Leftover turkey pot pie

Using turkey and vegetables in a comforting pot pie is a great way to use up leftovers. Using shop-bought cheese sauce makes this recipe so quick and easy.

Pot pies are a great way to use up any leftover roast meat. Leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or Christmas is just perfect for mixing with creamy sauce and topping with buttery puff pastry. And while you’re at it, add any of the leftover vegetables too! Brussels Sprouts, green beans, carrots and roasted sweet potato/pumpkin will all work so well in this turkey pot pie.

Ingredients needed  

• Leftover cooked turkey. This recipe can be made with cooked chicken too. Spatchcock Turkey Recipe or Garlic Herb Turkey are both delicious.
• Roasted/Frozen vegetables. 
• Cheese sauce. I used my Béchamel sauce recipe but you can use store bought too. If you want to make your own Béchamel  you’ll need flour, butter, milk or chicken broth/stock.
• Sour cream.
• Salt and pepper. 
• Lemon juice. 
• Puff pastry. I used frozen puff pastry but you can use any pie crust or pie dough of your choice.
• Egg.

How do you make turkey pot pie?

Shred leftover Thanksgiving turkey meat and place in a large bowl. Add vegetables of your choice (leftover roasted/cooked vegetables and frozen mixed vegetables work well) along with cheese sauce, sour cream and seasoning. Stir well then transfer the mixture to an oven-proof dish and top with thawed puff pastry. I sliced my pastry into strips for a lattice crust but you can simple top the filling with pastry and cut a few slits in for steam to escape. Brush with egg wash and place in the preheated oven. Allow to bake until the pastry is golden brown and puffed and the filling is hot throughout.

What vegetables go in a pot pie?

To keep prep to a minimum, using leftover roasted/cooked vegetable are a great way to add more flavor and nutrients to a pot pie. However, if you’d prefer, you can sauté veggies until they’re tender and add to the filling. Cook the vegetables in a tablespoon of butter or olive oil before adding to the pie. Any of the following vegetables will work in a pot pie:

1. Onion
2. Celery
3. Carrots
4. Green beans
5. Brussels sprouts
6. Cauliflower
7. Broccoli
8. Mixed frozen veg
9. Frozen Peas
10. Mushrooms
11. Fresh herbs like thyme, sage or parsley will also work well.

How long does it take to cook a pot pie?

In a 200ºC/390ºF oven, the turkey pot pie should be fully cooked in 20-30 minutes. Because all the filling ingredients are already cooked, you just want to cook the pastry and make sure the filling is hot throughout. Puff pastry needs around 20 minutes to puff up fully.

Freezing instructions

To freeze the pot pie, assemble all the way up to baking then wrap tight in a layer of plastic wrap and another of foil. Place in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen (simply adjust baking time to allow the pie to fully defrost and become hot throughout).

Leftover turkey recipes

Turkey is as versatile as chicken and can be used in many recipes where chicken is called for.

1. Healthy turkey Caesar wrap
2. Turkey BLT Club sandwich
3. Make a creamy broccoli gnocchi soup
4. Finely dice cooked turkey and make spicy Samosas