You can fill them with sweet or savory ingredients like apples and cinnamon, or chicken curry. So they’re ideal for breakfast, snacking, and even dessert. While the story has it that hand pies originated in 19th century England, you can find a version of a hand pie in pretty much any culture. Whether you love empanadas or fruity desserts, there’s a hand pie recipe on this list for every pastry lover.
15+ Quick + Easy Hand Pie Recipes and Ideas
1. Apple Hand Pies
If you took the filling of apple pie and the crust of a turnover, you’d get this comforting goody. Buttery on the outside and oozing with fall apples on the inside, these hand pies are baked to perfection. Cinnamon, clove, ginger, and nutmeg make them taste like an autumn day. While a drizzle of caramel sauce is the final touch.
2. Blueberry Hand Pies
When the weather warms up, I like to trade in my apple hand pies for blueberry hand pies instead. Each golden brown goodie is bursting with juicy blueberries. For a sweeter touch, you can sprinkle some turbinado sugar on top of the pies before baking. But I think they’re plenty sweet without it.
3. Strawberry Hand Pies
I’ve covered summer and fall, so now let’s talk about spring. Strawberry hand pies mix decadence with freshness for a terrific spring dessert. They have a sweet berry filling that gets a hint of citrus from the lemon zest. And while strawberries are my jam, I have to talk about the crust! The three-ingredient hand pie crust is rich in butter and cream cheese, upping the level of decadence.
4. Beef Empanadas
Of course, hand pies aren’t all fruit. There’s a world of savory meat hand pies just waiting for you to explore, like this beef empanada. Empanadas are the Mexican variation of the hand pie. This one calls for a scrumptious beef filling that wonderfully melds with cheese and spice.
5. Chicken Pot Pie Hand Pies
Chicken pot pies are classic comfort food that’s even better as a portable hand pie. This recipe uses puff pastry dough which is incredibly flaky and painless to roll out. Cut those into squares and load on the creamy chicken filling. Careful not to load on too much, or the filling will overflow when you seal the pies, leaving you with a mess.
6. Raspberry Hand Pies
These cute little fruit hand pies are perfect for afternoon snacks or big brunch spreads. Cold water and butter make the crust super flaky and buttery. You’ll also need some cornstarch to thicken up the fresh raspberry filling.
7. Crawfish Hand Pies
While I’m all about a southern crawfish boil, they’re a ton of work. With this crawfish recipe, I get the flavors I want and less fuss. The spicy succulent crawfish filling is enveloped in a Pepperidge Farm puff pastry crust. If you can’t get fresh crawfish at the store, you can use crab or shrimp instead.
8. Curry Chicken Hand Pies
Not sure what to do with leftover chicken? Turn it into a yummy chicken curry hand pie. The filling is a tantalizing blend of spice, mayo, and tender chicken. If you’re using frozen puff pastry, this will take about an hour to make. Otherwise, you can have these warm hand pies ready in about 30 minutes.
9. Spanakopita Hand Pies
I can’t even think about spanakopita without my stomach growling. This Greek dish is one of my favorites and this recipe turns it into a plate-less meal. I say meal because I’ll devour more than one of these mini-feta and spinach-filled pies. But you can serve these as appetizers, too.
10. Pumpkin Hand Pies
This is probably one of the easiest hand pies you can make. The filling calls for only four ingredients while the dough is store-bought. You’ll fill each pie pocket with pumpkin pie spiced filling, then brush the dough with an egg to achieve a golden-brown crust.
11. Breakfast Sausage Hand Pie
Breakfast on the go or lazy Sunday, these hand pies are a special treat. The filing is a mixture of sustainably sourced sausage, crisp dino kale, button mushrooms, and sharp cheddar cheese. You’ll need to saute everything but the cheese before filling so they turn out tender on the inside.
12. Broccoli Cheese Hand Pies
Getting fussy eaters to finish their broccoli is no problem when you add in some cheese and load it up in a flaky hand pie. This vegetarian recipe takes only 30 minutes. It also freezes well so you can store some for later.
13. Samoas
Will you believe me if I tell you these are vegan? It’s hard to believe, but it’s true! Partially mashed spicy potatoes, peas, and peanuts fill these Indian hand pies with so much flavor. With the help of some cooking oil spray, you can get a perfect hand pie crust without dairy.
14. Peach Hand Pies
Peaches are another excellent summer fruit to stuff into a buttery hand pie. The peach filling has a wonderful essence of almond and lemon while sugar and cinnamon make it oh-so-nice. Top these gorgeous hand pies with a drizzle of almond-infused icing for an elegant touch.
15. Olive, Tomato, and Onion Hand Pies
I could eat these every day! Crumbled feta, green olives, roasted tomatoes, and onions are a winning combination in my humble opinion. This recipe does take a bit of work. But once you sink your teeth in, it’ll be worth the effort.
16. Pepperoni Pizza Hand Pies
Did you ever eat pepperoni pizza Hot Pockets as a kid? This recipe reminds me of those, except it’s so much better. Requiring only four ingredients, these hand pies are almost as effortless as tossing a Hot Pocket in the microwave. You’ll stuff pepperoni and mozzarella in a pie crust and bake until golden brown. Serve with some marinara sauce and it’s pizza pocket time!
17. Cranberry Hand Pies
Tart cranberries encased in a flaky pie crust scream holiday desserts. Impress your friends and family this holiday season and make these adorable hand pies. You may want to make a double batch while you’re at it. That way, there’ll be no fuss about who got seconds and you didn’t. Click on a star to rate it!
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