Best Greek Meat Pie Recipe with Phyllo: Kreatopita
Last Update: 4/25/2025
Looking for a delicious traditional Greek meat pie recipe? You will love this kreatopita!
Seriously, I made this Greek mince meat pie with phyllo dough for my personal chef clients for 14 years, and it was one of my most popular dishes!
Why You’ll Love This Greek Meat Pie
It’s Bursting with Greek Flavors
This traditional Greek dish is seasoned with warm spices and seasonings like cinnamon, paprika, oregano, and coriander.
Feta adds an additional layer of yumminess, and then all this deliciousness is wrapped in crispy phyllo.
It’s Fun
Kreatopita and most other pies in Greek cuisine are savory dishes. That alone is fun to me.
They can be made into different shapes (more fun). And everyone is always excited when the phyllo meat pie is set on the table.
It’s Beautiful
This is one of my favorite Greek recipes to make for other people. Whether you twist it into a rustic spiral (snail shell), make phyllo triangles, or layer it in a casserole dish, the result is impressive.
It’s Versatile
You’ll find traditional kreatopita in local restaurants and as a street food in Greece.
So, basically, you can eat this Greek pie any time of day. It can be the perfect Greek appetizer, a special lunch, or you can even make it ahead for the main course of a weeknight dinner.
Kreatopita Ingredients & Substitutions
There is room for flexibility in this recipe. Here are a few suggestions for the main ingredients.
Ground Meat
In Athens, you’ll find traditional Greek meat pies are made with ground lamb, ground beef, or a meat mixture of the two.
I use ground beef. However, if you prefer, you can sub any ground meat or combination of ground meats for the beef.
Tomato Passata
Tomato passata is pureed uncooked tomatoes that have been strained, so this puree is perfectly smooth. If they don’t have tomato passata at your grocery store, you can usually find it in Mediterranean markets. Alternatively, you can substitute it with tomato puree or tomato paste mixed with water.
Seasonings
To make the Greek-style meat filling, there are a number of spices and seasonings required. If you eliminate any of them, you will alter the taste, but the result will most likely still be a delicious Greek pie.
Feta Cheese
Some kreatopita recipes don’t include feta, so feel free to omit it if you’re not a fan. I happen to be a big fan of Greek cheeses. If there’s ever an option, I’ll choose to add it.
Also, the feta helps the meat stick together better if you’re making triangle pies or snail-shaped kreatopita.
Greek Yogurt
If you are accustomed to using melted butter between phyllo layers when working with this type of dough, you can use that method instead of the traditional yogurt-and-egg combo that classic kreatopita calls for.
Phyllo Dough
Phyllo dough (sometimes spelled as “filo dough”) is the traditional dough for most Greek pies and those in Mediterranean cuisine in general.
If you prefer puff pastry, you will probably need to make this dish in a casserole pan.
Pro Tip: Phyllo dough defrosts best in the refrigerator overnight. If sealed up well, it will also keep for a week defrosted in the refrigerator. Do not force it to defrost by putting it in the microwave; doing so will result in phyllo mush.
Greek Meat Pie Recipe
Servings: 8
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon oregano
¼ cup tomato passata or puree
1½ pounds ground beef
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
2 large eggs
¼ cup Greek yogurt
9 sheets of phyllo dough
olive oil spray
Instructions For Filling
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan on medium-high heat.
2. When oil is hot, add the onions and cook for approximately 5 minutes.
3. When onions are soft and brown, reduce to medium heat, and add garlic, salt, paprika, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and oregano, then stir well.
4. Add the tomato passata and stir until onions are completely coated.
5. Add ground beef, and break up the meat into small pieces as it cooks.
6. When meat is cooked through, stir in parsley and green onions.
7. Drain any excess fat, and transfer to a bowl for quicker cooling. Set the bowl aside.
8. When the meat mixture cools to room temperature, add in feta.
Instructions for Assembling Pie
1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. In a small bowl, beat the eggs and then add the Greek yogurt a little at a time while whisking.
3. Divide meat into 3 equal piles.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
5. Lay out the stack of phyllo sheets on a clean, dry surface and cover the stack with a slightly damp (not wet) cloth or dish towel.
6. Place one sheet of phyllo dough on the sheet pan. Spray it with olive oil spray and place a second sheet of dough on top of the first. Lightly brush dabs of the yogurt mixture onto the second phyllo pastry. Add a third sheet of phyllo.
7. Take ⅓ of the meat and spread it lengthwise on your top sheet of phyllo dough about an inch from the phyllo dough’s edge (shown above).
8. Fold the inch of phyllo dough along the edge of your sheet over the meat and start to loosely roll until you are out of phyllo.
9. Twist the long roll to start your snail shape. When done, spray this spiral with olive oil spray.
10. Repeat the process of rolling each of your remaining 2 piles of meat mixture in the remaining phyllo sheets until you have used up your 2 remaining piles of meat and 6 remaining phyllo sheets.
11. When making your last spiral, leave a little excess dough at the end that you can tuck under your pie.
12. Fill in any spaces you may have with a little of the yogurt mixture.
13. Bake for 35–40 minutes until dough is golden brown.
14. Let the pie cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
Serving Greek Meat Pies
Garnishing
Personally, I think this phyllo pie doesn’t need a garnish. If you disagree, you can sprinkle some sesame seeds on top of the pie before it goes into the oven.
Saucing
Most often Greek Meat Pies in Greece are not sauced. However, it seems Tzatziki Sauce is always on the table and makes an excellent accompaniment.
Also keeping in the Mediterranean theme, Garlic Hummus makes a yummy sauce pairing.
Serving
Cut your pie into triangle slices like you would a dessert pie with pie crust.
Side Dishes
When I serve kreatopita as as a main course, I choose Mediterranean dishes as the sides. Try one or more of these:
Greek Bruschetta
Marinated Vegetable Skewers
Lebanese Tabbouleh
Bulgur Wheat Salad
Tomato, Cucumber, and Onion Salad
For more Greek meze and pie recipes, read Greek Appetizer Recipes.
Dessert
Read Greek Desserts for the perfect sweets to serve after your kreatopita—or any meal.
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