All-American Cowboy Pastry

These golden pastries are packed with pork sausage, fluffy scrambled eggs, sweet red bell peppers, chopped onions, and plenty of grated cheese. They're ideal for busy mornings, weekend brunches, packed lunches, picnics, or game-day snacks.

What Is Cowboy Pastry? 

Cowboy pastry is a hearty pastry filled which takes inspiration from the classic American breakfast combination of sausage, eggs and cheese. The name might conjure up images of cowboys enjoying a hearty meal after a long day on the ranch, but no one can blame you.

Cowboy pastry embraces the convenient, grab-and-go appeal of a dish while using a distinctly breakfast-inspired filling.

Pro Tips for the Best Cowboy Pastry

• Cold pastry is much easier to handle and generally gives better layers when baked.
• Break the sausage meat into small crumbles as it cooks so it browns evenly and distributes easily inside each pastry.
• Hot filling can soften the pastry before it even reaches the oven. Allow the sausage mixture and scrambled eggs to cool until they're no longer steaming heavily.
• Cook the eggs until they're softly set rather than dry and rubbery. They'll heat up again during baking, so taking them off the heat while they're still tender helps preserve a pleasant texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cowboy pastry a traditional American recipe?

The version here draws on popular American breakfast ingredients, especially sausage, eggs, and cheese. Its appeal comes from combining familiar ingredients in a convenient, hand-held format.

Can I use homemade puff pastry?

Yes, if you enjoy making pastry from scratch. It can give the recipe a more personal touch, although it requires extra preparation time and careful handling to achieve good layers.

Can I use different types of sausages?

Pork sausage gives this recipe its classic savoury flavour, but you can substitute chicken or turkey sausage if you prefer. Different sausages have different fat and seasoning levels, so adjust the amount of salt and other seasonings accordingly.

Can I add other vegetables to the filling?

Mushrooms, spinach, sweetcorn and finely chopped spring onions can all work nicely with sausage and eggs. Cook vegetables that release a lot of moisture before adding them to the filling.

How to Store Cowboy Pastry Leftovers

Store cooked cowboy pastries for up to three to four days. Because the filling contains meat and eggs, refrigerate leftovers promptly and reheat them thoroughly before eating. You can also freeze the pastries for around a month.

How to Make Cowboy Pastry

Step 1

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Fry the onions and pepper in a pan over medium heat with vegetable oil.

Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Fry the onions and pepper in a pan over medium heat with vegetable oil.

Step 2

Step 2

Add the sausage to the pan, and stir it with the onion and pepper until the sausage is cooked through.

Add the sausage to the pan, and stir it with the onion and pepper until the sausage is cooked through.

Step 3

Step 3

Cook the eggs scrambled in a separate non-stick pan.

Cook the eggs scrambled in a separate non-stick pan.

Step 4

Step 4

Cut the pastry into eight squares. Place a couple of spoonfuls of scrambled egg in the centre of each pastry square. Add some of the cooked sausage and grated cheese over the top, and pinch the edges to seal it.

Cut the pastry into eight squares. Place a couple of spoonfuls of scrambled egg in the centre of each pastry square. Add some of the cooked sausage and grated cheese over the top, and pinch the edges to seal it.

Step 5

Step 5

Arrange the pastries on the prepared baking tray and brush with egg wash.

Arrange the pastries on the prepared baking tray and brush with egg wash.

Step 6

Step 6

Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Step 7

Step 7

Enjoy!

Enjoy!