Turkey Pot Pie
December 2, 2008|Comments (27)
What are we supposed to do with all the leftover turkey? Most of us will make the classic Dagwood-style post-Thanksgiving sandwich at least once (a sandwich consisting of turkey, cranberry sauce, etc.) but sandwiches will not warm you up after shoveling the sidewalk. So, what better dish than pot pie? With its golden flaky crust, smooth turkey cream sauce, savory vegetables, and moist flavorful turkey… this dish dons the cape and tights as the superhero of leftovers.
I sure hope there’s a fireman around — ’cause that baby is smokin’!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 3 red potatoes, washed and cubed
- 2-3 carrots, scrubbed and sliced
- 1/2 an onion, diced
- 2 ribs of celery, scrubbed and sliced
- 1 cup frozen peas (optional for all of you pea-haters — I know you are out there)
- 2-3 cups cooked turkey breast, shredded
- 2 cups chicken or turkey stock
- 1 can of evaporated milk
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup water
- dash of crushed thyme
- dash of garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the double crust:
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cup unsalted butter or Crisco
- 1 1/4 cup ice water
Make your crust by stirring together the flour and salt. Add the butter and use a pastry blender to cut the butter until the flour mixture is light and looks like course crumbs. Now ad the ice water tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork after each addition. Stop adding water once the dough is just beginning to hold together. Form it into two balls, wrap them in plastic wrap, and shove them in the fridge. See? Not hard to do at all!
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Pull out a nice glass or ceramic pie plate.
Now for the filling! Melt some butter in the bottom of a kettle and add the diced potatoes and onion. Brown them a bit and add water. Let cook with a lid. Add carrots once the potatoes soften a bit and keep them cooking on med-low.
Place the chicken or turkey stock in the bottom of a saucepan and add the cornstarch using a whisk. Mix well and bring to almost a boil. Reduce heat to low and add the milk. Stir well and add the cheese. The sauce should thicken up nicely.
leftover Thanksgiving Turkey (picture taken last year)
Now add the sauce, celery, turkey, peas (if you are not a hater), and seasonings to the potatoes. Mix well and remove from heat. This should make for a thick mixture and you will probably be thinking something along the lines of: “Why couldn’t I have just used a big can of condensed cream of chicken soup?” Well, it’s my recipe — that’s why!
Bring out those lumps of pie crust and roll one crust out. Place the crust in the bottom of your pie plate and poke the base with a fork. Now stick the thing in the oven for about 5-10 minutes (you can foil the edges or just lay a piece of foil across the top. Remove from oven and spoon the mixture into the pie crust-lined plate. Roll out the other crust and cover the glorious thing. Press the edges together, cut some windows in the top, and use a pastry brush to cover the top crust with egg wash. Sprinkle the top with some garlic salt.
Bake for 30 minutes (until the crust is a lovely golden). Let cool for about 5 minutes.
Slice, serve, devour, and repeat. You’ll thank me later. I promise.
NOTE: You can use shredded cooked chicken or even ham in this when turkey is not handy, okay? You won’t see any ham recipes on this site though. No pork. No shellfish. Nope.
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YUM!!!
That looks fabulous.
I didn’t have much leftover turkey this year (bought a small one, unfortunately) although what I did have I put together with a little stuffing, some gravy and some mushrooms and put them in little phyllo dough thing that looked like a drawstring purse. It was pretty good, but I like pie crust so much better!
Merry Christmas!!!!!
Heather
Wow! I never thought of adding cheese! Sounds great! Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever made my own pot pie. I was too in love with my grandmother’s to ever try it on my own. But I’ve had good luck with your recipes, so I’ll definitely try this! Too bad we just had a handful of leftover turkey. Our family is kind of big!
i’m wondering if we even have enough turkey left over to make this. i’ve never made pot pie before, but i’m feeling adventurous and this sounds really good.
Shoveling the sidewalk? Hahaha. It was 70 degrees here today.
But this sure looks yummy. Our turkey is about gone, but I like to make it with chicken, too.
Our turkey is gone too but it looks sooooo YUMMY! Your shoveling too?!? We’re due for our second snowstorm in three days starting tonight that’s supposed to go into thursday.
Oh yeah!
I made two turkey pot pies Saturday and they vanished in no time… LOL!
I might not eat that (vegetarian thing ) but I sure would love to serve something that pretty.
YUM! I ended up making turkey soup wish I’d thought of this instead.
Looks delicious and hooray for somebody who doesn’t use can of any kind of soup. Funny thing - you and I use the same brand of purchased chicken broth - Might have to roast a chicken just to make this (most of our turkey is currently aimed at soup and a kick butt tetrazzini!
You make me want some and I’m a vegetarian!! That’s how yummy this looks.
I’ve never made poultry pot pie before. But it doesn’t help that we went to someone else’s house for Thanksgiving so we don’t have any left over turkey
:(
Dear Lacy,
Welcome back. Hope your time off from the posting was fruitful as you and Joshua derserve a break. Your pie looks delisious!!!! I am going to make it this weekend for A.J. and I. I have the weekend off. Last weekend I was totally sick but am getting better, just in time to make your pie. Great.. lol……Love Always
Looks soo yummmy!
I LOVED the turkey pot pie last night. It was so yummy!! I don’t remember any peas in it, am I the pea hater you’re refering to? If so, thanks a bunch! :o)
Mmmhhh, that turkey meat is so moist and beautiful! Your pie looks really appetizing! A gorgeously comforting dish!
Cheers,
Rosa
Lacy: I do hope you saved me a hot slice, my mouth is watering for a bite.
Superhero of leftovers… I love it. You’ll be glad to know that pot pie is already on my Christmas week menu.
Yum Yum!! Looks so delicious!!
Yummmmm that looks delicious! I could probably just eat that crust by itself! And the turkey looks so good too!
I don’t like turkey sandwiches much so I love alternate uses for it! Your pie looks great! We make them now and then…never often enough. Anyhow, I appreciate your recipe and info. Looks wonderful!
Oh Lacy! This looks sooo very good! Warms the heart and belly right up I’ll bet! I’m going to save this recipe!
Now my Sweet Lacy….I’m so sorry I missed your Birthday! I did send you an email..but it got returned to me..I goofed in the address.
You know…you are much much too wise and wonderful for your years!!! How on earth did you become the Awesome Woman that you are?? I’m glad you are you…but I’m amazed!!!
Now, I see you’ve added another chapter and I must read!!!!
I hope aside from your Birthday trip…your real day was as beautiful as you are…and so deserve!
{{{Many Many Hugs Lacy!}}}
Momma Barb
That looks fabulous. I will have to try it. Thanks.
Lacy,
Wow, I love pot pie. Wish I was there to have some. Umm Umm good!
be still my heart! does that look GOOD or what??? i need you to come and give me pie lessons lol after as many years as i’ve been bakin’ i STILL cannot make a crust that’s worth taffy!
YUMMY!!!! We actually had chicken for Thanksgiving this year cause my sister is big ole Turkey hater… But I do have an 18 lb turkey in my freezer just waiting to be cooked. And I’m pretty sure the 3 of us will not be eating the whole 18 lbs in one sitting, so thanks to my dear sweet friend, YOU, I have an excellent leftover recipe! Thanks hon!
Wow, looks great. I keep thinking of making a pot pie with leftover turkey and never get around to it.
Made it with small changes (according to what I had in my pantry!) - put some of the cheese in the crust - oh yum! Thoroughly impressed my visiting family members and today used part of the crust recipe to make a steak and onion pie - OH WOW. BTW- not a pea hater in our house -we love pea salad too.