eats #buzzfeast #instafood #foodlover #foodpics #delish #tiger #pie #potato

Yatala Pies

Here’s another long-time shop that’s proven to serve killer pies. Queensland’s Yatala Pies has been around for over 130 years, with its iconic shop considered as one of the most recognisable landmarks in the area. Today, it sell about 3,500 pies a day. It's best-seller? Their beef, bacon, and cheese pie! 

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The pies are hot and our doors are open! Some of your favourites may still be baking, please be patient with us as we try to catch up! #lightsareon #poweredup #pipinghot #seeyoufordinner

Beefy’s Pies

Here’s another Gold Coast favourite. Beefy’s serves some of the best traditional and gluten-free pies in Australia. And that’s no exaggeration – Beefy’s pies are award winners. They bagged gold at the 2017 Official Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition in Sydney for their Gluten-Free Steak, Bacon, and Cheese pie!

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Happy Beefy's Pie Day Friday.... we won BEST in Queensland!!! 🥇 ⠀ ⠀ Beefy's has been awarded a big bag of gold medals in the hotly contested Great Aussie Pie Competition recently held in Sydney, baking the Best Brekkie Pie and the Best Gluten Free Pie in Queensland. ⠀ ⠀ We won GOLD for our Signature Steak Pie in the plain meat pie category, GOLD for our Aussie Special (aka Ned Kelly Pie) in the brekkie category, and GOLD for our Gluten Free Steak, Bacon and Cheese pie! 🥧 ⠀ ⠀ The Official Great Aussie Pie Competition is an annual event of the Australian Pie Council that celebrates the industry's best pie makers and their passion for achieving excellence, always. ⠀ ⠀ It just proves, no matter what time of day you reach for a Beefy's, you'll be putting your hands on an award winner. 😍⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #beefyspies #scratchandwin #awardwinningpies #australianowned #glutenfree #gf #yum #aussiemeatpies #beefyspiedayfriday #pieshop #pieshopqld #pie #pies #hotpies #bake #bakery #baking #eat #food #goodfood #delicious #tasty #cheapeats #takeaway #takeawayfood #lunch #nowcooking #coffeetime #family #awardwinning

Brighton Jetty Bakery’s Pies

Looking for a healthy, meat-free alternative? Brighton Jetty serves some of the best gluten-free and vegan pies in the country. If you’re up for something a little off-beat, you can try their pickle pie!

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LOVE PICKLES? How about a pie that's ALL PICKLES? Custom cheeseburger pie, heavy cheese, heavy pickles, no meat! 😍 or 🤮???

Country Cob’s Pies

Looking for the best Aussie meat pie of 2019? Look no further than Victoria bakery Country Cob. The Baking Association of Australia recently crowned its caramelised pork and pepper the best in Australia. The pie is a mashup of Aussie and Cambodian flavours, as its owners, Ryan and Chan Khun, took cues from favourite foods back home to concoct this pie!

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61 likes - View Post on Instagram
Massive thanks to @confessionsofalittlepiggy for this great photo! 2019 Australia's Best Pie Champion Caramalised Pork & Pepper and this is insane. #melbfood #melbfoodie #macedonranges #explorevictoria #explorebendigo #kynetonvictoria #bestpie #porkpie #countrybakery #meatpie

How to make an Aussie meat pie

While store-bought meat pies are convenient, sometimes the most fulfilling pie is homemade. Here are five of the best meat pie recipes:

  • The classic beef Aussie meat pie
  • Beef and red wine pie with bacon and mushrooms
  • A rich and hearty beef cottage pie
  • Lamb, mint, and rosemary party pies
  • Grandma’s chicken and leek pie

RELATED: Coconut cream pie recipe

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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Snapper pies

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Kmart are bringing out an all-new Pie Maker - with a VERY big twist!

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