Leftover Turkey Pot Pie | Diethood

Leftover Turkey Pot Pie is an easy one-skillet meal! Tender chunks of turkey mingle with peas, carrots, onions and celery, all in a creamy gravy. With a topping of flaky puff pastry, this is a classic bake you’ll love to make!

The Perfect Cozy Dinner Made from Leftovers

With the Holiday Season in swing, I’m happy to share this easy recipe for one of my absolute favorite dishes: pot pie! Because the only thing better than Thanksgiving dinner (and Christmas dinner) is getting creative with the leftovers. I don’t know about you, but once my menu for the big day is planned, I automatically start planning just how I want to make the most of the extra turkey, veggies, rolls, etc.

Pot pie is one of my go-to recipes, because it works perfectly with traditional Holiday flavors. The result is a simple meal that’s as cozy as your favorite soup or casserole, but with the crispy crackle of puff pastry on top (literally!). It’s perfect for a cold day or evening, and very easy to make, especially when you use store-bought pastry.

What You’ll Need

This recipe is extremely flexible, so you can easily tailor it to fit what you have on hand. Here’s the basic list of ingredients:

• Egg and Water: You’ll combine a large, whole egg with a little bit of water to make an egg wash for brushing the pastry.
• Puff Pastry: Stick a sheet of frozen puff pastry sheet in the fridge the night before, to thaw.
• Butter: For sautéing the vegetables and making the roux.
• Onion, Celery, and Carrots: Also known as mirepoix (MEER-pwah), this classic trio of diced vegetables adds a ton of balanced flavor.
• Leftover Turkey: You can use white or dark meat, it’s up to you!
• Flour: All-purpose flour thickens the gravy/filling mixture.
• Broth: Leftover turkey broth is ideal, or you can cupuse chicken broth.
• Cream: A little bit of added cream helps create that distinctive, creamy, pot pie gravy.
• Peas: Frozen peas are a quick and easy way to throw in some bright green color and flavor.
• Thyme: I use fresh chopped thyme, but you can use dried, or substitute another herb entirely, such as sage or parsley.
• Salt and Pepper

How to Make Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

The easiest way to make pot pie is to cook and bake it all in the same ovenproof skillet. A cast-iron skillet works well. You could also make the filling in a skillet and then assemble the pie in a casserole or baking dish.

1. Prep the Oven, Egg Wash, and Puff Pastry. Preheat the oven to 400˚F. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water, and set aside. Roll out the puff pastry sheet into a 12-inch square, on a lightly floured working surface. Cut the pastry into 16 small squares, and set them aside.
2. Cook the Vegetables. Melt the butter in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, and celery, and cook them for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the Turkey, Flour, and Broth. Stir the diced fully-cooked turkey into the skillet, sprinkle flour over everything, and cook for a couple of minutes while stirring. Then pour in the broth, and stir well to dissolve the floury butter into the broth.
4. Add Cream and Peas and Boil Until Thickened. Add the cream and peas to the filling mixture, and bring it to a boil. Allow the filling to cook for 3 to 4 more minutes, or until it thickens. Season with thyme, salt, and pepper, taste, and adjust the seasonings as needed. 
5. Top with Pastry and Egg Wash. Remove the pot pie filling from the heat. Arrange your puff pastry squares on top of the filling, with each square slightly overlapping so that the entire surface of the turkey mixture is covered. Use a pastry brush to brush the squares with your prepared egg wash.
6. Bake. Place the skillet on a rimmed baking sheet, to catch any spills that may bubble over. Bake the pot pie for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the top is browned. 
7. Enjoy!  Remove the finished pot pie from the oven. Let it stand for 10 minutes, and then sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves and serve.

Tips for Success

For the yummiest pot pie tips and tricks, check out this list! You’ll love how simple it is to make the ultimate leftover turkey pot pie.

• Make It a Shepherd’s Pie: You can make a cozy gluten-free version of this recipe by using cornstarch instead of the flour, and topping the pie with a layer of mashed potatoes, shepherd’s pie style!
• Dough Substitutions: Puff pastry isn’t the only game in town! Crescent roll dough, refrigerated biscuits, or prepared pie crust are all good choices for topping a homemade pot pie.
• Veggie Swap: Feel free to use whatever veggies you have on hand. A bit of leftover green bean casserole? The odd bit of broccoli? A handful of glazed carrots? Throw them in!
• Add Lemon: Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the skillet just before baking, for brightness.

Serving Suggestions

To serve pot pie, I like to add some extra veggies. A nice crunchy salad is great, or a side of seasonal vegetables simply prepared.  Try one of these perfect sides!

How to Store and Reheat Turkey Pot Pie

• Refrigerate leftover pot pie for 3 to 4 days, or less depending on how old the leftover turkey is (you should only keep leftover turkey a maximum of 4 days total). Place it in airtight containers, or cover tightly with plastic wrap.
• Freeze pot pie well-wrapped in several layers of plastic wrap for up to 3 months.
• Reheat by baking the desired portion in an ovenproof dish covered with foil, at 350˚F, until heated through.

Make-Ahead Turkey Pot Pie

Did you know you can also make and freeze an unbaked pot pie, for baking another time? It’s easy!

• Just make the filling, and assemble the pot pie in a disposable baking pan (or a regular dish you don’t mind sacrificing to the freezer for a while). 
• Wrap the entire pie in several thicknesses of plastic wrap, and finish with a layer of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. 
• Bake directly from frozen at 350˚F. It will probably take 1 to 1 ½ hours. The pie should bake until piping hot, all the way through.

ENJOY!

More Easy Dinner Ideas