Australia’s best meat pie revealed in nationwide search

The humble meat pie is a road trip favourite. Now the best pie in the country has been crowned – but it might be tough for some Aussies to try this summer.

It’s the road trip staple that makes an Aussie road trip complete.

Now the best meat pie in Australia has been crowned, and it’s easy to see why.

Taking out the crown for the best plain meat pie is a little spot in Western Australian known as the Pinjarra Bakery.

A few elements go into making a meat pie.

Finding Australia’s best pie sounds like a good day job to me.

Now dubbed the baker of the ‘Best Plain Meat Pie’ in Australia in the Official Great Aussie Pie Competition, the bakery owners, the Pantaleo family, are reportedly “stoked” for their much-loved “chunky pie”.

The bakery, which has four locations across WA, won the best pie under a relatively basic criteria. According to the judging platform, the best pies are expected to have a pastry top with “good lamination” that is isn’t too thick or too thin. The filling must have no gristle (cartilage) or bone, and the whole thing needs a perfectly balanced meat to pastry ratio.

Some of the winners from the various categories.

The bakery stole the crown from last year’s winner Rolling Pin Pies & Cakes in Ocean Grove, Victoria.

In 2020, Rolling Pin Pies and Cakes nabbed six gold medals, eight silver medals and the prized overall trophy for making the country’s top pie at the Baking Association of Australia’s national Best Pie Competition.

Several elements go into making the best pie in Australia

The Pinjarra bakery has taken the crown for best meat pie in Australia.

This year, the championship for best pie had 18 different categories, including Best Gourmet Pie, Best Gourmet Sausage Roll, Best Plain Sausage Roll, Best Vegetarian Pie and Best Apple Pie.

Winners were:

The Best Plain Pie in Australia – Pinjarra Bakery, Pinjarra, Western Australia with its Chunky Pie

The Best Gourmet Pie in Australia – Paradise Bakehouse, Moore Park Beach, Queensland with its Dancing Scallop Pie

Winner of the Gourmet Sausage Roll – The Little Red Grape Bakery, Sevenhill, South Australia with its Garlick Chicken Roll

Winner of the Plain Sausage Roll – Hope Bakery Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, Victoria

Gourmet Vegetarian/Vegan Pie – Tatura Bakery & Lunches, Tatura, Victoria for its Cauliflower & Cheese