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

THE GRAVY:

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 the best ale to use in beef stew? ›

What's the best type of ale to use for Beef and Ale Stew? An ale with a full, malty flavour works best – our favourite types to use are either ruby ales or porters. They have an outstanding full flavour and add an element of sweetness to the dish.

Why do you brown meat before putting in slow cooker? ›

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

Why does my steak and ale pie taste bitter? ›

Beef in ale is bitter if you take it out too early. Try cooking it a bit longer. Definitely add sugar, it needs something sweet to counteract the bitterness.

How to make a steak pie without a soggy bottom? ›

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. (Using metal is crucial: Glass or ceramic pans don't transfer heat as efficiently, so they can be accomplices to a sad, soggy bottom.)

Should a meat pie have a pastry bottom? ›

I use shortcrust for the base because it won't go soggy and has the strength so you can pick the pie up with your hands. Then puff pastry for that classic flaky meat pie lid we love and know so well!

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 gives beef stew more flavor? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

What gives beef stew depth of 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.

Can you put raw meat into a slow cooker? ›

"Raw meat is a slow-cooker staple, but you may need to add it to the pot before adding other ingredients like green vegetables," she shared. "Browning meat in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker has been a game-changer for my slow-cooker meals.

Why can't you put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

If you simply pop some raw meat in your slow cooker, it won't have a chance to brown, which adds some much-needed flavor and cuts down on plenty of unappealing grease. Instead, you're better served by browning raw meat in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker with your other ingredients.

What happens if you don't brown meat before a slow cooker? ›

Though it's not a requirement to brown the meat before adding it to a slow cooker (unless the recipe specifies such a step), Cuisine at Home explains that doing so will enhance the meat's color, textures, and flavors.

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

it is mostly the alcohol making it bitter. Add sugar and/or ketchup to the stew to reduce the bitterness. Butter and salt also help to reduce the bitter taste.

Why did my steak taste like liver? ›

Miller (2001) reported that higher levels of myoglobin, higher degree of doneness and higher amount of lipid oxidation enhanced metallic and liver-like off-flavors in beef cuts.

Does steak and ale pie taste like ale? ›

A pie with some real kick, from its hoppy, meaty aroma to its boozy taste. The tender meat is rich and beefy while taking on the flavour the ale. Though appropriately sozzled the gravy is under-seasoned. We enjoyed the butteriness of the golden pastry but though flaky on the outside the base becomes too soggy.

What kind of beer goes with steak pie? ›

If it's beer as in a steak and ale pie the obvious answer is beer - a robust bitter or brown ale I suggest although you could use a strong Belgian ale like Orval or Chimay and if you prefer wine I've drunk old Bandol with steak pie with great success.

What is steak and ale pie made of? ›

This steak and ale pie recipe uses stewing steak – infused with herbs, cooked with veggies and a generous amount of ale for an hour. This creates a tender, rich pie filling. In this recipe, the Hairy Bikers opt for shop-bought pastry which is a much quicker option than homemade.

What's the best ale to cook with? ›

For cooking, use brown ales for pork, beef, stews and chilis. They also work well in batters and in baking. Porter: Another type of ale, porters are medium-bodied with a cocoa-like sweetness. They're also medium hoppy, so less bitter than a pale ale and less sweet than a brown ale.

What ale is best for baking? ›

When baking with beer, amber and brown ales behave just as nicely as porters and stouts. Their low bitterness and nutty flavor with hints of caramel work well with cookies, pies, and sweet sauces. We've been especially fond of the complex note amber ale gives to these Ginger Molasses Amber Ale Cookies.

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