Traditional Steak & Ale Pie

Traditional Steak & Ale Pie

Traditional Steak & Ale Pie

A comforting British classic with tender braising steak and rich homemade gravy

There's a reason steak and ale pie has remained a favourite in British kitchens for generations. With slow-cooked beef, rich gravy and crisp golden pastry, it's the sort of meal that brings warmth to the table and never goes out of style.

Made with quality braising steak, this traditional steak and ale pie develops incredible flavour as it cooks. The beef becomes beautifully tender, while the ale and stock create a rich, savoury filling that's perfect beneath a crisp puff pastry lid.

At Flatts Farm in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, we believe traditional recipes deserve quality ingredients. Braising steak is one of those hardworking cuts that rewards patience, producing rich flavour and tender meat that's ideal for slow-cooked dishes like this.

Whether you're cooking for a family Sunday dinner or preparing a comforting meal for a cold evening, this easy steak and ale pie recipe is guaranteed to become a favourite.

Recipe Summary

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Serves: 4–6 people

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the Filling

  • 1kg Flatts Farm Braising Steak, cut into chunks

  • 2 tbsp plain flour

  • 2 tbsp olive oil

  • 2 onions, diced

  • 2 carrots, sliced

  • 2 celery sticks, chopped

  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed

  • 500ml good quality beef stock

  • 330ml dark ale

  • 2 tbsp tomato purée

  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme

  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Pie

  • 1 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry

  • 1 egg, beaten

Equipment

  • Large casserole dish or Dutch oven

  • Frying pan

  • Pie dish

  • Pastry brush

Method

Step 1

Lightly coat the braising steak in the flour before seasoning with salt and black pepper.

Heat the olive oil in a large pan and brown the beef in batches until well coloured. Transfer to a casserole dish.

Step 2

Cook the onions, carrots and celery for around five minutes before adding the garlic and tomato purée. Cook for another minute.

Step 3

Return the beef to the pan before pouring in the ale and beef stock.

Add the Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves and thyme.

Bring to a gentle simmer before covering and cooking in the oven at 160°C (Fan 140°C) for around 2 hours, or until the beef is fork tender.

Step 4

Allow the filling to cool slightly before transferring it to a pie dish.

Lay the puff pastry over the top, trim the edges and crimp with a fork.

Brush with beaten egg.

Step 5

Bake at 200°C (180°C Fan) for 30–35 minutes, or until the pastry is crisp, golden and beautifully risen.

Allow the pie to stand for five minutes before serving.

Flatts Farm Tips

  • Browning the beef properly is the secret to a rich, deep flavour.

  • Let the filling cool before adding the pastry to keep it crisp.

  • A dark Yorkshire ale works beautifully in this recipe, but a stout also gives fantastic results.

  • This pie freezes exceptionally well before or after baking.

What to Serve With

Steak and ale pie is perfect served with:

  • Creamy mashed potatoes

  • Buttered seasonal vegetables

  • Garden peas

  • Honey roasted carrots

  • Extra homemade gravy

Storage & Reheating

  • Fridge: Store for up to 3 days.

  • Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months.

  • Reheating: Cover with foil and warm in the oven at 170°C until piping hot throughout.

From the Farm

Braising steak comes from well-worked muscles, giving it excellent flavour and texture when cooked slowly. While it isn't a quick-cooking cut, a little patience transforms it into beautifully tender beef that's perfect for pies, casseroles and slow-cooked family favourites.

At Flatts Farm, we believe every cut has its purpose. Traditional recipes like steak and ale pie celebrate some of the most flavoursome parts of the animal while making the most of quality British beef raised with care in the Yorkshire Dales.

Cook with Flatts Farm Beef

Our Braising Steak is prepared with slow cooking in mind, making it ideal for hearty family meals like this traditional steak and ale pie.

Raised in the Yorkshire Dales and supplied directly from our farm, it's full of rich British beef flavour and perfect for comforting recipes you'll come back to time and time again.