I made this dish last night……..It was GREAT!!!!!! My wife loved it!
You were right, the beef gravy took the flavor to a whole new level. Thank You!!!!
Some of us (ahem, me) would love to be able to count on a recipe to repeatedly deliver awesome flavor and LOOK AMAZING every time they make it. Consistently. Without fail.
This is that recipe. Master this recipe and you will have a gorgeous meal in your back pocket whenever you need it.
The best part is that mastering this recipe isn’t a difficult thing. Easy! You have puff pastry sheets as a secret weapon.
Easy Ground Beef Wellington for the win!
What is Duxelle?
It is simply mushrooms, garlic, and some thyme pulverized in the food processor and cooked up on a saute pan with some olive oil. For a good recipe and instructions check out the ultimate Beef Wellington recipe, in my opinion (this one uses filet mignon and is MUCH more expensive and more difficult than my recipe. But, it has great instructions for the Duxelle)
Can you make a ground beef Wellington in advance?
Yes! But only for about 12-24 hours. Make up the wellingtons without the final egg wash and put them into the fridge as soon as they are finished. Baste them and cook them while fully cold. Add an additional 10-15 minutes to the time, to account for the extra chilly temperature they are when they go in.
easy Ground Beef Wellington Recipe
this version of the classic Beef Wellington uses ground beef for a less expensive and easier version.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 4 tablespoons saltine crackers or bread crumbs, crushed
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cream
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion chopped fine
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms
- 1/2 cup red wine or grape juice
- 1 teaspoon basil
- mozzarella cheese optional
- 2 sheets puff pastry
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400 degrees.
- Mix first 6 ingredients together well. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan melt butter. Add onion and mushrooms.
- Cook on medium high heat until mushrooms sweat and onions are translucent.
- Turn down to medium while you add the garlic, red wine, and basil.
- Turn the heat back up to high and continue to cook until reduced. Remove from heat. Cool.
- Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
- On a lightly floured surface lay out pastry sheets. Cut each sheet into 4 squares
- Spread mushroom mixture across each square. Top with thin layer of mozzarella cheese
- Put 1/2 cup of meat mixture (formed into flattened balls) on top.
- Pull corners up over meat and pinch edges together. (don’t worry if this is tricky, it is for everyone…it isn’t just you!)
- Put the bundles on a cookie sheet with seam side down. Cut small slits on top and brush the tops with cream or beaten egg.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes (at 400 degrees) or until golden brown and meat is cooked through.
- Serve with brown gravy
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
(I like to add 1/2 cup of red wine to the gravy, it adds so much to the flavor of this recipe!)
Make sure you come back here and let me know how this recipe turned out for you. We love to hear about the special dinners and events that so many of you are making this recipe for.
For the best results, serve with a slice of my vintage chocolate cake and red wine. I mean…yum!
I just made this tonight for dinner. It was AWESOME! Many compliments from my husband. I didn’t have any red wine, so I used some sweet white. Was kinda nervous, but it tasted fine. Will definitely make this again!!
Author
Hooray!! Isn’t this a great recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed it as much as our family. I have heard many different subs for wine and the mushrooms and they all seem to work great. This recipe is very forgiving/
What would you sub mushrooms with? Picky husband :)
Author
Probably more onions or just eliminate them altogether. I believe there are other comments from readers that have eliminated them and still loved this recipe!
Oh my yum! This tastes so decadent! Even my chicken nugget and tater tot kiddo requests this. I’ve made it a few times but haven’t commented before. Thought I’d let you know that my family LOVES it–even the teenager comes to the table with no complaints about no phone when we have this! Thank you!!
Author
Hooray! I have a teenager, as well, and know how big of a deal that is. Thanks for stopping back to comment!
Want make the tonight but don’t have puff pastry on hand. I am going to take a chance and try Pillsbury crescent rolls.
Author
Let me know how it goes! I think it should work fine. Won’t be quite the same but still yummy, in a different way!
I made this and had extra mushrooms and onion mixture. I added parmesan cheese rind thyme, 1 tablespoon butter, 4 tablespoons on flour and 2 cups of beef broth. It made the most delicious gravy to go over the top. I served mine with peas and mashed potatoes. I wish I had of remembered the mozzarella cheese but it was still delicious.
Made this for four two nights ago to test. It was WOW. Last night made it for 40 people. The recipe multiplies quite easily and doesn’t affect the outcome. Men and women both were clamoring for the recipe. Just referred them to the web site. To keep the cost down used ordinary button mushrooms chopped. Worked well. Didn’t believe that three ounces of meat was sufficient. I was wrong. much more than that bursts the seams. Gave out many to go boxes because the finished product is quite large. Wonderful recipe. Will make this many times in the future.
Author
LOVE THIS! Love that you made this but love even more that you made it for lots of friends. We are all about bringing together people and using food to do so. You just nailed that and beyond. Thank you!!
I made this for my son after work last night…my son hates mushrooms, so instead I had some left over ham I chopped it up and used it in place of the mushrooms… my goodness you would have thought he had died and gone to heaven…he love it… another great recipe…just had to let you know
Author
I’m so glad to hear it!! And that sounds like a wonderful change. Yum!
Would it be possible to prep this ahead of time and freeze it before cooking?
Author
It might. I haven’t ever done it because I’m not sure how the puff pastry would react to being refrozen. Especially after absorbing the moisture from the mushrooms. My recommendation would be to make everything in advance and then just put it together.
It was date nite – last night and my boyfriend and I made it. It is rich and delicious. What a great meal. I asked him to get fresh geeen beans like the ones you have on the picture. We steamed them and we had mashed potatoes with the mushroom brown gravy with the wine. What a fantastic recipe, thank you!
Author
Thanks so much for coming back here and letting me know! I love hearing that people made this with their family and enjoyed it. Green beans and mashed potatoes is my absolute fave with this dish. And good red wine. You did good :)
I tried this tonight and it was fantastic! Thanks for posting it.
Author
Yay!! So glad to hear it!
I’ve made this a few times with a few variances – tonight’s is with dried morels and gruyere in lieu of the baby bellas and mozzarella. I’ve also decided to experiment with mixing beef marrow in with the meat. My picky dude loves this every time, and it’s fun to make!
Author
mmmmmmm!!! Let me know how that goes, I’d love to try that variation!
I just made this for dinner and it was lovely!! I goofed with the puff pastry a little, made it too thin so the seams had to stay on top, but now I know for next time and there WILL be a next time! The wine was really nice in it too. Thanks for this!
Author
I’m so glad! It’s always wonderful to have a simple recipe that is delicious, isn’t it! Thanks for coming back to let us know it worked. We appreciate you taking the time to do that!
I was looking for a way to use ground beef other than what my wife calls my stand by dishes, hamburgers, taco rice, meatloaf, etc. So I did a little Google search and came across this little dish. Loved the recipe! Although like others said I am not a fan of the mushrooms. I just swapped them out for red and green peppers sauteed with the onions. I also did not have any red wine to add to the saute so I added a Red IPA microbrew beer. It definitely added to the flavor. The last change I made was to add real bacon bits to the pepper and onion saute when I put together the pastries. I did not serve it with gravy as was suggested, and it was just as good. I was thinking that if someone did not want to do the gravy they could drizzle beef consomme in place of the gravy. Any which way you look at it, I loved the recipe. Thanks!
Author
I’m so glad you liked it and that it held up to the adjustments you needed. We find this to be such a versatile and tasty little dish, so glad you did too!
I have never eatten or made beef wellington before and this recipe was delicious! I seasoned the meat a bit more and added some of the sautéed onions and garlic to the beef with some wine…I omitted the mushrooms because I don’t like them. I made a vegetarian version for my daughter, but she did not get to partake in the wonderful beef gravy that really made everything come together. I served this with steamed broccoli and garlic mashed potatoes. I’m sure the sodium count was quite high on this dish, but it was a nice treat and I will definitely make it again! Delicious!
Author
I’m so glad you had success and thank you so much for taking the time to come back here and tell us…it’s appreciated! I agree about that gravy, soooo good! Good to hear that omitting the mushrooms still met with good success. Those account for some of the liquid in the recipe so I’m glad that you were successful in a sub. Have a great week! ~Janel
Is there a way to print your recipes?
Author
Almost all of the recipes on NellieBellie have a printable format. Except this one. I know, the very one you happen on! Not helpful. We are currently working on revamping the recipe system to include printable recipe cards. Hope to have it soon!
This was so delicious! I’ve never had mushrooms before, so I was skeptical, but I shouldn’t have been. I tried out several new recipes this week, and this one was by far my favorite. It even looked almost as good as the picture – a new thing for me, ha ha! Thank-you for a delicious dinner.
Author
I’m so glad to hear that! And, I hear you about the recipes often not looking like the picture. I have that happen all the time :).
Author
Whoa wait, did you say you have never had mushrooms before? I’m so glad this recipe got you to try them….so good, aren’t they!
Do you use lean hamburger? What is best, I’m wondering if it will get greasy if I use 80/20 or 85/15
Author
I do use lean hamburger. I wouldn’t go with a super fatty mixture but it’s okay to have a bit of fat in it. The pastry absorbs some of the fat so you would most likely be okay regardless of what you choose.
It has been decades since I had a real beef wellington. In fact I have not seen it on a restaurant or steak house menu in decades either. The real deal is delicious with a tender medium rare fillet in the middle. But this sounds easier and delicious. so it is on my to do list.
Author
Let me know how it goes! I love the real deal, as well. but this makes it easy for even a fairly novice cook to make. Yay!
Not a big fan of mushrooms… Any ideas for something I can substitute in there instead? Would the dish be as good if I omitted it completely?
Author
Onions, leeks, or anything similar would be delicious. But yes, the dish would still be good. It would need a gravy or sauce to give it some creaminess but…still yummy!
It went really well! I made garlic spinach and mashed potatoes with it!
Author
That sounds wonderful!!! You are making me hungry :).
What sides did you make with yours? I think ill try this tonight for the family!
Author
I usually do green beans and a kale salad or mashed potatoes. Yummy!! Tell me how it goes ;)
what type of gravy is everyone speaking of, bottled gravy
Author
You know, I think that’s personal to what you feel comfy with. Bottled gravy or, if you know how…homemade. Either way is tasty!
I made this dish last night……..It was GREAT!!!!!! My wife loved it!
You were right, the beef gravy took the flavor to a whole new level. Thank You!!!!
Author
I’m so glad you tried it! Isn’t it lovely! You are more than welcome.
Am I able to print your recipe?? If so, I’m not seeing where to do it. Thanks!
Author
You are! The recipe is enclosed in a little box that has a print option in the right button.
Omg this is heavenly! Thank you for sharing :)
Author
Oh, did you make it? I sure hope so because you’ll be dreaming of it for weeks!
This recipe sounds delicious and I’d like to entertain with it. Can you prepare everything beforehand and then bake 2 days later? Would the puff pastry get too soggy?
Author
Sadly, I do think it would get quite soggy. Sorry!
I expect that if you make it ahead of time and freeze it, you may be okay.
Is there a way to make this without the mushrooms? I’m highly allergic and would like to not die. Lol.
Author
Sure, I would try using onions and garlic instead. Please don’t die. Mushrooms aren’t worth it :).
I’ll say it again-love this recipe! Sorry I haven’t been by to visit the past couple of days. You’re on my sidebar and your updates aren’t popping up. I’ll investigate.
I’ve never made or tasted rich man’s beef Wellington either. Guess the poor man’s is as good a place as any to start.
~Bliss~
I hadn’t either. Which is why I made it. I firmly believe in trying as many new things as within my ability. But alas, I couldn’t afford the real deal. That’s okay…I do say these must be as good!