Jamaican Beef Patty

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Jamaican beef patties and Haitian Patties are two patties I always look forward to when I’m craving bold, savory flavor wrapped in a flaky, golden crust. These beauties are one of my favorite hand-held comfort foods, and once you make them at home, you’ll see why they’re so beloved across the Caribbean and beyond.

Also known as hand pie in some parts of the world, especially in the Caribbean, these baked hand pies, which are often refer to as street food, can be found throughout the countries of Haiti and Jamaica from roadside food vendors or restaurants, dinner parties, and local bakery stores. 

If you ever get a chance to visit either country, Haiti or Jamaica, you must try each country’s version of beef patties as they are both so satisfying.  

Comparison Between The Two Patties

The first time I made Jamaican beef patties from scratch, I was intimidated. I’m not going to lie—between the buttery dough, the bold, spiced beef filling, and that gorgeous golden color, I thought this had to be a complicated process. 

But guess what? It’s actually pretty simple once you break it down, and the payoff is 100% worth it.

Jamaican Beef Patties are often filled with lots of meat with a choice of spicy of mild. On the other hand, Haitian Patties have an extremely soft and flaky dough with several different choices of meats such as fish (smoke herring/cod), beef, or chicken. Haitian Patties are usually mild unless made at home.

Jamaican patty pastry is flaky but spreads wide when baked. Haitian beef patties rise up with many flaky layers when baked. They are both equally flaky; however, the Haitian beef patties’ pastry is very similar to the puff pastry.

The Jamaican version, from start to finish seasoned the dough with curry powder, turmeric, salt, sugar, and sometimes baking powder. That way, the first and last taste you get from pasty is the same throughout.

The seasoning from the Haitian beef patties comes mainly from meat and the epis, green seasoning, that’s used to flavor the meat. Though, the dough still has flavor from the abundance of butter, the emphasis is in the filling.

The meat in Jamaican patties are often blended whereas the ground meat found in Haitian patties are lumpy. 

What Makes Jamaican Beef Patties So Irresistible?

The dough is buttery, flaky, and tinted with curry and turmeric for that signature color and a hint of warmth. And the filling? Oh my goodness—it’s juicy ground beef seasoned with garlic, onion, ginger, jerk seasoning, a little heat from Scotch bonnets, and a whole lot of love.

Every bite delivers a perfect balance of spice, savoriness, and richness, all wrapped in a pastry that somehow feels both hearty and light. It’s the kind of dish that brings people together, whether you’re serving it as a party snack, a weeknight dinner, or just because.

Let’s Get Into It: How to Make These Patties at Home

You will find the printable recipe with measurements below.

🥟 Step 1: Make the Dough

You’ll start with a simple dough using flour, very cold butter, a little sugar, salt, curry, and turmeric for that color and flavor boost. The turmeric adds that unmistakable yellow hue you see in patties, and the curry powder adds warmth and depth.

Use cold butter and ice water—this is key for getting that flaky texture. Don’t overwork the dough; once it comes together, wrap it up and let it chill while you prep the filling.

🔥 Step 2: Cook the Beef Filling

In a skillet, you’ll cook down the onions, garlic, and ginger in olive oil, then add your ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Once it starts browning, season it with salt, pepper, browning sauce (which deepens the color and flavor), jerk seasoning, bouillon, and sugar.

Toss in some minced Scotch bonnet for that signature kick. If you’re not into heat, you can reduce the amount or remove the seeds. Don’t skip the butter—it adds richness that ties everything together. Finish with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley for freshness.

At this point you can also blend the meat mixture slightly with an immersion blender. But it is optional.

Let that filling cool a bit before stuffing the patties. You want it warm, not hot, so the dough stays intact.

🥟 Step 3: Shape and Fill

Roll out the dough and cut it into circles (I like using a bowl as my guide or a cookie cutter). Spoon in that delicious beef filling, fold the dough over, and crimp the edges with a fork. You’ll end up with beautiful half-moon shaped patties ready for baking.

🔥 Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Brush your patties with a little egg wash or milk for shine, then bake until golden brown and crisp on the edges. And just like that—you’ve got homemade Jamaican beef patties that will rival any bakery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Making Jamaican beef patties at home is a labor of love, but the results are absolutely worth it. Whether you’re sharing them at a party, serving them for dinner, or saving them for later, they bring so much joy and flavor to the table.

This recipe works well with leftover meat!

• Spicy chicken
• Shrimp
• Roasted vegetables or like Jamaican steamed cabbage will work well with these patties.

More Delicious Caribbean Patties To Try:

Haitian Patties

Salmon Patties

Haitian Pate Kode (Fried Patty)

Jamaican & Haitian Dishes You Might Also Like 

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

Jus De Citron (Haitian Lemonade)

Haitian Black Rice

Haitian Pikliz 

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