Turn leftover turkey into an entirely new meal with this turkey pot pie recipe. Vegetables and cooked turkey come together in a creamy herbed gravy, and it’s all topped with a buttery golden pie crust. This base recipe can be customized to your liking with ingredients you have on hand, and you can use pre-cut, leftover, or frozen vegetables to save time. Maximum comfort food for minimal effort!
Every fall season, I try to find a few recipes to use up leftover cooked turkey or chicken. (You know, after we’ve had our fill of turkey sandwiches!!) Pot pie usually comes to mind first because it’s always a satisfying, crowd-pleasing choice. No wonder it joins my list of 30 delicious fall dinner recipe ideas.
Why You’ll Love This Turkey Pot Pie
- Satisfying all-in-one meal
- Easy flavorful gravy, made from basic pantry ingredients
- A great way to use up leftover cooked turkey (or chicken)—use light or dark meat or a combination
- Use the suggested vegetables, or swap them for your favorites
- Use frozen, pre-cut, or leftover vegetables to save time
- Top with flaky buttery pie crust, or use store-bought pie dough
One reader, Kim, commented: “This is the best turkey pot pie I have ever made! We don’t even miss the double crust. Delicious!! ★★★★★”
Another reader, Caryl, commented: “Great use of leftover turkey. Recipe was easy to follow and came out AMAZING! ★★★★★“
Start With Pie Crust
Before the filling, have your pie crust prepared and ready to go. I love using this homemade pie crust, a dough made from both butter AND shortening to yield the flakiest, most tender crust. This turkey pot pie recipe uses just 1 disc of pie dough, so if you made my homemade pie crust recipe for your pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or French silk pie, you’ll have 1 leftover for today’s pot pie!
You can make the dough up to 5 days in advance.
Here are some other crust options:
- Store-bought: Use 1 sheet/disc of store-bought pie crust.
- All-butter crust: For a homemade crust without shortening, try my all butter pie crust.
- Double crust: If you’d like to make a double crust turkey pot pie, follow the assembly and cooking directions from my double crust chicken pot pie. But, truly, I don’t think you’ll miss the bottom crust in today’s version.
- Biscuits: Swap the pie crust for the easy biscuit topping used in this biscuit vegetable pot pie recipe.
Can I use puff pastry? You can use thawed store-bought puff pastry instead of a top pie crust. However, keep in mind that the underside of the dough (that touches the filling) usually ends up tasting soggy. For that reason, it’s an option I usually skip when making pot pie. Biscuits are a great alternative to pie crust, see my biscuit vegetable pot pie!
Ingredients in Turkey Pot Pie Filling (& Substitutions)
Today’s filling is similar to my flavor-forward and extra hearty vegetable pot pie. You need:
- Butter: Like many of our baked goods, the filling starts with butter. Butter adds flavor and, along with flour, helps the gravy-like filling properly thicken.
- Vegetable Base: Chopped onion, celery, and carrots are a common flavorful base to many sauces and soups, including creamy chicken noodle soup. In today’s recipe, I also add mushrooms. Feel free to use more of one and less of another, to suit your tastes, and if you wish to skip the mushrooms, substitute with more vegetable add-ins as noted below.
- Garlic: I usually use 3 cloves of garlic, but you can use 4 for extra flavor.
- Flour: Flour thickens the gravy filling.
- 4 Main Seasonings: Flavor the filling with salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. If you don’t have rosemary, use more thyme; or a little sage is also tasty.
- Turkey or Chicken Stock/Broth: Use broth and whole milk as the liquids in today’s filling. If you have turkey broth or stock, go ahead and use that. Or use chicken.
- Whole Milk: I usually use whole milk in pot pie fillings. If you need a nondairy milk suggestion, I recommend plain unsweetened oat milk or almond milk.
- Vegetable Add-ins: Here’s where you can have a lot of fun by adding the vegetables you love most or have on hand. I usually use frozen peas. Instead of peas, you can use fresh or frozen chopped broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, leeks, bell peppers, green beans, butternut squash, and/or fresh/frozen/canned corn. No need to thaw or cook these vegetables before using, but if they’re already cooked, that’s fine too. Just add them in!
- Cooked Turkey…
Use Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey
Use cooked turkey, which is especially convenient after a Thanksgiving meal. After the leftover-Thanksgiving-sandwich-eaters have had their fill of the larger slices, go ahead and use 3 cups of chopped/shredded turkey in the filling. You can use light or dark meat, or a combination of both.
(By the way, if the idea of getting back in the kitchen to cook another dinner is less than appealing after a holiday meal, let me reassure you: this all-in-one meal is simple to prepare.)
Can I use cooked chicken instead? Yes, feel free to substitute.
These Step-by-Step Photos Will Help
After the base veggies and butter cook together, add flour, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. (Major flavor building is happening during these crucial steps!) Below, left: The base of the pot pie filling. Below, right: After adding the flour & herbs.
After the flour soaks up the moisture from the cooked vegetables, add the broth and whole milk. Let everything simmer and thicken on the stove, until the sauce has a thick gravy-like consistency.
Then you’ll add the cooked turkey and your vegetable add-in. (Peas, in this case.)
Your filling is done! ↓ Let it cool for 10 minutes, and then pour it into a 9-inch pie dish:
Assemble Pie Dough & Bake
Roll out your pie dough and lay over the filling. Tuck the overhanging dough under and meld it into itself, to make a thick crust edge around the pot pie. Flute edges with your fingers or crimp with a fork. Cut slits in the top for steam vents, and then brush on an egg wash before baking.
To make your egg wash, mix 1 egg with 1 Tablespoon of milk (convenient because you just used milk in the filling!). The egg wash gives the crust its golden, glistening sheen.
FAQ: Can I Add Potatoes?
Yes. I recommend adding 1 cup peeled and chopped potato (or sweet potato) when you add the broth. To make room for this addition, remove the mushrooms or 1 cup of vegetable add-ins at the end.
FAQ: How to Thicken the Turkey Pot Pie Filling
This is a nice, hearty, and satisfying turkey pot pie filling because we take the time to let the gravy simmer on the stove. The flour soaks up the vegetables’ moisture, and when paired with the milk, helps create that smooth and creamy base. Avoid half-and-half and heavy cream because both are too heavy… and you’ll be eating a brick under that pie crust!
FAQ: How Can I Make Smaller Turkey Pot Pies?
If you have smaller pie dishes or oven-safe 8-ounce ramekins, you can spoon the filling into each and top with smaller pie crust circles. Cut the pie dough into circles about 1 inch larger than the diameter of your ramekins/smaller pie dishes. The bake time will be shorter than the full-size version, and that time really depends on the exact size of your mini turkey pot pies. When the crust is golden brown on top and the filling is bubbling through the steam vents, they’re done.
Turkey Pot Pie Recipe
- Prep Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes (includes pie dough chilling)
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours, 20 minutes
- Yield: serves 8
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This hearty turkey pot pie uses 1 pie crust as the topping and plenty of delicious vegetables and cooked turkey in the creamy gravy filling. See the recipe Notes for vegetable substitutions and other ingredient suggestions.
Ingredients
- 1 unbaked pie crust (what I used) or all butter pie crust*
- 3 Tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (65g) chopped yellow onion (1/2 of a medium onion)
- 1 cup (120g) sliced or diced carrots (1–2 large carrots or a handful of baby carrots)
- 1 cup (120g) sliced or diced celery (2–3 stalks)
- 1 cup (120g) roughly chopped mushrooms
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped dried rosemary (or more thyme, or dried sage)
- 2 cups (480ml) chicken broth/stock or turkey broth/stock
- 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
- 1 cup frozen peas (or other vegetable add-in, see Note)
- 3 cups (370g) chopped or shredded cooked turkey (or chicken)
- egg wash: 1 large egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon milk
Instructions
- At least 2 hours ahead, make the pie dough: Make the pie crust through step 5 according to my directions and video tutorial in my pie crust recipe. Make pie dough in advance because it needs to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before rolling out (step 3). The recipe makes 2 crusts, and you only need 1 for this pie, so save the other for another pie.
- Make the filling: Melt the butter in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until vegetables have softened and released some liquid. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary until flour has absorbed all the liquid. Stir in the broth and milk. Simmer for 7–8 minutes or until thickened into a gravy consistency. Stir in the frozen peas and turkey, and then remove from heat. Taste and add more salt & pepper, thyme, or rosemary to taste, if desired. Cool for 10 minutes at room temperature. (Or up to 1 day. Cover and store in the refrigerator if making 1 day ahead.) After it has cooled for at least 10 minutes, transfer the filling to a 9-inch pie dish.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (191°C).
- Roll out the chilled pie crust: Remove 1 disc of pie dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out into an 11- or 12-inch circle. Make sure to turn the dough about a quarter turn after every few rolls. Carefully lay dough over top of the filling. Trim dough edges so there is only about an inch of overhang. Fold the overhanging dough under, melding it into itself to form a thick edge crust. Crimp the edges with a fork or flute the edges with your fingers.
- Cut slits in the top to make steam vents. Lightly brush the top of the pie crust with the egg wash.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes or until the top of the crust is golden brown. After 20 minutes of baking, be sure to cover the edges of the crust with aluminum foil or use a pie crust shield to prevent the edges from getting too brown. (See this post on the best pie baking tools for instructions on how to make a pie crust shield out of foil.)
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat as desired.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: Filling can be prepared 1 day in advance. Cover and chill in the refrigerator as noted in step 2. After chilling, set out on the counter for at least 30 minutes before continuing with step 3. You can also prepare and freeze the filling for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before covering with crust and baking. The pie crust dough can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using. Baked and cooled pot pie can be frozen up to 3 months. Thaw and then reheat, covered with foil, in a 300°F (149°C) oven for 20-30 minutes or until warmed through.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Rolling Pin | 9-inch Pie Dish | Pastry Brush | Pie Crust Shield
- Pie Crust: Both linked pie crust recipes make 2 crusts. You only need 1 crust for this pie, so freeze the second half for another pie. You can also use store-bought pie dough.
- Can I use puff pastry? You can use thawed store-bought puff pastry instead of a top pie crust. However, keep in mind that the underside of the dough (that touches the filling) usually ends up tasting soggy. For that reason, it’s an option I usually skip when making pot pie. Biscuits are a great alternative to pie crust, though. You can use the biscuit topping from this biscuit vegetable pot pie.
- Mushrooms: Feel free to skip the mushrooms if desired. Add another 1 cup of vegetable add-in, see recipe Note below.
- Milk: Use whole milk and avoid lower-fat milks because the gravy/filling will not thicken as much. Plain unsweetened almond milk or oat milk work if a dairy-free alternative is needed. Do not use half-and-half or heavy cream because both are too thick.
- Vegetable Add-ins: Feel free to skip the peas and replace with fresh or frozen chopped broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, leeks, bell peppers, green beans, butternut squash, and/or fresh/frozen/canned corn. No need to thaw or cook these vegetables before using, but if they’re already cooked, that’s fine too. Just add them in! If also skipping the mushrooms, use 2 cups of vegetable add-ins.
- Smaller Individual Pot Pies: If you have smaller pie dishes or 8 oven-safe 8-ounce ramekins, you can spoon the filling into each and top with smaller pie crust circles. Cut the pie dough into circles about 1 inch larger than the diameter of your ramekins/smaller pie dishes. The bake time will be shorter than the full-size version, and that time really depends on the exact size of your mini turkey pot pies. When the crust is golden brown on top and the filling is bubbling through the steam vents, they’re done. You may need more than 1 disc of pie dough since the filling:crust ratio changes when using smaller dishes.
Reader Comments and Reviews
This is the best TPP I have ever made! We don’t even miss the double crust. Delicious!!
This was the best turkey pot pie recipe I have used! Leftover Thanksgiving turkey and pre-made pie dough. So good!!
I made this with leftover smoked Turkey from thanksgiving. It turned out amazing! I’m already planning to make it again for a family get together next weekend.
Great use of leftover turkey. recipe was easy to follow and came out AMAZING!
Just curious. Why do you suggest here while milk but you suggest half and half for your chicken pot pie recipe. Ingredients seem similar for both recipes. I have made them both with great success following your recipes. Thanks
Hi Hazel, this filling isn’t as thick and rich. You can certainly use half-and-half here if you’d like though.
The pot pie is delicious! I prepared it according to the recipe except for subbing diced russet potato for the mushrooms and fresh rosemary for dried. I made Sally’s crust recipe that uses butter and Crisco. Will definitely make this again!
How many cups of filling for regular size pie crust? I want to make the filling in advance and freeze.
Hi SJB, I haven’t measured the cup volume of this filling, but when I make it again, I can certainly add it.
Hi! This sounds great! I have leftover gravy from Thanksgiving do you think I could use that in place of making a gravy. Would you recommend thinning it out with additional broth or anything? Or should I still use the flour while cooking the vegetables. Looking forward to your response
Hi Katie, I don’t see why that wouldn’t work! We haven’t specifically tested the recipe that way, but I think it would be fine. If you try it, please report back!
How do bake if I use double crust for this Turkey pie crust. Noticed that you baked your chicken pot pie at 425F and Turkey pot pie at 375. If I make Turkey pot pie with double crust, which temp should I bake at?
Hi Hazel, if you’re making it with the double crust from the chicken pot pie recipe, follow the directions from that recipe for baking. Good question!
Made this today and it turned out great! Used the broccoli in place of the peas. Thank you!
Hi I followed this Turkey pot pie recipe for filling. Then I used double crust and followed cooking instructions from chicken pot pie recipe. Turned out to be amazing and everyone loved it.. Thanks for the great recipe ! I had made your chicken pot pie recipe many times previously. Turns out to be great everytim
What do you think about adding Potato chunks?
Hi Tamara! See the post above: I recommend adding 1 cup peeled and chopped potato (or sweet potato) when you add the broth. To make room for this addition, remove the mushrooms or 1 cup of vegetable add-ins at the end.
Question for you…can you add a bottom layer pie crust to this turkey pot pie recipe if you already have one made up and a spare for the top and how much liquid does it need? as the last one I made didn’t have enough and was a little dry so want this one to be extra juicy and creamy on the inside.
Hi Michelle! We love a double crust pot pie. And you can certainly make this that way! You can follow the crust instructions for my double crust chicken pot pie recipe. Enjoy!
So good! I will make this again!
Tastes great; the pie is humongous, enough for eight people. Thanks for the recipe!
Finally, the PERFECT pie crust recipe. Thank you so much for all your recipes, advice and tips.
Our family devoured your Turkey POT PIE!
Tasty, delectable and a gastronomic delight!!!
Do you know the # of calories per a quarter pie?
Thank you,
Wendy & Family
Hi Wendy, We don’t usually include nutrition information as it can vary between different brands of the same ingredients. Plus, many recipes have ingredient substitutions or optional ingredients listed. However, there are many handy online calculators where you can plug in and customize your exact ingredients/brands. Readers have found this one especially helpful: https://www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076
I purchased two Emile Henry extra large pie plate to make two fabulous turkey pot pies. It was delicious. Thank. you.
This turned out great and was quick and easy to make. I used my leftover turkey and turkey stock from Thanksgiving. I even had an extra pie crust in the freezer that I was able to use as well. Always pays to make extra pie crust. I used mushrooms, peas and butternut squash, in addition to the carrots, onion and celery. Will definitely make again. No leftovers!
Delicious! Made this with Thanksgiving leftovers and it was completely gobbled up by my family of 5. The only change is that I made it with the bottom crust since that’s my favorite part. I’ll definitely be making this again.
Did you have to use extra liquids in it with the bottom crust layer as that is how I am making it for the first time too so any helpful hints would be awesome.
I would always go with puff pastry as I love the soggy bits in a pie, they soak up all the flavour!
Hi Sally – I have gluten free family members. I am planning on making this recipe with gf flour but I am thinking about adding mashed potatoes for the top instead of a flour crust similar to a “shepherd’s pie”. Do you have suggestions? Thank you.
Hi Dawn, we haven’t, but you could definitely try that! Let us know how it turns out.
I would like to make miniature pies instead of one large one. How would I do that?
Hi Annette, See recipe note for Smaller Individual Pot Pies for details.
How about using store bought all butter puff pastry? Any modifications or other things to consider?
Hi James, you can certainly use store-bought puff pastry as the topping. I do find that the bottom layer of puff pastry remains a little soggy, though. Keeping that in mind, you can absolutely use it instead of pie crust. Same baking instructions.
Can these be frozen?
Absolutely. See freezing instructions.
I have made this recipe many times it is easy and soooooo delicious. Everyone who tastes it just devours it!
Love this!!
5 stars (actually 10)
(the 5th star wouldn’t highlight)
I’ll make this but I’m doing a crust on the bottom and on the top , that’s how I was taught to make an ole fashion cobbler
U have veggies with a top
But thank you for the filling recipe
U should try it with a tip and bottom crust then u cut it in a wedge like a pie
Hi Betty! I always love a double crust pot pie. And you can certainly make this that way! I have a double crust chicken pot pie recipe if you’d ever like to try that.
Love this recipe!! I have been doing this kind of pot pie for years to use up leftovers. Often, I would make it in small ramakins, my boys loved having their own pie! Also, I “crumbled” the pie dough and baked it on a sheet pan just until it started to turn golden, then about halfway thru baking, I topped it with the crumbles to finish it off. My boys really loved it that way and now as grown men with their own kids, they do the same thing!
Is there a subsitite for Mushrooms in this recipe? My husband does not like mushrooms ( I don;t know what is wrong with him !)
Hi Linda, absolutely! You can substitute with more vegetable add-ins — see recipe Note for more details.