Savory Hand Pies: Multiple Fillings and Crust Options

Learn how to make easy savory hand pies by using an easy, homemade pie crust recipe. No time to make your own savory hand pie crust? Get puff pastry, refrigerated biscuit dough, and Pillsbury pie crust options here as well. Gluten free? Find a gluten free savory hand pie option as well. If you are looking for a vegetarian or vegan hand pie, that is here, too. Make some to eat right away or freeze some for later.

As an experienced packer of sack lunches, I’m always on the lookout for alternatives to sandwiches. These savory hand pies are perfect for lunches, picnics, parties, potlucks, snacks, or a tea parties. They may be made in an air fryer or in an oven. Want to find out just how easy savory hand pies can be? Read on for the details of this easy savory hand pies recipe!

My Savory Hand Pies Backstory

I prefer making savory hand pies with an air fryer. No air fryer? No worries!  An oven-baked savory hand pie option is included as well.

When I received my air fryer as a Christmas gift, I could not have been more excited. The first experiment I tried was a recipe for easy blueberry hand pies in the air fryer. I happened to have a frozen disc of leftover pie crust dough in the freezer. I also had an abundance of frozen berries needing to be used. (See related article about using frozen berries if you are interested in learning more about that subject.) I tweaked the filling ingredients a bit, to make the filling more like true blueberry pie filling. The blueberry hand pies were a hit!

I could have made them using store-bought pie crust dough, biscuit dough or puff pastry as well. If I have the time, I prefer homemade pie crust using my grandma’s practically foolproof pie crust recipe. Now I have expanded my hand pie repertoire to include savory hand pies as well.

When I pack lunches, I get tired of making sandwiches. Savory hand pies are a great solution. They may be frozen for use later as well. Let’s get started with this easy savory hand pies recipe.

My Grandma’s Favorite Pie Crust Recipe

I’m the third generation in my family to rely on this easy recipe for foolproof pie crust. I’m not sure where my grandma found this. I’ve seen variations of it over the years. Here’s the secret ingredient: Vinegar. I understand that vinegar helps tenderize the gluten in the flour, so the dough can be rolled and re-rolled without becoming tough. That’s perfect for someone like me, and perfect for these easy savory hand pies.

Equipment for Savory Hand Pie Crust

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To make these amazing savory hand pies in an air fryer, here is a reliable, basic model, the one I use, by GoWiseUSA.  It has been terrific. 

 

Depending upon your preferred crust, you may need a pastry rolling pin. This one is neat because it has removable discs that allow you to adjust the thickness of the dough you are rolling out.

 

You will need basic kitchen equipment such as measuring cups, measuring spoons, mixing bowls, a knife for cutting the slits in the crust, and mixing spoons. To cut the circles in the dough, you can use a plastic lid as a template. I happen to have some Tupperware lids (also from my grandmother) that are just the right size. If you are rolling out premade dough circles, as with refrigerated biscuit dough, you may want to use a rolling mat with marked circles like this one. This is a lot like the one I use which I inherited from (you guessed it) my dear grandmother.

 

Ingredients for Savory Hand Pie Crust

3 cups of all-purpose flour, plus a little more for sprinkling on the rolling surface (divided)

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups vegetable shortening (I use Butter Flavor Crisco)

1 egg

1 tablespoon vinegar

5 tablespoons ice water

This recipe makes enough for three 9-inch crusts.

Directions for Making Savory Hand Pie Crust

Mix flour and salt together. With a pastry blender, work shortening into the flour and salt until the pieces are about the size of small peas. (My favorite pastry blender is a vintage Androck model, shown below and written about here.)

In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, beat the egg well and mix in the vinegar and water. Drizzle into the flour mixture a little at a time, stirring to combine with a fork or pastry blender. Divide dough into three parts and shape into disks. Cover each disk in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

For the easy savory hand pies, you will only need one of the disks. If you wish, you may freeze the other two disks for use at another time. Roll out one of the disks until it is about 1/8 inch thick, or about 10 inches in diameter.

Options for Savory Hand Pie Fillings

Savory hand pies can be filled with a wide range of ingredients to create delicious and satisfying meals. Here are some ideas for savory hand pie fillings Simply place about 1/4 cup or, as in the case with leftover meatloaf, a slice, of your chosen cooked filling in each savory hand pie dough circle, fold and seal.

Meatloaf: Place a slice of leftover meatloaf in each savory hand pie dough circle. (Pictured above)

Curried Turkey and Rice: Place leftover curried turkey mixed with rice in each dough circle.

Ham and Potato Casserole: Place a bit of leftover ham and potato casserole in each dough circle.

Leftover Taco Meat: Use leftover taco meat from pan-fried tacos as a savory hand-pie filling.

Pot Pie Filling: Cooked diced chicken or turkey and vegetables in a creamy sauce.

Sausage, Potato, and Onion: You can make your own savory hand pie filling if you don’t have any leftovers. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Dice 3 red potatoes, skin on, and place in skillet to cook. Dice 1 medium onion and add to skillet. Let cook for about 5 minutes, then add 1 pound of ground sausage. Break the sausage and up and stir it to combine with the potatoes and onions until the sausage is browned, 5-10 minutes. Drain off excess fat (there may not be any), and stir in barbecue sauce or ketchup to taste. I used a couple of tablespoons of sauce here, then added a couple of tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese to help the mixture stick together. Here’s what the process looks like:

Leftover Pulled Pork: BBQ pulled pork makes a great savory hand pie filling.

Leftover Shredded or Rotisserie Chicken: Use leftover chicken in different forms to fill savory hand pies.

Classic Meat: Ground beef, pork, chicken, or turkey seasoned with herbs and spices.

Seafood: A mixture of cooked seafood like shrimp, crab, or fish, combined with a creamy sauce and herbs.

Mexican-Inspired: Ground beef or shredded chicken seasoned with taco or fajita spices, combined with beans, corn, and cheese.

Italian-Inspired: Cooked sausage or ground meat with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and herbs like basil and oregano.

Buffalo Chicken: Shredded cooked chicken mixed with buffalo sauce, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese.

Quiche-Inspired: A mixture of beaten eggs, cheese, cooked bacon or ham, and sautéed vegetables like bell peppers and onions.

Greek-Inspired: Chopped cooked chicken or lamb with feta cheese, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach.

Ham and Cheese: Diced ham or prosciutto combined with shredded cheese like cheddar, Swiss, or Gouda.

Curry: A flavorful curry filling made with cooked chicken, potatoes, and vegetables in spiced coconut milk or tomato-based sauce.

Vegetarian and Vegan Savory Hand Pies

Savory hand pies can be filled with a variety of vegetables, grains, and plant-based proteins for many vegetarian options. Here are a few:

Cheese and Spinach: A mixture of spinach and ricotta or feta cheese seasoned with garlic and nutmeg.

Mushroom and Leek: Sautéed mushrooms and leeks with garlic, thyme, and a touch of cream or cheese.

Spinach and Artichoke: Sautéed spinach, artichoke hearts, and a creamy cheese mixture.

Ratatouille: A mix of sautéed eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes with herbs like thyme and rosemary.

Vegan: Sautéed vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, bell peppers, onions, and zucchini, seasoned with herbs and spices. You can also use plant-based protein like tofu, tempeh, or lentils for a heartier filling.

Feel free to get creative and mix and match ingredients to create your own unique savory hand-pie fillings. The possibilities are endless, and you can tailor the fillings to your taste preferences and dietary needs.

Directions for Filling Savory Hand Pies

Mix together all of the filling ingredients in a bowl. Cut or roll out 4 6-inch circles from your chosen dough. (If you are using the homemade pie crust option, you may need to reroll the dough a few times to cut out 4 6-inch circles.) I like to use the lid from whipped topping as a pattern for the circles, then use a small paring knife to cut the circles from the dough.

Place about 1/4 cup (or one slice) of filling into the center of each circle. As previously noted, I used slices of meatloaf instead of mixing a filling.

Moisten the edges of the circle with a little water. Fold the dough over the filling to form a half-moon shape, and gently crimp the edges with a fork. Optional: If the filling is a bit runny, cut two slits in the top of each hand pie. Spray the hand pies with cooking spray or brush with egg, if desired.

Directions for Baking Air Fryer Savory Hand Pies 

Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees, and place 3-4 hand pies in a single layer inside the fryer basket. Cook for 9-12 minutes, until the crust is golden brown. (Optional: Flip savory hand pies halfway through baking.) Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm or wrap and store for later. (The savory hand pies below were made using store-bought biscuit dough.)

Directions for Oven Baked Savory Hand Pies

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. Place savory hand pies about 1 inch apart on the baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven when the crust is golden brown and let cool for a few minutes.

Eat when cooled or wrap in plastic and refrigerate for later or pack in lunches.

Savory Hand Pies with Store Bought Crust

Savory Hand Pies with Puff Pastry

I am a huge fan of working with puff pastry for easy mini sausage rolls. Puff pastry is a great option for an easy savory hand pie crust as well. Simply unroll the sheets of puff pastry onto a lightly-floured work surface. Cut out the dough circles and fill the hand pies as the recipe directs for a super easy, flaky crusted savory hand pie option.

Savory Hand Pies with Biscuit Dough

To make savory hand pies with refrigerated biscuit dough, just separate the biscuit dough rounds and place on a work surface. My favorite work surface is my grandma’s plastic Tupperware dough rolling sheet that has premade circles on it, as previously noted.

Take each dough round and roll it out to the size you want. I made my rounds about 6 inches, and I used the premade tart circle as a size guide.

After you have your dough circles, fill and bake the savory hand pies as directed in the recipe.

Savory Hand Pies with Pillsbury Pie Crust

Can you make savory hand pies with store bought crust? Pillsbury is a common brand of store bought pie crust you can find in your freezer section. To use for savory hand pies, just thaw the dough according to package directions. Unroll the dough and cut out the dough circles for the savory hand pies. Follow the rest of the steps in the savory hand pies recipe for easy, delicious savory hand pies ready for a picnic, snack, or tea party.

Gluten Free Savory Hand Pies

To make any of these savory hand pies gluten free, just substitute an all-purpose, gluten free flour mix of your choice. Follow the rest of the recipe instructions as directed for delicious, gluten free savory hand pies with your choice of filling.

How to Freeze Savory Hand Pies

Cool the Hand Pies: Allow the freshly baked savory hand pies to cool completely before freezing. This helps prevent condensation and ice crystals from forming inside the packaging.

Prepare for Freezing:

Line a baking sheet or tray with parchment paper.

Place the cooled hand pies on the tray, making sure they are not touching each other. This will help prevent them from sticking together during freezing.

Flash Freeze: Put the baking sheet with the hand pies into the freezer and let them “flash freeze” for about 1 to 2 hours. Flash freezing ensures that the individual hand pies freeze quickly and maintain their shape.

Package for Long-Term Storage:

Once the hand pies are partially frozen, remove them from the baking sheet.

Individually wrap each hand pie with plastic wrap or place each one in a separate resealable plastic bag. Alternatively, you can stack them with a layer of parchment paper in between.

Place the individually wrapped hand pies into a larger freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible to minimize freezer burn.

Label and Date: Write the date of freezing on the container or plastic bag. This will help you keep track of how long the hand pies have been in the freezer.

Freeze: Place the container or plastic bag in the coldest part of the freezer, away from any warm air vents or openings.

To Reheat and Serve:

From Frozen: When you’re ready to enjoy a frozen hand pie, there’s no need to thaw it before reheating. Preheating the hand pie from frozen helps maintain its texture.

Oven Method:

Preheat your oven to the temperature to 350 degrees

Place the frozen hand pie on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is heated through.

Microwave Method:

If you’re looking for a quicker option, you can microwave the frozen hand pie. Keep in mind that the crust may not be as crisp as with oven reheating.

Place the frozen hand pie on a microwave-safe plate.

Microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes, then increase the power to high and continue microwaving in 1-minute intervals until the filling is hot.

By following these steps, you can freeze savory hand pies and have a convenient and tasty meal option available whenever you need it.

Common Savory Meat Hand Pie Questions

What are the different names for meat hand pies?

What is a savoury pie called? What are hand pies called in England? Meat hand pies are popular in various cultures and cuisines around the world, and they go by different names depending on the region and the specific ingredients used. Here are some examples, with unique characteristics and flavors reflective of their regions:

Empanadas – Latin America and Spain

Samosas – India and other South Asian countries

Cornish Pasties – United Kingdom

Pirozhki – Russia

Sfiha – Middle Eastern countries

Jamaican Patties – Jamaica

Burek – Balkans and Turkey

Chebureki – Central Asia

Meat Pies – Australia and New Zealand

Pierogi – Poland and Canada (though often filled with potato or cheese, meat-filled versions exist)

Whatever you call them, they are a super convenient mini-meal you can grab on the go.