Pork Pie Recipe, Grandma's EASY 7 Ingredient Tourtiere (2024)

by Melissa

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Our Pork Pie Recipe is filled with ground meat & spices in a flaky buttery crust. Although this classic French Tourtiere is highly sought after around the holidays, it is an easy pie that can be made any day of the year. Come see how it's made.

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Grandma's Pork Pie Recipe

I come from a large Greek And French family, so basically that means food, food and more food. Pork pie has been a holiday tradition in my family since before I was born. My grandmother would serve it on Christmas eve and then warm leftovers aside the dinner on Christmas day. The combination of spices with the hearty filling and crust made the pork pie the perfect addition to the spread.

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What is a Pork Pie?

Pork pie is essentially a French meat pie called Tourtiere. It's basically ground pork and beef cooked then mixed together with mashed potato, salt, pepper and spices. The spices used make it the perfect holiday dish. It's one of those things that when you smell it baking it reminds you of Christmas. There are other versions throughout the world, but I am partially to our version as it is easy and not intimidating. The Tourtiere recipe is not to be confused mince meat, however. Mince meat pie has a different flavor profile and tends to be a bit sweet.

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What Spices Season a Traditional Tourtiere Recipe?

Some of the spices that go into the pork pie mix are Ground Nutmeg and just a touch of Ground Cinnamon, sometimes clove or allspice. These spices can be found in almost any grocery retailer, big box store and online. Salt and pepper is also added to the meat while it cooks. We make our mashed potatoes the same way we would if eating them alone. That way everything is seasoned.

Interesting fact a lot of people don't realize- Spices actually can lose their potency, so starting with a high quality spice is important or at least be sure to replace them often. There are a lot of stores that offer $1-2 spices so grab those up and replace them every few months.

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Shopping List

  • 2 pie crusts
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1 lb ground beef, can substitute turkey
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 4 large Russet Potatoes
  • Nutmeg
  • Cinnamon
  • Ground Cloves or Allspice

How to Make our Easy Pork Pie Recipe

(A full recipe card is below)

Gather all of your ingredients

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Start by browning the ground beef (I used ground turkey this time), pork, onions and garlic. Drain fat, add spices, crumble meat with a fork and set aside.

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Cook potatoes until fork tender, drain & mash. Add butter, milk, salt & pepper to taste, just the same as if you were making mashed potatoes as a side dish. Combine meat with potatoes. Mix well.

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Place first pie crust into a 9" pie plate. I like to sprinkle a little nutmeg and salt on the bottom.

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Add meat and potato mixture.

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Top with pie crust, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with nutmeg & salt.

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Bake 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

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Cut and serve with cranberry sauce.

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Things to Note

Seasonings- I love the pork pie to be highly seasoned, in my opinion it takes more than this recipe calls for. But, this is grandma's recipe so who am I to change it? Instead, simply add more seasonings to taste if you like. Some seasoning flavor is usually lost during the cooking process. Mashed potatoes seem to soak it all right up.

Egg wash- simply beat an egg with a little milk or cream. Brush over the pie crust.

Make this an Appetizer

  1. Cut pie crust into 4 inch rounds
  2. Add a small scoop of the meat filling
  3. Fold over pinching edges closed to create a crescent-shaped hand pie
  4. Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is golden.

More Amazing Dinner Recipes

  • More spice than traditional comfort food, my Instant Pot Pork Ribs are a delicious addition to your meal plan.
  • This sweet and spicy Slow Cooker Pork is another family favorite that is super easy to make and delicious after a long day.
  • For another authentic but different side of the world recipe, my Ginger Pork Potstickers are one of a kind!
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Yield: 8 -10 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Our classic French Tourtiere pork pie recipe is full of warm spices and great for the holidays, but easy enough to make any day!

Ingredients

  • 2 pie crusts
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 1 lb ground beef, can substitute turkey
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 cups mashed potatoes, prepared
  • 1 teaspoon Nutmeg, plus additional for sprinkling
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon Cloves, or sub allspice
  • Salt & Pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400
  2. In a large skillet, brown the ground meats with onions and garlic. Drain the fat. Add spices and mix well.
  3. Mix prepared mashed potatoes into meat mixture. Give it a taste- Add more salt, pepper or spices if desired. See note*
  4. Place one crust into the bottom of a 9" pie plate.
  5. Add meat mixture.
  6. Top with pie crust, brush with egg wash. See note*
  7. Bake 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Notes

Seasonings- I love the pork pie to be highly seasoned, in my opinion it takes more than this recipe calls for. But, this is grandma's recipe so who am I to change it? Instead, simply add more seasonings to taste if you like. Some seasoning flavor is usually lost during the cooking process. Mashed potatoes seem to soak it all right up.

Egg wash- simply beat an egg with a little milk or cream. Brush over the pie crust.

Serve with cranberry sauce!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 415Total Fat: 22gCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 38g

Nutrition facts are auto- populated by the app for this recipe card, numbers may vary. For best results, input your exact brand ingredients into a recipe analyzer like Verywell or MyFitnessPal.

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Melissa

Owner & Lead Recipe Developer for It's Simple! since 2015, where you will find our best Family Favorites & Keto Low Carb Dishes with Helpful Cooking Tips & Hints in each post. Many Thanks for Stopping By, Enjoy!

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Pork Pie Recipe, Grandma's EASY 7 Ingredient Tourtiere (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between meat pie and tourtière? ›

Tourtière is originally from Quebec and while every family has its own unique recipe, they all follow a similar formula. It's double-crusted, meaning crust all over, and it is generally made with ground pork and what I call “fall spices”. The regular meat pie tends to have only crust at the top and is made with beef.

Why does my tourtiere fall apart? ›

As the breadcrumbs and the broth help add moisture to this recipe, added fat is an unwanted quantity that tends to make the tourtiere fall apart when cutting and also is just not very pleasant. Many of the same qualities that make a great meatloaf are also applied to this meat pie.

What was the original meat in Tourtière? ›

It gets its name from the tourte, which is what it was originally made from. Though the name "tourtière" is derived from its filling, the tourte—the French name for the passenger pigeon that is now extinct in North America—was historically used as its filling before the 20th century.

What does tourtière mean in English? ›

Tourtière is a meat pie that can be a combination of beef, pork, or veal, as well as potatoes and other vegetables, and seasoned with spices.

What is traditionally served with tourtière? ›

Traditionally, Tourtière is served with roasted vegetables or a light frisseé salad. An assortment of pickled foods is always delicious; pickled beets, spicy carrots, gherkins or pickled onions. Many enjoy a tomato-based chutney but most… just break out the ketchup.

Why is my tourtière dry? ›

Use two types of minced meat

Pork is fattier and will bring moisture in addition to binding the ingredients, while veal and beef have a more pronounced taste. Choose semi-lean or lean meat—extra-lean meat will make the tourtière too dry.

How do you keep the bottom of a meat pie from getting soggy? ›

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.

How long does tourtière last in fridge? ›

Freshly Baked

If your Tourtiere is already baked, please store it in the fridge. For best results, the pie should be consumed within 4 days of purchase. To warm, place on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 350°F.

What is the famous Québecois food item called tourtière? ›

In Canada, it's called tourtiere. Made with potatoes, pork, beef and spices, and wrapped in a light and flaky crust. It's fully cooked and ready to simply warm and serve for a delicious gourmet meal in minutes. Each Meat Pie weighs, 35 oz.

What are some interesting facts about tourtière? ›

Tourtière was always on the table, and in 17-century Québec, the pie was traditionally served in a cast-iron cauldron and stuffed with cubed meats, often wild game (rabbit, pheasant, or moose). Four centuries later, the pie remains a staple dish both at réveillon and in Québécois households.

What is another name for a tourtière? ›

(Acadians living in the Maritimes call their version of tourtière by its common name, pâté à viande.) Several recipes for tourtière were printed in La Cuisinière canadienne (1840), likely the first French-language cookbook published in Canada.

When should I eat tourtière? ›

Tourtière is a traditional Québecois meat pie typically served around Christmastime.

Is tourtière a dessert? ›

Tourtière is a double-crusted meat pie that is likely named for a shallow pie dish still used for cooking and serving tourtes (pies) in France. The ground or chopped filling usually includes pork, and is sometimes mixed with other meats, including local game, such as rabbit, pheasant or moose.

What are the different types of tourtieres? ›

There are two main categories of Québécois tourtière variations: deep-dish, and shallow.

How was tourtière invented? ›

Some historians actually claim that tourtière originated with a dish called “La Patina:” a meat pie from the 5th century that was made in a bronze pot with a hole in the top crust. But, since almost every culture has some version of a meat pie, it's impossible to say what came first.

Why is it called tourtière? ›

tourtière, a double-crusted meat pie that is likely named for a shallow pie dish still used for cooking and serving tourtes (pies) in France. The ground or chopped filling usually includes pork and is sometimes mixed with other meats, including local game, such as rabbit, pheasant, or moose.

What is tourtière pie made of? ›

This French Canadian meat pie (tourtière) contains pork, potatoes, onions, and spices.

What is tourtière made of? ›

What's in tourtiere? The French-influenced pie is often made with pork, veal, beef, or game and sometimes a combination of the two. Mashed potatoes are folded in to help bind the meat, while celery and onion are other common aromatics. The spices give the pie character, such as allspice, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.

What does tourtière taste like? ›

The crust, flaky and light. The filling, spiced with clove, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and onion. It's savory and spiked with flavors most American palates equate with apple pie and gingerbread. And at its best it's topped with pepper relish.

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