Turkey pie is delicious comfort food that makes great use of Christmas leftovers like shredded turkey, carrots, mashed potato and cheese. You could also make it all from fresh for a simple and delicious meal that it perfect for feeding a crowd.
This comforting pie is made with lean protein and vitamin-rich vegetables. Topped with a creamy sweet potato mash, making a really hearty, yet healthy meal. You can make a big batch of this to freeze for easy weeknight meals that the kids will love too. Easy to bulk out with lots of vegetables - this pie really does have something for everyone.
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What you will need
- Shredded turkey - the star of this pie, it's a great way to use up leftovers from a large roasted turkey. Simply shred it and add it to the pie. You could also use leftover roast chicken. If you don't have any leftovers, then roast up some turkey breast and shred that to use in this recipe.
- Leeks - rather than using onions, we used leeks as they have a more intense flavour. You can cook these from raw, or use leftover cooked leeks. We love leeks with our Christmas dinner, so there is usually some left over.
- Mushrooms - whilst there is plenty of meat in this turkey pie, we like to bulk it out with vegetables and mushrooms is a great way to do this as they have such a meaty texture. You can use a mixture of different type of mushrooms, which all have such different textures.
- Carrots - these add some crunch and colour, as well as lots of extra vitamins. We always buy way too many carrots, so these can be chopped up small and cooked at the same time as the leeks. You could also grate the carrots if you wanted to hide them from fussy eaters. Got leftover roast carrots? Chop them up and add them.
- Sweetcorn - this adds a little sweetness to the pie and is usually a favourite with kids, so a good way to tempt them to eating it.
- Ham - got some leftover ham as well? Chop that up and add it in. Ham adds lots of extra flavour too.
- Stock - we used vegetable stock, however you could use chicken or mushroom stock.
- Creme fraiche - this is what makes up the base of the creamy sauce. Rather than using heavy cream, we used reduced fat creme fraiche to lighten it up.
- Cheese - we added extra mature cheddar, as it has a strong flavour, so you can use less of it. If you have leftovers from the Christmas cheese board, then you can use a mixture of cheese in this turkey pie. A mix of cheddar and crumbled Stilton makes this pie really indulgent.
- Herbs - a little dried oregano and marjoram adds lots of flavour to this pie.
- Mashed sweet potato - you can either use leftover mashed sweet potatoes in this pie, or you can make it from scratch. You could also swap it for mashed white potatoes. Or, if you have loads of roast potatoes leftover (that never happens in our house), then smash them up and put them on top.
Step by step
One: Boil the sweet potatoes for 15 minutes and then mash with the milk and butter. Season to taste.
Two: Heat the oil in a pan and cook the mushrooms, onions, garlic and courgettes for 5 minutes.
Three: Add the turkey, ham, sweetcorn, stock, herbs, creme fraiche, mustard and half the cheese. Mix Well.
Four: Transfer to a large baking dish.
Five: Top with the mashed sweet potato and spread so the filling is covered. Cook in the oven for 30 minutes at 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.
Six: Remove from the oven and cover with the remaining cheese.
Seven: Put under the grill (broiler) until the cheese starts to bubble.
Why should you try it?
- Healthy comfort food
- Easy to adapt
- Veggie packed
- Lean protein
- Freezes well
Christmas leftovers pie
The best thing about this pie is that it's a great way to use up Christmas leftovers. We always have way too much meat after the big day and after we get bored of making turkey and stuffing sandwiches, we make some of this. If you have chicken instead of turkey, then you can use that in the pie instead.
You can pretty much add anything to this pie, which is great when it comes to vegetables. We have added leeks, mushrooms and carrot, however there are lots more options as listed below. You could use leftover roasted carrots and parsnips. Why not try crumbling some stuffing in to the sauce too.
Got too much cheese leftover from the cheeseboard? Add a mixture of it to the sauce. A mix of cheddar and Stilton for a really creamy and indulgent sauce.
Oh, and pigs in blankets. Add some leftovers of those chopped up too. This pie really does have everything.
What vegetables to add
We used mushrooms, leek, sweetcorn and carrots, but you could use any veg you have. This is a great recipe to use up anything that is close to past it's best.
You could use some courgette (zucchini), aubergine (eggplant), peas, broccoli, cauliflower, or even asparagus. The possibilities are only restricted to what vegetables you can get.
What to serve it with
With this being made up of meat, vegetables and potato, it is really a whole meal in itself. However, here are a few side dished that would go well with this potato topped turkey pie:
FAQs
You can swap the sweet potato topping for pastry instead. You could use shortcrust pastry, or even puff pastry if you wanted something really crispy. Puff pastry is really easy to just throw on top too and we always have some kind of pastry in the fridge at Christmas.
We love the health benefits of sweet potatoes, but white potatoes are nutrient dense too and you can easily swap them in this recipe. We like the colour that sweet potatoes add though. Which ever potatoes you use, you can make them from scratch or use leftover potatoes.
This turkey pie has a creamy cheesy sauce, but there is no reason why you couldn't use a gravy based sauce. It's also a good way to use up leftover gravy.
This pie freezes really well, which makes it great for batch cooking. Simply wait for it to cool and then portion it out in tho freezable containers and then it will keep in the freeze for up to 3 months. Allow it to fully defrost and then you can reheat it in the microwave until heated through.
You can also keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Extra tips
- If you have leftover stuffing, you can add that in to the sauce too. It makes it really hearty.
- Roasted vegetables work really well in this turkey pie too.
- You can swap the creamy sauce of a gravy based sauce using leftover gravy.
- If you don't have leftover turkey, you can use leftover chicken. If you don't have any leftovers, then you can roast a turkey or chicken breast and shred it up.
- Fancy a change from the potato topping? Use a filo pastry topping to make it nice and crispy.
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Recipe
Turkey Pie
Ingredients
Pie filling:
- 500 g leftover turkey shredded
- 2 leeks sliced
- 2 carrots diced
- 10 Mushrooms sliced
- 6 slices of ham chopped
- 200 g sweetcorn drained
- 200 g reduced fat creme fraiche
- 250 ml vegetable stock
- 50 g mature cheddar grated
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoon marjoram
- 0.5 teaspoon oregano
Sweet potato topping
- 6 sweet potatoes peeled and chopped
- 80 ml whole milk
- 20 g butter
- 50 g mature cheddar grated
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Chop the sweet potatoes and boil for 15 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a pan and cook the mushrooms, onions, garlic and courgettes for 5 minutes.
- Add the turkey, ham, sweetcorn, stock, herbs, creme fraiche, mustard and cheese. Mix Well.
- Transfer to a large baking dish.
- Top with the mashed sweet potato and spread so the filling is covered. Cook in the oven for 30 minutes at 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.
- Remove from the oven and cover with the remaining cheese. Put under the grill (broiler) until the cheese starts to bubble.
Notes
- If you have leftover stuffing, you can add that in to the sauce too. It makes it really hearty.
- Roasted vegetables work really well in this turkey pie too.
- You can swap the creamy sauce of a gravy based sauce using leftover gravy.
- If you don't have leftover turkey, you can use leftover chicken. If you don't have any leftovers, then you can roast a turkey or chicken breast and shred it up.
- Fancy a change from the potato topping? Use a filo pastry topping to make it nice and crispy.
Andrea Metlika
Fabulous use of leftover Turkey. And that sweet potato topping, wow!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain
Looks fantastic! LOVE LOVE LOVE this combi with the beans in the pie! Comfort food at its best!
Katie
Looks delicious! Can't wait to try this one. I think my family would love it!
Toni Dash
This was a huge hit at my house! Everyone loved it!
Angela
Leftover casseroles are a thing of beauty! :) Can't wait to give this one a try!
Beth
This looks so tasty and flavorful! My family is going to absolutely love this recipe!
Mirlene
I love the added mushrooms in this recipe. I can't wait to give it a try.
Katherine Hackworthy
Such a great way to use up turkey leftovers! The sweet potato topping looks incredible.
Jacque Hastert
I have this saved and will be using it to use up my leftover turkey. We always have so much cause I over buy, but this will be a delicious way to enjoy the leftovers.
Gina
Love the leeks and creme fraiche in this, definitely a unique way to use up leftovers!