
Jamaican Beef Patties
Golden, flaky, turmeric-tinted pastry wrapped around a boldly spiced ground beef filling — these iconic Jamaican patties are a street food staple you can make right at home. Scotch bonnet pepper, allspice, and thyme give the filling its unmistakable Caribbean heat and aroma, while a buttery, shortening-enriched crust shatters with every bite. Perfect for a crowd, a lunchbox, or a festive Caribbean spread.
8 servings · Prep 45 min · Cook 30 min · Total 105 min
Caribbean · Lunch · Snack
Ingredients
Open in recipe scaler →Pastry Crust
2.5 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp turmeric for color
0.5 tsp salt
0.5 cup cold unsalted butter cut into small cubes
0.25 cup vegetable shortening cold- 0.5 cup ice water added gradually
Beef Filling
1 lb ground beef 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio
1 medium yellow onion finely diced
3 cloves garlic minced- 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper seeded and finely minced (use half for less heat)
3 stalks green onions thinly sliced
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp ground allspice
0.5 tsp smoked paprika
0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
0.75 tsp salt- 0.5 cup beef broth low sodium
0.5 cup plain breadcrumbs to absorb moisture and bind filling
1 tbsp vegetable oil
Assembly
1 large egg beaten, for egg wash
Equipment
Oven
Stovetop
Baking Sheet
Parchment Paper
Mixing Bowl
Skillet
Plastic Wrap
Pot
Fork
Pastry Cutter
Wooden Spoon
Measuring Cups
Rolling Pin
Pastry Brush
Whisk
Jelly Roll (10x15)
Measuring Spoons
Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
Dipping Fork
Instructions
- In a large #[Mixing Bowl], whisk together the @[All-Purpose Flour], @[Turmeric], and @[Salt] until evenly combined — the @[Turmeric] gives the crust its signature golden hue. Add the cold cubed @[Butter] and @[Vegetable Shortening]. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, work the fat into the @[All-Purpose Flour] until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining. Drizzle in @[Ice Water], ~[1 tablespoon] at a time, mixing gently with a fork after each addition, until the dough just comes together and holds when pressed. Do not overwork it. Shape into a flat disc, wrap in #[Plastic Wrap], and refrigerate for ~[at least 30 minutes].
- Heat the @[Vegetable Oil] in a large #[Skillet] over ^[medium-high heat]. Add the diced @[Yellow Onion] and cook, stirring occasionally, for ~[3–4 minutes] until softened. Add the @[Garlic], @[Scotch Bonnet Pepper], and @[Green Onions] and cook for ~[another minute] until fragrant. Add the @[Ground Beef], breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned all over, ~[about 5–6 minutes]. Drain any excess fat if needed.
- Stir in the @[Thyme], @[Allspice], @[Smoked Paprika], @[Black Pepper], and @[Salt]. Pour in the @[Beef Broth] and stir to combine. Reduce heat to ^[medium-low] and simmer for ~[5 minutes] until most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the @[Breadcrumbs] to bind the filling and absorb any remaining moisture — the mixture should be moist but not wet. Remove from heat and let cool completely before filling the pastry.
- Preheat your #[Oven] to ![375°F] and line a #[Baking Sheet] with #[Parchment Paper]. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ⅛-inch thickness. Cut out circles approximately 6 inches in diameter (use a bowl or large round cutter as a guide) — you should get about 8 circles. Place ~[2–3 tablespoons] of cooled filling on one half of each circle, leaving a ½-inch border. Fold the dough over to form a half-moon shape and press the edges firmly together. Crimp the sealed edge with a fork to ensure a tight seal. Brush the tops with beaten @[Egg] wash.
- Arrange the assembled patties on the prepared #[Baking Sheet], spacing them ~[about 1 inch] apart. Bake at ![375°F] for ~[25–30 minutes], until the pastry is golden and cooked through. Let cool for ~[5 minutes] before serving — the filling will be very hot inside.





