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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Baked Goods

    Cheese and Onion Pasty (Greggs Copycat)

    Published: Jun 14, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 18 Comments

    172 shares
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    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Vegetarian
    A cheese and onion pasty with a text title overlay.

    Who doesn't love a Greggs pasty? These Cheese and Onion Pasties are total comfort food on the go, and they taste just like the ones you get in Greggs, but BETTER! A delicious combination of mature cheddar, potato and onion, all pouring out of crisp and flakey puff pastry.

    A wooden serving board with four cheese and onion pasties on it.

    This isn't like the traditional pasties that you would get in Cornwall (with beef and swede), but instead it is a cheese pasty with potato and onion added, just like the Greggs pasty (which they changed to be called a bake/slice). Making them at home is much cheaper and they seriously taste next level. We added a little bit of mustard and it makes them even more delicious! A cheese and onion pasty makes a delicious addition to a picnic too.

    This is a puff pastry recipe (using store bought for ease). If you are looking for more recipes that use puff pastry, then why not try our Easy Mushroom Tartlets, Apple Hand Pie or Cheese Straws?

    Jump to:
    • Why should you try it?
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make a cheese and onion pasty - Step by step
    • Tips and tricks
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More cheese recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why should you try it?

    • Comforting - A homemade pasty is super comforting and just proves that comfort food doesn't have to be complicated.
    • Cheaper - I think I practically survived on a trip to Greggs for a cheese and onion pasty when I was at university! There was one right next to campus, so it was easy to just grab on the way into class. Now, if I had been making my own back then, I would have saved myself a lot of money. It's much cheaper to make yourself, as they are all fairly budget friendly ingredients.
    • Adaptable - Use this cheese and onion pasty recipe as a base and then adapt with extra additions like we have suggested below.
    • Healthier - Now, I am not going to convince you that these are healthy at all. Pastry and cheese is never going to be the most nutrient dense ingredients. However, you only have to look at the ingredients of the Greggs cheese and onion pasty to see that the ingredients list is HUGE! These are homemade, with no weird ingredients or fillers and additives.

    Ingredients needed

    Labelled ingredients needed to make the copycat Greggs cheese and onion pasty recipe.
    • Puff pastry - Not sure what pastry is used for a pasty? Well, it's puff pastry in this case! Golden and flakey, it literally melts in your mouth.
    • Potato - Now, Greggs cheese and onion pasty doesn't have chunks of potato in it like ours does (just some potato flakes for binding), but that is what makes ours better in my opinion. It makes it more filling and comforting. Make sure to dice the potato really small, so that they are cooked all the way through.
    • Onion - Loads of flavour in the pasty comes from the onion. You could use shallots instead, which would have a sweeter flavour.
    • Cheese - Cheese makes the best pasty filling in my opinion. Pastry and cheese - what is more comforting than that? We have used a matured cheddar, because it has such a strong flavour, and a little goes a long way.
    • Egg - This helps to bind all the mixture together.
    • Mustard - This is our (not so) secret ingredient. Some Dijon mustard just makes this cheese and onion pasty even better. You could use wholegrain or English mustard if you prefer. If you want a different flavour addition that also goes really well with cheese, then add some marmite. Don't hate on marmite, it's delicious!

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to make a cheese and onion pasty - Step by step

    One: Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°/Gas 6. Put the potato, onion, egg, cheese and mustard into a bowl and mix well.

    Potato, onion, cheese, egg and mustard in a bowl, then mixed together.

    Two: Cut the pastry into 8 equal sized squares/rectangles. Put 4 of the pastry squares onto a lined baking tray. Divide the cheese and onion mixture between the 4 pastry squares.

    Two shot collage of four rectangles of pastry, then with them all topped with filling.

    Three: Place the remaining pastry squares over the cheese and onion mixture and crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Brush with egg wash and make a small incision in the top of the pastry.

    Pastry rectangles placed on top of the first ones, then crimped and egg washed.

    Four: Bake for 30-35 minutes.

    Four golden brown cheese and onion pasties on a baking tray.

    Tips and tricks

    • Don't take the pastry out of the fridge too soon, as depending on how hot your kitchen is, the pastry might get too warm and it's difficult to work with. Take it out only about 10 minutes before you need to, so it isn't too cold either, as that will cause it to crack.
    • The key to making these is not over stuffing the pastry, as they won't seal very well.
    • You can make mini cheese and onion pasties by halving the rectangles of pastry and just making more. They are quite high in calories, so this is a good way to go if you want to make them lower in calories. These are great for party food too.
    • Bacon makes everything better, so why not add some chopped bacon into the mixture? You could also add chopped ham for added protein.
    • If you want to make a cheese and onion pasty without potato, then you can definitely do that. You might need to add a bit more filling into each pastry parcel though.
    • You can add some fresh parsley to lighten it up a little bit.
    • Make sure to generously season the mixture with salt and pepper.
    • Don't forget to make the little incision at the top of the pastry before putting them in the oven. These are steam holes and they stop the pastry from getting soggy inside. If you want to make them look more like a Greggs pasty, then add 3 small arrow shapes for the steam holes. But you don't need to be that "fancy".
    • To make a vegan cheese and onion pasty, make sure you use vegan pastry and cheese and skip the egg wash.
    • Be careful when eating, as the filling will be piping hot!
    Two hands pulling apart a cheese and onion pasty showing the filling.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I need to cook the potatoes first?

    No, there is no need to cook the potatoes first, as the cook time in the oven is enough to make sure that the potato is cooked all the way through. Just make sure that the potato is diced very small. If the chunks are too big, then they will still be hard. If you wanted to add more flavour to the potato, then you could fry it in a little butter before adding to the cheese and onion mix, but that just adds to the prep time. It does give the potato a nice crunch though.

    Can you make cheese and onion pasty with shortcrust pastry?

    Yes, you technically could but we much prefer the results of using puff pastry, which is what you will get with a Greggs cheese and onion pasty. Shortcrust pastry makes it a bit too heavy, whereas puff pastry it light and flakey.

    How to store cheese and onion pasty.

    Allow them to completely cool and then you can store them in an air tight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. You can also freeze them by putting a bit of parchment paper between each one and then storing in a freezer bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. If you do plan to freeze some, then freeze them before cooking and then defrost, egg wash and bake.

    How to reheat a cheese and onion pasty?

    Make sure that they are fully defrosted (in the fridge overnight) and then you can put them in the oven at 180°C/350°/F/Gas 4 until they get crispy again and are hot all the way through. You could also reheat them in an air fryer at 180°C for 3-4 minutes. You can also eat these cold, which is what we do when we make mini versions to take on picnics. Our kids LOVE them.

    Can I make them in advance?

    These are best baked and eaten straight away, however you could make them in advance to save some time. Make them and put them on a baking tray, but don't add the egg wash. Put them in the fridge and then take them out about 30 minutes before you want to cook them to make sure they are not really cold in the middle and so they cook evenly. You can then egg wash and put in the oven.

    More cheese recipes

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      Cheese Biscuits
    • Puff pastry cheese straws on a wooden board.
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    • Cheese and onion rolls on a serving board.
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    If you’ve tried this cheese and onion pasty recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Cheese and Onion Pasty (Greggs Copycat)

    By: Dannii
    This Cheese and Onion Pasty recipe is total comfort food on the go, and they taste just like the ones you get in Greggs, but BETTER!
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    4.80 from 34 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Lunch, Snack
    Cuisine: British
    Prep: 10 minutes mins
    Cook: 30 minutes mins
    Total: 40 minutes mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 569kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of a cracked egg.
    Eggs
    An illustration of two ears of wheat.
    Gluten
    An illustration of a mustard bottle.
    Mustard
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 375 g (13.25 oz) Puff pastry
    • 200 g (14 oz) Potato - peeled and finely diced
    • 0.5 Onion - diced
    • 100 g (1.75 cups) Cheddar cheese - grated
    • 1 Egg
    • 1 tablespoon English mustard
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°C(fan)/400°/Gas 6.
    • Put 200 g Potato, 0.5 Onion, 100 g Cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon English mustard, 1 Egg and 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper into a bowl and mix well.
    • Cut 375 g Puff pastry into 8 equal sized squares/rectangles.
    • Put 4 of the pastry squares onto a lined baking tray. Divide the cheese and onion mixture between the 4 pastry squares.
    • Place the remaining pastry squares over the cheese and onion mixture and crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Brush wit egg wash and make a small incision in the top of the pastry.
    • Bake for 30-35 minutes.

    Notes

    • Don't take the pastry out of the fridge too soon, as depending on how hot your kitchen is, the pastry might get too warm and it's difficult to work with. Take it out only about 10 minutes before you need to, so it isn't too cold either, as that will cause it to crack.
    • The key to making these is not over stuffing the pastry, as they won't seal very well.
    • You can add some fresh parsley to lighten it up a little bit.
    • Make sure to generously season the mixture with salt and pepper.
    • Don't forget to make the little incision at the top of the pastry before putting them in the oven.
    • Be careful when eating, as the filling will be piping hot!

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1pasty | Calories: 569kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 645mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 314IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 194mg | Iron: 1mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen Cooper

      April 22, 2023 at 6:59 pm

      5 stars
      I tried these for the first time today and they were absolutely delicious! I did cook the potato a little while first(just until the water was boiling and the switched them off) and then cut them up and also cooked the onion a little to soften it.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        April 23, 2023 at 8:10 am

        So glad you enjoyed them!

        Reply
    2. Bill McLean

      September 07, 2022 at 9:06 pm

      5 stars
      Hi just got these out of the oven, they are brilliant, didn't have the mustard (I'll try that the next time, definitely needs a wee something) and mashed the potatoes, I haven't got them quite there but they're pretty close. Many thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    3. Amanda

      June 22, 2022 at 12:44 pm

      5 stars
      This is total comfort food! I loved the flakiness the puff pastry added, and they were perfectly cheesy for this cheese lover. So good!

      Reply
    4. Natalie

      June 22, 2022 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      Every time I end up on your site Dannii, I get the urge to bake and cook, lol! Loved your cheese and onion pasties, thanks!

      Reply
    5. Claire Carter

      June 22, 2022 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely love a pasty and a Gregg's Pasty! will definitely be popping these in our next picnic basket.

      Reply
    6. Kate

      June 22, 2022 at 9:19 am

      5 stars
      Such a great copycat recipe! I love how it can be tweaked to taste.

      Reply
    7. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      June 22, 2022 at 8:55 am

      5 stars
      Can't beat a pasty and this one is so simple and delicious. My kids will love this!

      Reply
    8. kushigalu

      June 15, 2022 at 11:43 am

      5 stars
      Love puff pastries and this combo sound amazingly delicious. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    9. Dionne

      June 15, 2022 at 11:06 am

      5 stars
      I would make a big batch of these and enjoy them like it was nobody's business! :-)

      Reply
    10. Elaine

      June 15, 2022 at 10:50 am

      5 stars
      I don't know anyone who doesn't love such pasty. I can't wait to surprise my friends with these babies!

      Reply
    11. Mahy

      June 15, 2022 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      I wondered how they made it... Love finding great copycat recipes like this. Excited, too!

      Reply
    12. Katherine

      June 15, 2022 at 9:47 am

      5 stars
      So great to be able to make the Gregg's classic at home from scratch!

      Reply
    13. Tayler Ross

      June 15, 2022 at 12:22 am

      5 stars
      I made these this morning and they were AMAZING! Definitely going to be making them often!

      Reply
    14. Carrie Robinson

      June 15, 2022 at 12:07 am

      5 stars
      These look and sound so delicious! I need to make these happen in my kitchen asap. :)

      Reply
    15. Cam

      June 14, 2022 at 11:48 pm

      5 stars
      If I could eat these every day for the rest of my life I would in a heart beat!! They are PERFECTION!

      Reply
    16. Amy

      June 14, 2022 at 10:22 pm

      5 stars
      These were absolutely divine! I love puff pastry, cheese, and onion so they were a no-brainer for me!

      Reply
    17. Heather

      June 14, 2022 at 9:51 pm

      5 stars
      So we don’t have a Gregg’s here or anything like this to go and grab (how I wish!)… but your homemade version looks divine! Can’t wait to try

      Reply

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