I’ve given a dish of aristocratic origins an accessible update! Ground beef Wellington uses minced meat rather than fillet steak to make it a more budget-friendly, but nonetheless impressive, dinner centrepiece. My version is packed with juicy beef, fresh vegetables and herbs and is surprisingly easy to bring together. Go on! Show off!
Non-meat-eaters can also revel in the pastry-encased splendour that is Lentil and Butternut Squash Wellington or Mushroom Wellington.
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Ground beef recipes
Nutritious, accessible and finance-friendly, ground beef is always on my shopping list. It provides so many culinary options from the traditional to the unusual, quick and easy to gourmet, and it can take you on gastronomic adventures around the world without leaving the kitchen! Here are a few of my obvious and less obvious favourites:
Classic meatloaf is a throwback I can’t resist. As well as ground beef I add an equal amount of ground pork for uber-juiciness. Don’t forget the ketchup crust!
Homemade burgers are simple beef patties best on the barbecue. How you layer them up is up to you.
Shepherd’s Pie (Indian Style) is a spicy mashup of East meets West. Beef mince and vegetables in a creamy tomato curry sauce under a comforting and crispy mashed potato topping.
Harissa beef stuffed eggplant is North African flavours combined in an aromatic dish of tender eggplant and succulent beef with a texture to die for.
Lasagna soup, yes, soup! Wild, right?? This one’s a shortcut to a slurpy and meaty one-pot lasagna.
What is Beef Wellington?
Beef Wellington is celebratory dish named in honour of the Duke of Wellington after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo. The original English recipe calls for a slab of beef fillet to be coated in either pâté or duxelles and then wrapped in a puff pastry shell.
We recently had the joy of tasting the Gordon Ramsay’s version at the Savoy Grill in London and it was a masterpiece! The mushroom layer had a hint of truffles…pure bliss.
These ingredients may be fit for king and suitable for a royal bank account, but I find traditional beef Wellington exclusive and high pressure! This modest version with ground beef is inexpensive and easy to prepare. And if it goes wrong, you haven’t ruined a top price piece of meat!
This minced beef Wellington is a family-friendly dish that can be enjoyed by all. Not everyone can manage (or appreciate!) a hunk of rare beef. The ground beef with additional vegetables is soothingly familiar, even dubbed ‘the hamburger Wellington’ in my house.
Recipe tips and notes
- The key to this ground beef Wellington’s success is texture. Cut all the vegetables into even and uniform small dice. This will help them cook through and ensure moisture, as well as seamlessly merging with the mince in each mouthful.
- Allow the beef and vegetable mix to cool before wrapping it in the pastry to avoid any unpleasant sogginess.
- If you score the pastry, be sure to make the cuts small and shallow. A deep cut will split the pastry case open, and the precious juices will leak out leaving dry meat and wet pastry.
- Brush the Wellington with beaten egg for a shiny, golden finish.
- Although juicy with meat and vegetables, I like to serve a gravy option. My red onion gravy is sweet and tangy and offsets the beefy flavour.
Serving suggestions
While this beef Wellington recipe contains a healthy portion of potatoes and vegetables already, I like to make it feast-worthy with a couple of other accompaniments.
For a more humble menu, I’d serve Irish mashed potatoes, maple glazed carrots or lemon butter green beans and a red onion gravy.
Or for the Duke himself, this show-stopping mashed potato casserole with mushrooms and caramelised onions, honey garlic roasted parsnips, and a luxurious mushroom sauce.
Storage and leftovers
Whatever your Wellington, they are the perfect ‘get-ahead’. Prepare this ground beef recipe up to the point of putting in the oven, cover tightly with cling film and keep in the fridge for up to two days before cooking as per the instructions.
Or freeze, also uncooked, for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge overnight before oven cooking.
Any cooked leftovers can be refrigerated for 2-3 days. You can reheat slowly in the oven or in the microwave. Check the meat is cooked through before serving.
More main courses with puff pastry
- Salmon en croute (salmon wellington)
- Chicken and leek pie
- Chicken pot pie with roasted vegetables
- Turkey marsala pot pie
Ground Beef Wellington
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 1 carrot
- 1 celery stick
- 1 potato medium
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- 5 mushrooms
- 4 rosemary or thyme sprigs leaves only
- 2 tbsp This is an affiliate link.olive oil
- 80g/1/2 cup frozen peas
- 450g/1 lbs ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 500g/17oz puff pastry
- flour for rolling
- 1 egg beaten
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F/180C and take the pastry out of the fridge to soften a bit. Peel onion, carrot and potato. Dice all the vegetables into similar size pieces. Put a frying pan on medium heat with olive oil, chop up the rosemary and mince the garlic and add them to the pan.
- Gently saute everything stirring occasionally until your vegetables are tender and onions are translucent. It will take about 10 minutes. Then transfer your mixture into a bowl and cool completely.
- Once it’s cooled enough to touch add the ground beef and defrosted peas. Thoroughly mix everything together adding salt and pepper and a half of your beaten egg, reserve the rest for the pastry.
- Dust a clean work surface with a handful of flour and roll out the pastry to a ¼ inch thickness or use an already rolled one.
- Shape the beef mixture into a log and place it on the rolled out pastry sheet, brush the edges with the reserved egg. Roll it up tucking the ends inside like a giant burrito, brush with the egg all over and place it on a baking sheet seam down. Bake Beef Wellington in the preheated oven for 45 min to an hour depending on your oven until golden.
Denise says
What fat ratio of ground beef did you use? I’m worried using a 80/20 will render out too much fat and make it soggy as I get over 1/4 cup of fat when I brown hamburger. Thank you!
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
Hi Denise, I usually buy 5% or 10% fat content ground beef.
Victoria says
This was good. The presentation was ver pretty. I think I will make it again, but will make a sauce to serve with it.
Lisa says
Family loved it!! So much easier & faster than the regular beef Wellington. Didn’t have celery & mushrooms so substituted with fine sliced asparagus, extra carrot, combination of frozen veggies (peas, corn, capsicum) instead of the peas. Could use any leftover vegies with this. Mine wasn’t soggy & cut perfectly. Definitely making again!! 🙂
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
Thank you for your review, Lisa! I am thrilled you enjoyed.
Oliver says
What you’ve made here is a Cornish pasty. 5 stars for the pasty, but don’t insult the Wellington again!
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
Cornish pasty?? It doesn’t look any pasty I’ve ever seen.
Stephany Cordova says
My super picky boy friend and I LOVED IT! What a different rosemary makes in flavor.
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
Excellent!! 🙂
Catalina says
Can I use fresh, shredded potatoes (hash browns)?
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
I haven’t tested with hash browns but I am guessing it’s okay. 🙂
R says
You can but I used rutabaga
Catalina says
Do I have to peel the potato?
K says
This was amazing!!! Whole family loved it, including kids
vikalinka says
So pleased to hear it! 🙂
SandraM says
So good!! Was looking for a recipe that combined ground beef and puff pastry and found this recipe. Thought I had everything (until I started dicing the veggies). No mushrooms! Too late to turn back now. But it was still so yummy!! And now I’m wondering what other flavour profiles I can use next time!! 😃
vikalinka says
This recipe really packs a lot of flavour, doesn’t it, Sandra! And you are right so many different flavours could be experimented with! I want to try a Mediterranean inspired ground beef Wellington next time!
Margot Moiseyev says
Can I make this ahead and then transport it to eat 4 hours later with a little reheating? Also, what fat content do you recommend for the ground beef?
vikalinka says
Yes, that would work. I usually go for 10% fat content, Margot.
dawn cortazar says
I made this for my family and it was a big hit. They liked it so much there were no left overs. Best recipe ever!
vikalinka says
That is wonderful, Dawn! So pleased everyone enjoyed their dinner.
Valentina says
What a great idea for dinner! I cannot wait to try this easy Beef Wellington recipe. Serious cravings.
Dina says
Wow Julia, what a stunning beef wellington recipe! I think this ground beef version might even be better than the original. All those ingredients incorporated into the ground beef must be a flavor explosion!
vikalinka says
Yes, all the ingredients mixed in with the ground beed impart so much flavour and add moisture! It’s really delicious, Dina. 🙂
Katya says
This ground beef wellington looks phenomenal Julia! I love how you simplified the recipe with ground beef.
vikalinka says
Thanks so much, Katya!
NataTim says
Wow, what a fancy beef wellington. This takes me back to our trip to Europe. Beef wellington was one of our dinners and never came to my mind to make it at home. Thanks for awesome recipe!
vikalinka says
This version of Beef Wellington is definitely a simplified one but nonetheless delicious! 🙂
Diamondia says
I thought this was sensational! The recipe as stands is perfect. I did add some peppers and used 90% Beef on baking rack. Some minor tweaks on spices with the flavors I enjoy and boom it was a hit. I didnt have any issues with being soggy on the bottom, and I am weighing that on a lower fat burger. This is a fantastic recipe on its own, but you can make it your own with some tweaks to spices and interior guts. Thank you for posting this wonderful delight.
vikalinka says
Thanks so much for your feedback, Diamodia. Yes, you can absolutely change the flavour profile and make it your own!
Realwyattburp says
Hey Vikalinka,
Wowsie wowsers…..home run kiddo! What an easy simple ‘ya shore ya’betcha’ recipe for something that just tastes flipped terrific. Used just a hint of thyme….not big on either Rosemary or thyme; thyme wins out as the lesser of two evils. I’m a guy, what can I say, don’t eat no durn kitsch nether!
Made it with a side of delicious beef gravy, the recipe DOES NOT need moisture, the gravy was there just because I like well made good gravy. Next time the thyme goes, and there is no danger of Rosemary; gonna hit it with a tiche of Soy Sauce and Worcestershire .
vikalinka says
Sounds like success to me! I haven’t made this recipe in ages but you made me want to really soon!
Brenda Jansen says
Hi..made this lastnight for dinner..enjoyed by hubby and myself. Must say that my ‘wraparround’ did not come as perfect as yours…but thanks for a super recipe!! Will definitely make it again..’practise makes perfect’.
vikalinka says
Thank you for your comment, Brenda!! This recipe is a real winner.
J says
Can you make ahead and freeze?
vikalinka says
I have no experience with freezing it so I can’t tell for sure.
Eric Strohak says
Ummm, what beaten egg? I don’t see egg in the ingredient listing at all!
vikalinka says
But surely you can see it in the instructions??
Valentina says
Today when I told my husband what I’m making for dinner and described it to him he didn’t seem too excited but loved it when he tried it. I doubled the recipe and instead of making 2 of these I made 4 smaller ones. Very juicy and delicious. Thank you for the recipe!
vikalinka says
SO great to hear, Valentina! Thank you for sharing.
Liesl Garner | Love.Sparks.Art says
This was served on a night that my 5th grader had a friend over to work on a project out in his workshop. Everyone loved it, and our guest went back for seconds! Thanks. This is such a nice recipe – it’s easy and it comes out looking like all kinds of time went into it. Good Enough for Company!
vikalinka says
So great to hear! That Wellington definitely looks impressive while not fussy to make!
Liesl Garner | Love.Sparks.Art says
Thank you so much – this is going on the menu for this week. We keep seeing Beef Wellington on Chef Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen, and it will be fun to serve this to my family and have them think I’m a Real Chef. This looks completely doable and delicious.
Veronica says
I will try with chicken it look very good.
Lady Victoria says
I too, thought of adding diced potatoes which have been par-boiled. It would certainly speed up the cooking of the potatoes which usually can take 40 min to cook thru. I like the idea of sweet potato or yams (I live in the USA after all).
The use of the puff pastry kinda makes this very much like a pasty, yes? Missing is any form of gravy. I suppose an earlier comment above about the bottom being soggy, was because the fat content varies in ground beef.
I LOVE the idea of baking on a rack. Brilliant for sure!
I was going to make individual, smaller packets, kinda the size of pasty, so that I can serve up one or two for dinner, then freeze the remaining pieces and reheat during a hectic week. By enclosing in smaller portions, they’d have that flakey all-around-goodness much like sausage rolls for far less money and more nutrient rich with all the veggies. Well done. Well done….
Lady Victoria of Essex
Elaine says
I also thought of a pasty…..I didn’t realize very many others knew what that was…lol. In these parts, we also add rutabaga…yum!
vikalinka says
Yes it is very similar to a pasty!! I love rutabaga or as it is called in the UK ‘swede’. 🙂
Nance says
This is a great recipe , I will make it again. I did use part beef and pork the only issue is the juice on the bottom making it soggy. I had left over meat so I tried making small ones and baked them on a wire rack, they came out perfect this time. Love it.
vikalinka says
Sorry to hear it was a bit soggy. It was supposed to be juicy inside but shouldn’t be soggy on the bottom but glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Nance. 🙂
Jany says
Thank you for sharing this recipe of Ground Beef Welington! It looks delicious and a new way to serve up protein and vegetables AND meatloaf to the family! Such an easy peasy!!
vikalinka says
You are so welcome, Jany! It’s one of our favourite meals.
Kellie says
Did you make any type of sauce with this or serve as is?
vikalinka says
Hi Kellie, no sauce:-) It’s very juicy on its own.
bradnjulia says
That’s awesome, Jenn. I love when people adapt my recipes to their own taste. I will be trying sweet potatoes myself, sounds delicious. 🙂
jenn r. says
I found this recipe via Pinterest, and I just wanted to tell you how FANTASTIC I think it is! I made it for dinner tonight (note: no mushrooms, added diced sweet potato), and I will definitely be making it again. Thank you!
bradnjulia says
That’s awesome, Jenn. I love when people adapt my recipes to their own taste. I will be trying sweet potatoes myself, sounds delicious. 🙂
freydomabroad says
I agree and I think it would go particularly well with the Indian spices. The strong flavours will balance out the richness of the puff pastry.
marla says
…I was thinking of a veg version as well… …maybe lentils, bread crumbs and an egg or two would hold it all together…
Eva says
This looks amazing! I love wellingtons, although I’ve only had the vegetarian version. If we ate meat around here I’d definitely try this.
freydomabroad says
I am wondering if you could adapt it to a vegetarian diet… lentils perhaps?
Jessica says
mmm… i’m definitely gonna have to try this one! i have made my own attempts before but the ground beef always came out way too dry. i reckon this recipe may be the answer! thanks.
vikalinka says
Jessica, the puff pastry wrapped around your beef is guaranteed to keep it juicy!