Beef and Onion Pie
A hearty comfort dish filled with rich beef and caramelised onions under a pastry pastry.
Allergens: contains cereals containing gluten, milk. Brands differ, so always check the labels on what you buy.
Per serving (approx.): 35g carbs · 6g sugars · 4g fibre. Estimates for carb counting, not medical advice. If you have diabetes, follow your GP or dietitian's advice.
Not every ingredient has a checked price at Asda, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Co-op, Iceland, so they aren't compared here yet (more are checked every day). Lidl doesn't publish prices online, so it can't be compared.
Ingredients and prices
Swipe the table to see every supermarket.
| Ingredient | Tesco | Morrisons |
|---|---|---|
| Beef minceuse 500g | £6.75500g · £1.35 per 100g | £5.05500g · £1.01 per 100g |
| Onionpack 1kg · use 400g | £0.95£0.10 per 100g | £0.95£0.10 per 100g |
| Plain flouruse 200g | £0.801.5kg · £0.05 per 100g | £0.53480g · £0.11 per 100g |
| Unsalted butterpack 250g · use 50g | £1.85£0.74 per 100g | £1.85£0.74 per 100g |
| Basket total (full packs) | £10.35 | £8.38 |
| Cost of what this recipe uses | £7.62 | £6.04 |
| Per serving | £1.91 | £1.51 |
From your cupboard
Not in the prices above. Check you have these before you start.
Prices checked on 5 October 2026 from each supermarket's own listing or a price-comparison site. Each shop's unit price (or pack size) is shown under its price, and "cost of what this recipe uses" compares like with like (tap a price to see its source). Cheapest in each row is ticked. Prices, offers and pack sizes change; loyalty-card prices are not included unless stated.
Method
The method is written for 4. For a different number, use the amounts in the table above.
- Begin by finely chopping the 400g of onion into small cubes and weighing out 500g of beef mince and 200g of plain flour. Cut 50g of unsalted butter into small chunks for the pastry.
- Melt the 50g of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and translucent without turning brown.
- Increase the heat to medium and add the 500g beef mince to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to break the meat apart, cooking for 8-12 minutes until the beef is thoroughly browned and no pink remains.
- Season the meat mixture generously with salt and black pepper to taste, tasting a small amount to ensure the flavours are well-balanced. Remove the pan from the hob and let the filling cool slightly.
- In a clean bowl, combine the 200g plain flour with a splash of cold water to form a rough dough. Knead for 2 minutes until smooth, then wrap in cling film and let rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 3mm thickness. Transfer the beef and onion mixture into a greased baking dish and drape the pastry over the top, crimping the edges to seal.
- Prick the centre of the pastry with a fork to let steam escape and bake in a preheated oven at 200°C/gas mark 6 for 25-30 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown and crisp.
- Remove the pie from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before slicing. Cut into four generous portions and serve hot with your choice of side vegetables.
Tips
- To save money, use frozen onions or replace half the beef with cooked brown lentils.
- To batch-cook, cool the pie quickly and freeze in airtight containers; it stays fresh for up to 3 months.
- To reheat leftovers, defrost in the fridge overnight and bake once in the oven until steaming hot throughout.
Nothing wasted: your leftover ingredients
Supermarkets sell set pack sizes, so you'll have some ingredients left. Here's how to keep them, and other recipes here that use them up.
- Beef mince · about 500g left
Freeze the raw meat you don't use, well wrapped and labelled, before its use-by date. Defrost in the fridge and cook within 24 hours. Use it in: Chilli con carne, Spaghetti Bolognese, Beef & Veggie Skillet. - Onion · about 600g left
Chop the rest and freeze it flat in a bag: it cooks straight from frozen in soups, curries and sauces. Whole onions keep for weeks somewhere cool, dark and dry. Use it in: Chilli con carne, Egg fried rice, Creamy Tomato & Hidden Veg Pasta Bake. - Plain flour · about 1.3kg left
Dry stores keep for months sealed in the cupboard, so nothing goes to waste. Use it in: Banana muffins, Ginger Cake, Turkey Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries. - Unsalted butter · about 200g left
Check the label: most raw ingredients can be frozen before their use-by date, and cupboard staples keep for months. Use it in: Banana muffins, Ginger Cake, Pad Thai with Chicken.
Storing leftovers
Cool leftovers and put them in the fridge or freezer within 1–2 hours. Eat fridge leftovers within 2 days, or freeze them. Defrost in the fridge and reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through (Food Standards Agency guidance).