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29 Comments

Mini Louisiana Natchitoches Meat Pies

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Updated: Jan 26, 2025

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Famous Louisiana Natchitoches Meat Pies are a Christmas tradition that is enjoyed all year long! Filled with spicy beef and pork, these authentic golden, tender- crusted empanada-style pies are made hor d’oeuvre size in this recipe to create the perfect appetizer for parties or as a side dish for holiday meals and brunches.

Famous Mini Louisiana Natchitoches Meat Pies with a spicy filling and golden crust


Related Recipes: Sausage Cream Cheese Hand Pies, Easy Taco Hand Pies

Natchitoches (nak’-i-dush) meat pies have been a favorite at my Louisiana family gatherings for as long as I can remember.  As a kid, I even thought Natchitoches meat pies were exclusive to my family.  I thought that these golden, spicy treasures that marked every holiday and special event of my existence were top secret.

But being top secret and special aren’t quite the same things.  Special is better.  And special is exactly what these crescent-shaped fried pies are.

snack size Louisiana Natchitoches meat pies

Natchitoches meat pies are kind of a big deal in my home state. They have been around forever, and there is even a meat pie festival… In Natchitoches, Louisiana (the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana purchase) where they are a Christmas tradition. 

These North Louisiana pies are spicy, addictive and the perfect balance of tender crust and salty, spicy beef & sausage. More importantly, every family has their own passed-down recipe.

Louisiana empanadas filled with spicy beef and pork

I was absolutely delighted this summer when House Concurrent Resolution No. 88, enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the President of the Louisiana State Senate, named an official North Louisiana menu.  And guess what the only appetizer named in this 33 dish meal was?  You got it– the one and only, super special Natchitoches meat pies. 

So as New Year celebrations are right around the corner, I am sharing this recipe hoping these little fried gems find their way onto your party menu because they will surely be on mine.  You can even tell your friends they are a secret family recipe if you want, or you can tell them the truth- this signature dish from Louisiana is just about as good as it gets.

Natchitoches Meat Pies Ingredients include green onions, flour and spicy ground beef and ground pork.

Ingredients for Mini Natchitoches Meat Pies

  • ground beef
  • ground sausage (hot)
  • green onions
  • salt
  • coarse black pepper
  • red pepper
  • cayenne pepper
  • all purpose flour
  • Crust (see below)
How to make mini Louisiana Natchitoches meat pies as appetizers

How to Make Authentic Mini Natchitoches Meat Pies

Make the Crust/Pastry. Sift flour into a large mixing bowl.  Cut shortening into flour until it looks like wet sand. Add egg and milk.  Combine to form dough. Knead and form dough into a ball.  Dough is best when somewhat firm. Place dough ball in bowl, cover & refrigerate until needed.

how to make the spicy filling for Louisiana Natchitoches Meat Pies

Make the Filling. Combine beef and sausage, onions, and seasoning in skillet and brown.  Don’t over cook because your pies still have to fry! Sprinkle flour over meat.  Stir in and continue to brown.  The flour will bind the meat together.

How to assemble the meat pies and crimp edges of the pastry

Assemble the Meat Pies. Roll ⅓ of dough at a time onto floured surfaced.  Cut into 4in. circles.  I use a small bowl or large cup like a cookie or biscuit cutter. Spoon filling on one side of the dough circles.  With a little water on your forefinger, lightly wet edges of the circles, fold over and crimp edges with a damp fork.

 Want a handy crimping shortcut?  When I am short on time, this mini pie crimper is a life saver! –> Nordic Ware Mini Pie Crimper

how to deep fry natchitoches meat pie empanadas

Fry The Natchitoches Meat Pies. Deep fry at 375 degrees until golden brown. Place a cooling rack in a baking sheet. Cover the cooling rack with a paper towel. Drain meat pies on paper towel until ready to transfer onto tray or serving platter.

Let’s take a moment to give thanks for Louisiana food… Golden, tender, flaky, spicy, the perfect party finger food!

Louisiana empanadas filled with spicy beef and pork

Other Favorite Lousiana Recipes You’ll Love

  • Classic Louisiana Pralines
  • Louisiana Dirty Rice
  • Easy Louisiana Biscuit Beignets
  • Million Dollar Shrimp & Crab Dip
  • Easy Louisiana Sausage Jambalaya

Mini Natchitoches Meat Pies

A traditional spicy Louisiana fried pie.
Print Pin Rate
Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

Ingredients

Ingredients

Filling

  • 1 ½ lbs ground beef
  • 1 ½ lbs ground sausage hot
  • 1 C chopped green onions all of the onion
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tsp. coarse black pepper
  • 1 tsp. red pepper
  • ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
  • â…“ C all purpose flour

Crust (double the recipe to match the filling)

  • 2 ½ C self-rising flour
  • â…“ C heaping shortening
  • 1 egg beaten
  • ¾ C milk
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Directions

    Filling

    • Combine beef and sausage, onions, and seasoning in skillet and brown. Do not over cook.
    • Sift flour over meat. Stir in and continue to brown. The flour will bind the meat together.
    • Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
    • Roll â…“ of dough at a time onto floured surfaced. Cut into 4in. circles.
    • Spoon filling on one side of the dough circles. With a little water on your forefinger, lightly wet edges of the circles, fold over and crimp edges with a damp fork.
    • Deep fry at 375 degrees until golden brown.

    Crust

    • Sift flour into a large mixing bowl. Cut shortening into flour until it looks mealy.
    • Add egg and milk. Combine to form dough.
    • Knead and form dough into a ball. Dough is best when somewhat firm. If needed, chill the dough.
    • Place dough ball in bowl and cover until needed.
    Did you make my Mini Natchitoches Meat Pies?Show me how it went! Share on Instagram, tag @southerndiscourse, and use the hashtag #SouthernDiscourse!
    Tag on Insta Leave a Rating

    Famous Louisiana Natchitoches Meat Pies are a Christmas tradition that is enjoyed all year long!  Filled with spicy beef and pork, these authentic golden, tender- crusted empanada-style pies are made hor d'oeuvre size in this recipe to create the perfect appetizer for parties or as a side dish for holiday meals and brunches.
    https://www.pinterest.com/SouthernDiscourse/all-the-best-from-southern-discourse/

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    Filed Under: Appetizers, Holidays, Recipes Tagged With: Christmas, holidays, Louisiana, party

    Meet Stacey

    Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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    1. Avatar photoShannon

      December 30, 2015 at 7:10 am

      Yummmmmmm! Meat wrapped in fried bread!

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        December 30, 2015 at 12:17 pm

        Spicy meat! Yaas, girl! So yum. You would love it so much.

        Reply
    2. Avatar photoBoBo

      December 30, 2015 at 8:28 am

      This sounds so good! Thanks for sharing. Anxioius to try.

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        December 30, 2015 at 12:20 pm

        Sometimes, I take a short cut and use a pre-made roll out pie crust to cut out my circles. The result is a more flaky crust, but much less mess and much faster.

        Reply
        • Avatar photoSue

          October 16, 2017 at 11:35 am

          Thanks, Stacey. I was just getting ready to ask about that. Since a disability last year, I am now looking for any shortcuts I can find.

          Reply
          • Stacey Pirtlestacey

            October 17, 2017 at 4:15 pm

            Sue,

            I am so sorry to hear that. Shortcuts are awesome in my book. I am glad that this one will work for you!

            Reply
    3. Avatar photoToni

      December 30, 2015 at 9:26 am

      Gerp! I am SOOOO making these this week! What a great item to add to New Year’s Eve menu! ~hug~

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        December 30, 2015 at 12:21 pm

        Yea! You would love them! Spicy goodness.

        Reply
    4. Avatar photoPaul

      December 30, 2015 at 10:05 am

      Wish I was there to do the quality control taste testing when you make these on New Year’s Eve.

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        December 30, 2015 at 12:23 pm

        I wish you were too! Think of how many we could eat together!

        Reply
    5. Avatar photoMelody Johnson

      December 30, 2015 at 2:35 pm

      Yum Yum Yummm!!!!! I am so English and German!Both cultures have yummy meat pies. Meat pies must be a wonderful European thing. Are these Cajun or French? Have to try!!

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        January 8, 2016 at 10:39 am

        Melody,

        The origins of the pie are unclear. Some Native American tribes from that area have something similar to a meat pie, and the crust is quite similar to an Indian fry bed. However, Spanish and French heritage is also strong in that area. And Creole culture is a bit of a mix Native American, French, Spanish, African American… I think all those cultures probably contributed to this wonderfulnness… But it is definitely the little ladies of Natchitoches who made them famous.

        Reply
    6. Avatar photoBecca

      July 17, 2017 at 1:01 pm

      Love meat pies and we are trying your recipe tonight. I had some problems printing the recipe. When I hit print, it printed everything, all the pictures and even the comments and the ads. It is so much easier when the print button only prints only the actual recipe.

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        July 17, 2017 at 4:08 pm

        Becca,

        Oh no! You are so right! I see this recipe doesn’t have a recipe card. My apologies! Recipe cards were one of the much-needed additions incorporated when I updated my blog about a year ago. Of course, I had to go back through and update each recipe one by one. This one must have fallen through the cracks! Thank you so much for letting me know. I will get right on that!

        Reply
    7. Avatar photoMisha

      October 31, 2017 at 1:02 pm

      Can these be frozen? Would I do it before or after frying?

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        November 1, 2017 at 10:29 pm

        Misha, that is such a good question! My mom makes them ahead and freezes them every year. She freezes before frying and just pops them in the deep fryer frozen. She always places wax paper or parchment paper between the pies so that they don’t freeze together.

        Reply
    8. Avatar photoBee dee

      December 18, 2017 at 6:58 pm

      Sounds great! Could these be baked?

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        December 19, 2017 at 9:32 am

        That’s a great question! I have not tried that since the tradition is to fry them. However, I don’t see why you couldn’t, especially if you took the shortcut and used the pre-made crust. Try it out and let me know how it goes!

        Reply
    9. Avatar photoCherie

      August 22, 2018 at 12:50 pm

      How many mini pies does this recipe make? I see the dough needs to be doubled to match filling.

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        August 24, 2018 at 1:00 pm

        Hi, Cherie! This recipe should make 16-24 pies. Of course, a lot depends on how big you make your pies! I hope you love these as much as we do!

        Reply
    10. Avatar photoGlenda

      November 7, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      Hi Stacey! I love Southern Discourse, and I chuckle each time you mention you are from Louisiana. I was born and raised in Louisiana and while I don’t live there now, I will always be a Louisiana girl at heart. I grew up in Monroe, but lived in Lafayette for 10 years. What part of Louisiana are you from?

      When I worked in Lafayette, there was a woman that peddled her 3-wheeled bike through the streets of downtown Lafayette to sell her homemade Natchitoches meat pies. They were a big hit with everyone in our office.

      I can’t wait to try your recipe! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        November 9, 2018 at 12:12 pm

        Well, hello there fellow Louisianian! We were almost neighbors! I grew up in the Minden area and lived for a period of time in Alexandria.

        Yes! I know what you mean about street vendors and their pies. They are just so, so good! That’s an awesome memory you have! I have a 3 wheeled bike with a basket on the back… Maybe I should be bring that back!

        I hope you like this recipe. It’s the one I grew up with.

        Reply
    11. Avatar photoTy

      October 19, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      5 stars
      One year, while visiting Natchitoches for their annual Christmas Festival, I picked up a copy of “Cane River Cuisine Cookbook’. Contained, was a recipe for Natchitoches meat pies; I’ve enjoyed them ever since! Simple and delicious.

      Reply
      • Stacey Pirtlestacey

        October 22, 2022 at 10:41 am

        Hi, Ty! I have the Cane River cookbook too! It was my mom’s. I am tickled you have a love for Natchitoches meat pies too. They are the absolute best!

        Reply
    12. Avatar photoTyrone

      August 11, 2024 at 4:56 pm

      5 stars
      I love Natchitoches; meat pies; Cane River Cuisine Cookbook, and the Christmas Festival! Can’t wait to try this version of meat pie.

      Reply
      • Stacey PirtleStacey

        August 29, 2024 at 11:37 pm

        Hi, Tyrone! I can’t wait for you to try them either! I’m sitting here looking at my own copy of Cane River Cuisine- near and dear to my heart!

        Reply

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