If you’re already sick of leftover turkey, you have to make this turkey pot pie with puff pastry ASAP! With potatoes, peas, carrots, shallots, and a flavorful white wine-spiked gravy, it’s a cozy and elegant way to use up leftovers. Make it for guests or a simple Sunday dinner – it’s the best!

Turkey pot pie with puff pastry in a white pan next to a white plate of pot pie, two glasses of white wine, beige linen, and brown plate of herbs on a beige counter.

There’s always a few days after the holidays where friends and family are still around but you’re sick of eating leftovers and you’ve exhausted all the take-out spots nearby. Usually, I’ll make something hands-off and big batch like braised pork ragù with gnocchi or pot roast with red wine and shallots.

But, when I’m really committed to using up all those leftovers? Well, that’s where the humble pot pie comes in. Everyone loves a pot pie. It’s creamy, it’s cozy, and it’s best eaten on the couch while passing around a bottle of wine.

About this recipe

This recipe is a combo of the chicken pot pie my mom made growing up and the one I learned how to make in pastry school years ago. It has a decadent, flavorful gravy with a bit of white wine to cut the richness (a trick I learned from my mom!) and a puff pastry lid which is how we made it in pastry school. SO good!

  • This recipe is the perfect way to use up holiday leftovers. Turkey, herbs, leftover veg, etc.
  • It’s an elevated version of classic pot pie with puff pastry, fresh herbs, & white wine.
  • It’s a huge crowd-pleaser – make it for guests who are still hanging around after the holidays.
  • You can freeze this pot pie and enjoy it later – future self with thank you.

The ingredient list

Pie dough on a beige counter next to white and brown bowls of potatoes, meat, carrots, celery, shallots, milk, herbs, garlic, peas, an egg, flour, butter, and white wine.
  • Butter – a pat of unsalted butter adds a lovely richness to the gravy.
  • Mirepoix – a mix of carrots, celery, and shallots add sweetness and depth.
  • Garlic – for the best flavor use freshly-minced garlic cloves!
  • Herbs – fresh thyme and rosemary taste amazing with the roasted turkey.
  • Flour – a bit of all-purpose flour will thicken the gravy.
  • Dry white wine – the acidity in the wine adds flavor and cuts the richness a bit.
  • Chicken broth – this will work as the liquid in the sauce. You can also use turkey broth if you have it!
  • Milk – use whole milk to make this pot pie nice and creamy.
  • Potatoes – I use Yukon gold potatoes. They’re so creamy and soften easily in the oven.
  • Peas – I love adding frozen peas to the pie for texture and a pop of sweetness.
  • Leftover turkey – dark meat, white meat, or a mix will all work in this recipe. Make sure to discard the bones!
  • Puff pastry – since this is a single-crust pie, you’ll only need one sheet. Make sure to let it defrost for about 30 minutes or so.
  • Egg wash – brush the crust with egg wash (1 egg whisked with 1 Tablespoon of water) to make the top nice and shiny!
  • Salt and pepper – I use Morton’s Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper.

Ingredient variations

  • Herbs – feel free to use any cozy herb you have on hand – sage, parsley, chives, tarragon, etc.
  • Alcohol-free – if you don’t have white wine, just replace it with extra chicken broth.
  • Veggies – onions, corn, russet potatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, and green beans will all work.
  • Meat – if you don’t have leftover turkey, leftover roast chicken or rotisserie chicken works too!
  • Crust – you can also use store-bought or homemade pie crust instead of puff pastry.

How to make this pie

Six steps to making gravy. In photo 1, a white pan of melted butter. In photo 2, veggies and herbs are sautéeing in the butter. In photo 3, the pan has flour in it. In photo 4, the gravy has broth in it. In photo 5, the gravy has milk. In photo 6, a wood spoon stirs the gravy.

Make the filling

  1. First, melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the carrots, celery, and shallot.
  2. Cook until the veggies are softened and starting to brown on the edges. Then, add the garlic, rosemary, and thyme.
  3. Stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute.
  4. Next, add the white wine and chicken broth. Stir until smooth.
  5. Add the milk and whisk until the gravy is combined.
  6. Cook, stirring often, until the gravy is thickened.
Three steps to making turkey pot pie filling. In photo 1, a white pan with gravy, turkey, potatoes, and peas is on a beige counter. In photo 2, the filling is mixed. In photo 3, the filling is in a white baking pan.
  1. Once the gravy is nice and thick, add the turkey, potatoes, and peas.
  2. Then, stir until the mixture is well combined.
  3. Spoon the filling into a pie plate or casserole dish.
Three steps to assembling pot pie. In photo 1, a circle of dough is placed on a wood board next to a pizza cutter with a tan background. In photo 2, the crust is on top of the pie. In photo 3, a hand brushes the crust with egg wash.

Assemble & bake

  1. While the filling cools a bit, roll out the puff pastry and cut out a 10-inch circle.
  2. Then, roll the puff pastry over the filling and crimp the edges. Cut a few slits in the center.
  3. Lastly, brush the crust with egg wash and bake until the crust is golden-brown and the potatoes are tender. Enjoy!

Pro tip!

For light and flaky crust, make sure to use chilled puff pastry. You’ll want to let it defrost for about 30 minutes from the freezer, but don’t let it warm up completely. Cold puff pastry is the secret to those flaky layers!

Helpful tools

To make this recipe you’ll need:

Serving ideas

This puff pastry turkey pot pie is an all-in-one meal but feel free to add sides to bulk it up! Sometimes I’ll just serve the pot pie with a simple green salad or fresh fruit. These are some of my other go-tos!

A spoon in a white pan of turkey pot pie with puff pastry on a beige counter next to a beige linen, glasses of white wine, and brown bowls of herbs and salt.

Storing, make-ahead, & freezing

To store leftover pot pie, make sure it’s completely cooled. Then, store it in airtight containers or just cover the pan with plastic or beeswax wrap. Refrigerate for up to 4-5 days.

You can also make-ahead and freeze this pot pie! Start by making the filling and letting it cool completely. Tip the filling into a freezer-safe pan and top with the puff pastry crust. Carefully wrap the unbaked pot pie in two layers of plastic or beeswax wrap. Then, place the wrapped pot pie in a large freezer bag or wrap it in tinfoil. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Quick tip

If you’re freezing the pot pie, make sure to use a metal pie plate or a disposable aluminum pan. You don’t want to transfer a ceramic pan straight from the freezer to the oven, or it could crack.

Reheating leftovers

To heat the leftovers, you can use the microwave or oven. The microwave makes the crust a little soggy, so I recommend the oven if possible!

  • Microwave – heat individual portions of pot pie for 1-1 1/2 minutes, stirring it halfway through.
  • Oven – cover the pot pie with tinfoil and bake at 350°F for 20-30 minutes depending on how many servings you’re heating up.

You can also bake the pie straight from the freezer! Here’s how:

  1. Unwrap the frozen pot pie & cover with tin foil.
  2. Bake the pot pie at 400°F for about 30 minutes.
  3. Then, remove the tinfoil and brush the crust with egg wash.
  4. Lastly, bake the pot pie for another 30-40 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the crust is golden-brown.
A hand grabbing a spoonful of turkey pot pie with puff pastry out of a white pan. The pan is on a beige counter next to a plate of pot pie, two glasses of white wine, and wood bowl.

Tips & tricks

  • Remove the skin from the turkey. Otherwise the texture will get chewy as it bakes in the filling.
  • The filling will bubble up while it’s baking. To keep it from making a mess of your oven, bake the pot pie on a sheet pan to catch the drips!
  • If the top of the pie starts to get too browned, just tent it with tinfoil. You want the crust to be deep golden brown but not burnt.
  • If the potatoes aren’t tender, add 5-10 minutes of cooking time. I recommend cutting the potatoes small dice so they cook quickly in the oven!

Recipe FAQs

Can I use chicken instead?

Definitely! This is the recipe I use for leftover chicken pot pie too. You can also use rotisserie chicken!

Can I use regular pie dough or biscuits for the crust?

Yep! Pie crust works great – I use my homemade pie dough for this recipe all the time. I haven’t tested this recipe with a biscuit crust but I’m sure it would be delicious! Just keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t burn. If they start to get too browned, tent the top of the pie with tinfoil.

What baking dish should I use?

You have a few options here. I usually use a deep 9-inch pie plate or an 8×8-inch casserole dish. But, you can also bake this pot pie right in the skillet if your pan is oven-safe! Or, to make individual turkey pot pies, divide the filling between 4-6 ramekins. Top each ramekin with puff pastry, brush with egg wash, and bake!

Do you have to bake the puff pastry beforehand?

Nope! In this recipe, the puff pastry bakes straight on the pot pie. It’ll get flaky, golden-brown, and buttery!

A spoon in a white pie plate of turkey pot pie with puff pastry on a beige counter next to a beige linen, glass of white wine, and brown plate of rosemary and thyme.

More cozy main meals

Dutch Oven Chicken and Dumplings
Cacio e Pepe Pizza
Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Orzo Skillet
Braised Pork Ragù with Gnocchi
White Lasagna with Pesto & Pancetta
Beef Stroganoff with Brandy & Shallots

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Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Puff Pastry

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
If you're already sick of leftover turkey, you have to make this turkey pot pie with puff pastry ASAP! With potatoes, peas, carrots, shallots, and a flavorful white wine-spiked gravy, it's a cozy and elegant way to use up leftovers. Make it for guests or a simple Sunday dinner – it's the best!

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (56 grams)
  • 3 large carrots, peeled & sliced (3/4 cup / 100 grams)
  • 2 stalks celery, diced (1/2 cup / 65 grams)
  • 1 large shallot, diced (1 cup / 150 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 large cloves)
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (30 grams)
  • 1/3 cup dry white wine (79 milliliters)
  • 1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (295 milliliters)
  • 3/4 cup whole milk (177 milliliters)
  • 2 small gold potatoes, peeled & small dice (1 1/4 cups / 200 grams)
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas (85 grams)
  • 2 1/2 cups diced leftover turkey (325 grams)
  • 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
  • Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C. Grease a deep 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray or neutral oil. Then, whisk the egg and 1 Tablespoon (15 milliliters) of water in a small bowl to make egg wash.
  • Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, shallots, and a big pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender and starting to brown on the edges, about 6-7 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, and rosemary and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the vegetable mixture, and cook for about 1 minute. Then, slowly whisk in the white wine, chicken broth, and milk until the mixture is smooth. Cook, stirring often, until the mixture is thickened and coats the back of a spoon.
  • Mix the potatoes, peas, and leftover turkey into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Carefully pour the filling into the prepared pie plate and let it cool slightly.
  • Next, unroll the puff pastry on a lightly-floured surface. Roll out any cracks in the pastry with a rolling pin. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut out a circle that's about 10-inches in diameter.
  • Stretch the puff pastry crust over the top of the filling and crimp the edges. Cut a few slits in the top of the pie for steam to escape. Then, use a pastry brush to brush the crust with the egg wash.
  • Bake the pot pie for 35-40 minutes until the crust is a deep golden-brown and the potatoes are tender. (If the crust starts to get too browned, tent the top of the pie with tinfoil.) Let the pot pie cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

Remove the skin from the turkey. Otherwise the texture will get chewy as it bakes.
For light and flaky crust, make sure to use chilled puff pastry. Cold puff pastry is the secret to those flaky layers!
The filling will bubble up while it’s baking. To keep it from making a mess of your oven, I recommend baking the pot pie on a sheet pan to catch the drips!
If the top of the pie starts to get too browned, just tent it with tinfoil. You want the crust to be deep golden brown but not burnt.
If the potatoes aren’t tender, add 5-10 minutes to the cook time. I recommend cutting them small dice so they cook quickly in the oven!
This recipe will make 4 generous or 6 smaller servings. Feel free to scale the recipe up if you’re feeding a crowd!
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 316kcal, Carbohydrates: 22.8g, Protein: 21.7g, Fat: 14.3g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 73mg, Sodium: 215mg, Potassium: 560mg, Fiber: 2.5g, Sugar: 3.7g, Calcium: 77mg, Iron: 8mg
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xo Sara Lynn

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