Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (2024)

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Save your leftover beef and ale stew and transform it into the best tasting slow cooker beef and ale pie.

This is leftovers heaven, so simple to make and will work well with many leftover stews for a Monday night dinner.

Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (1)

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Steak And Ale Pie

Yesterday we shared with you how to make the most delicious ever slow cooker steak and ale stew.

But of course, even though we are feeding a family of four, two of them are kids and they don’t eat that much. This means that after a stew, we often have lots leftover in the fridge and the next day we upgrade our stew into the best ever pie and its so easy.

Best of all, you don’t have to do this with a steak and ale stew, it can be any leftover stew, following the same concept.

Such as our slow cooker vegetable stew, or our slow cooker lamb stew and dumplings.

So lets transform a hearty stew into a hearty pie with just 2 main steps……

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Can You Make A Pie In The Slow Cooker?

Yes, you sure can. You can make a pie with pastry like we are showing you today in our slow cooker steak pie, or you can cover a pie with mashed potatoes like with a slow cooker shepherd’s pie or a slow cooker fish pie.

What Is Steak And Ale Pie?

Steak and ale pie, or steak pie, is a delicious pie made from chunks of beef which is usually braising or chuck, that is slow cooked in ale. Or as you might call it beer.

The beer adds a delicious flavour to the meat and then it is topped with pastry for the ultimate old fashioned hearty winter pie.

Does Steak And Ale Pie Have Alcohol?

Yes, steak and ale pie does have alcohol. Ale is part of the beer family and even though you add alcohol to the pie you don’t really taste it as the alcohol cooks out. You could eat a whole steak and ale pie and never get drunk on it!

I often share our steak and ale pie with our kids and they are never affected from the alcohol content and instead it just adds a rich flavour to the steak pie.

What Beer Is Best For Steak And Ale Pie?

John Smiths Extra Smooth Guinness is probably most associated with the homemade streak pie.

But either Guinness or something similar will do the trick.

We used something totally different. We had some Yorkshire Pud Ale – which is just how it sounds ale that is made from Yorkshire pudding batter and it was delicious and close your eyes and tastes just like true Irish Guinness.

Puff Pastry Steak And Ale Pie

When you slow cook steak and ale pie, you’re probably wondering how to make the best steak and ale pie and add the pastry too.

Well, there is an easy option.

Warm up your pie ingredients first (this can be done in an hour in the slow cooker) and then add a layer of puff pastry over the pie.

Because puff pastry “puffs up” and it will make the pie feel like its bigger than what it is and wont sink into the slow cooker ingredients like if you used shortcrust pastry.

So what we do is warm through the pie as we are using leftovers, roll over puff pastry and then carry on cooking and it becomes the easiest steak pie.

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Steak Pie Ingredients

Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (3)

Stew – Let’s start your steak and ale pie slow cooker recipe with leftover stew. You can use any stew from the day before that needs using up.

Extras – Lets say your leftover stew is not enough to feed everyone, then this is when you add extras into your beef and ale pie. The easiest option is some frozen sweetcorn and frozen peas to fill it out a bit. But other leftovers work well as does some cooked potatoes.

Pastry. Then we recommend some puff pastry to be laid over the pie filling in the slow cooker. Then your slow cooker goes back on to cook the pastry.

Then for the kitchen gadgets that we have used in this recipe for steak and ale pie it has just been our Ninja Foodi. We have this one and its wonderful for many types of slow cooker recipes and also great for easy old fashioned dinners.

Plus, we recommend you head over to our slow cooker recipes category as we have more than 100 tried and tested slow cooker recipes and have been using slow cookers for 18 years.

How To Make Steak And Ale Pie?

Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (4)
  • Reheat. Start by turning your slow cooker on high and cooking for an hour. This will heat through your leftover stew.
  • Dump. Next dump in any extra ingredients that you plan to add. For example, we added in some frozen peas. And then give them a stir, though make sure they are fast cooking.
  • Roll. Then on a clean worktop with a floured rolling pin roll out the puff pastry. Or not need to if using ready to roll. Place the puff pastry over the steak and ale. Brush with egg wash and then pierce the top with a knife to allow it to breathe.
  • Finish. Then slow cook for an hour or if using the air fryer setting an extra 15 minutes at 200c/400f.

And I am sure you can see now how simple and easy this recipe for slow cooked steak and ale pie is why you should be doing the same.

How Long To Cook Steak Ale Pie?

The steak pie cooking time is JUST 2 hours if using leftovers, or if making from scratch i.e. no leftovers then expect it to take 4 hours for the filling and an hour for the puff pastry on top.

More Delicious Pie Recipes

  • Air Fryer Meat Pie
  • Pie Maker Meat Pie
  • Pie Maker Apple Pie
  • Ninja Foodi Chicken Pot Pie
Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (5)

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Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (7)

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie

Save your leftover beef and ale stew and transform it into the best tasting slow cooker beef and ale pie.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time2 hours hrs

Total Time2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Slow Cooker

Servings: 4

Calories: 904kcal

Author: RecipeThis.com

Ingredients

  • 1 kg Leftover Slow Cooker Steak & Ale Stew
  • 1 Sheet Ready To Roll Puff Pastry
  • 150 g Frozen Garden Peas
  • 1 Small Egg for egg wash

Kitchen Gadgets

MetricImperial

Instructions

  • Put the Ninja Foodi on slow cook for an hour on high to warm through your leftovers.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (8)

  • Add in some frozen peas or any other cooked veggies that need using up and stir.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (9)

  • Roll out the pastry on a clean floured worktop to the shape of just over your slow cooker.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (10)

  • Place the pastry over the beef and ale pie recipe filling and get rid of any overhang with a knife and then pierce the top of the pie so the steam can escape as it cooks. Plus mix an egg and brush on egg wash to help get that golden glow on your pastry.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (11)

  • Slow cook for a further hour or alternatively if using a Ninja slow cooker swap for the air fryer for 15 minutes at 200c/400f.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (12)

  • Slice into quarters and then serve warm.

    Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (13)

Notes

Leftovers. This slow cooked beef and ale pie will also work well with other leftover stew ingredients.

Thanks for reading our beef and ale pie recipe on Recipe This. We have many more slow cooker recipes for you to check out next. Though if you would like more slow cooker dinners, do check out our slow cooker whole chicken and potatoes recipe next.

Nutrition

Calories: 904kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 58g | Fat: 60g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 31g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 193mg | Sodium: 300mg | Potassium: 814mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 384IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 7mg

Nutrition InfoPlease Note: Nutrition values are our best estimate based on the software we use at Recipe This and are meant as a guide. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (14)
Recipe This | Slow Cooker Beef And Ale Pie (2024)

FAQs

What is the best ale for beef? ›

For a robust meat, such as beef, lamb or venison, go with an equally robust, full-bodied brew—stout, porter, or a dark ale.

What ale is best for pie? ›

To be honest, the different ales make less difference than I anticipate, but I agree with Cole that a slightly sweeter ale gives a more rounded flavour to the gravy: I have good results with less bitter stouts than the ubiquitous Guinness, such as London's Meantime, or Fuller's Golden Pride.

How do you get the bitter taste out of beef and ale stew? ›

After the 4hrs is up have a taste, you may find it need a little more sweetness as the ale can be quite bitter or maybe some extra salt and pepper. Remember anything you add in now will intensify as the liquid reduces so don't go over board by adding to much salt, pepper or sweetness at this point.

Why is my steak and ale pie bitter? ›

If you have made similar steak and beer stews or savory meat pies before and wondering why they taste so bitter, this is due to the type of beer in the dish. So there are some beers that you should avoid: Avoid hoppy, exceptionally bitter beers for this as the flavor will be too bitter in the end.

What makes beef taste the best? ›

Production/management factors that influence beef flavor do so primarily via effects on amount and composition of fat. Beef flavor desirability increases as intramuscular fat content increases. Marbling scores of Modest or greater provide the greatest assurance of desirable beef flavor characteristics.

Which beef has the most flavor? ›

The Ribeye is generally considered to be the most flavourful steak. These steaks are cut from the ribs and contain a lot of marbling throughout. The muscle from where the Ribeye is cut, isn't used often so the meat is very tender.

What is the best pie thickener? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency. Tapioca starch is preferable for products that will be frozen because it will not break down when thawed. We like tapioca in blueberry, cherry or peach pies.

What cut of beef is best for pies? ›

Like a classic beef stew recipe, the best beef for steak pie is beef chuck, aka “stew beef.” This affordable cut of meat can sometimes be a little less tender, making it the best option for the slow roasting required for this savory steak pie.

Why is the bottom of my meat pie soggy? ›

If the bottom crust doesn't set before the filling soaks in, it's going to be gummy. A metal pie pan placed on a preheated surface will set the bottom crust quickest; once cooked, the liquids from the filling above won't soak in, and as a result: no soggy bottom.

Will beef dry out in a slow cooker? ›

Beef joints can especially go from tender to dried out in a short amount of time, making them a tricky cut to perfect. When you search for a slow cooked beef joint, choose one with plenty of fat. A lean joint won't provide the marbling needed to tenderize the joint during slow cooking.

What cancels bitter taste? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

How do you deepen beef stew flavor? ›

Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

What kind of ale is best for steak and ale pie? ›

To be honest, as long as you're using a proper ale rather than an industrially-produced lager, any ale will work quite well. You're best bet is to pick something dark and sweet, but not a very heavy stout, which can add a bitter flavour – a porter fits nicely.

How do you make a meat pie without a soggy bottom? ›

Blind-bake your base before adding a filling to help to firm the base and avoid liquid being absorbed into it. Prick the base with a fork to help steam escape, cover with foil or parchment, and weigh it down with ceramic baking beans, uncooked rice or white sugar. Then bake at 220°C (425°F) for 15 minutes.

Why is my meat pie always hard? ›

Overworking the dough: One of the most common mistakes when making pie crust is overworking the dough. When you handle the dough too much, it can develop too much gluten, which can make the crust tough. To avoid this, handle the dough as little as possible and stop mixing as soon as the dough comes together.

What beer is best for beef? ›

Best Steak and Beer Pairings
  • Ribeye / Double IPA. The double IPA is strongly hopped, with a clean and dry finish that lacks harshness. ...
  • Filet Mignon / Saison. ...
  • Top Sirloin / Dopplebock. ...
  • New York Strip / Pilsner. ...
  • T-Bone / Helles Lager. ...
  • Flat Iron / Hefeweizen. ...
  • Prime Rib / Porter.
Nov 3, 2023

Which ale for steak and ale? ›

To be honest, as long as you're using a proper ale rather than an industrially-produced lager, any ale will work quite well. You're best bet is to pick something dark and sweet, but not a very heavy stout, which can add a bitter flavour – a porter fits nicely.

What is a good quality ale? ›

Old Speckled Hen, a unique and deliciously smooth refreshing ale, is the choice for the more curious drinker. For a savouring pint, Abbot Ale is a traditional cask ale using a brewing process that has hardly changed over hundreds of years and is the ideal choice of ale to relax with.

What is the highest quality beef? ›

Prime. Prime grade beef is the highest quality you can get. It features beautiful red meat laced with thin striations of white fat. This meat is well suited for a multitude of cooking conditions.

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