This Creamy Turkey Shepherd’s Pie is the best way to use up all your holiday dinner leftovers. It’s loaded with turkey and veggies, then topped with mashed potatoes. The perfect comfort food!.
But I think we can all agree that the best day for leftovers is the day after Thanksgiving. And one of my favorite past times is dreaming up ways to use them.
It was clear that this Turkey Shepherd’s Pie, along with this Turkey Tetrazzini and this Turkey Noodle Soup, was the best.
It’s pretty smart, right? Just put in the turkey, gravy, vegetables, and potatoes from your holiday dinner, warm it up in the oven, and your tasty dinner is ready to go.
When you have leftover turkey from a holiday feast or family gathering, turkey shepherd’s pie is a heartwarming way to use it up. This comforting casserole transforms turkey, vegetables, mashed potatoes and savory gravy into a meal that provides the best of Thanksgiving or Christmas in one dish.
Below I’ll walk through how to make turkey shepherd’s pie step-by-step including tips for leftovers and advance prep. With a creamy potato topping over tender turkey and veggies in rich gravy this satisfying pie will quickly become a new family favorite!
An Overview of Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie traditionally contains lamb or ground beef as the filling. This version uses chopped or shredded leftover turkey in place of the typical meat. For the topping, leftover or freshly made mashed potatoes create a smooth fluffy layer.
The filling contains sautéed carrots, celery, onions, mushrooms and green beans in a thickened turkey gravy. Savory seasonings like garlic, parsley, sage and Worcestershire sauce add lots of flavor.
Once assembled, the casserole bakes until hot and bubbling. A quick broil at the end browns the spuds to crispy, golden perfection.
Benefits of Making This Pie
There are so many great reasons to make turkey shepherd’s pie:
- Uses up leftover turkey in a creative way
- Incorporates leftover side dishes like mashed potatoes
- Provides a tasty main dish from holiday leftovers
- Comforting and hearty for cold weather
- Freezes well for meals later
- Fun twist on traditional shepherd’s pie
Tips for the Best Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Follow these tips for stellar results:
- Use 4 cups seasoned, leftover mashed potatoes or make from scratch.
- Sauté vegetables until lightly browned for more flavor.
- Stir flour into hot gravy to prevent lumps.
- For creamiest texture, warm gravy before adding to filling.
- Bake until hot and bubbling, then broil the topping.
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving for clean slices.
Ingredients Needed
For the potato topping:
- Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
- Butter, melted
- Heavy cream
- Egg yolk
- Shredded cheese like cheddar or Swiss
- Salt, pepper, chopped parsley
For the turkey filling:
- Olive oil or butter
- Onion, celery, carrots, mushrooms
- Leftover turkey, chopped
- Frozen green beans
- Turkey gravy or broth
- Flour, Worcestershire, cream
- Garlic, parsley, sage
Step-By-Step Instructions
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Simmer cubed potatoes in salted water until fork tender. Drain and mash with butter, cream, egg yolk, cheese and seasonings.
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Sauté onion, celery, carrots and mushrooms 5-7 minutes until softened. Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes.
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Whisk in warm turkey gravy, cream, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and herbs. Simmer until thickened.
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Add chopped turkey and frozen green beans to gravy mixture. Season to taste.
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Transfer turkey filling to a greased baking dish. Top with mashed potatoes.
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Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes until hot and bubbling. Broil 3-4 minutes to brown potatoes.
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Let sit 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Handy Leftover Tips
Have extra pie? Here are some tips:
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Refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat individual slices.
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Freeze baked pie up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat.
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Prepare filling and potatoes 1-2 days in advance. Assemble when ready to bake.
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Use leftover turkey, gravy, potatoes and vegetables. Make broth from the bones!
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Swap in roasted veggies like Brussels sprouts or sweet potatoes if you have them.
Creative Serving Suggestions
Serve turkey shepherd’s pie with:
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A crisp green salad or coleslaw.
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Roasted vegetables like parsnips or carrots.
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Fresh cranberry sauce or chutney.
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Dinner rolls or savory biscuits.
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A hearty glass of red wine or cold beer.
With a few simple ingredients and some holiday leftovers, you can create an incredible turkey shepherd’s pie anyone would love. The combo of tender turkey, vegetables and fluffy potatoes with rich gravy is so satisfying. Give this comforting casserole a try soon!
More Shepherd’s Pie Recipes to Try
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How to Make Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Because it’s made with Thanksgiving leftovers, this pie is very simple. It only takes 10 minutes to prepare!
- Place the vegetables in a medium-sized oven-safe skillet. Melt the butter in it, then add the onion, carrot, and celery. Once it’s soft, add the garlic and cook for one more minute.
- To make the filling, add one more tablespoon of butter to the vegetables and mix them with flour and broth. Stir and cook until it gets thick, then add the peas and turkey and mix well. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Add the mashed potatoes: Put the mashed potatoes on top of the filling and then add the rest of the butter.
- Bake: Put the pie in the oven at 375oF for as long as the potatoes are warm.
EASY 30-Minute Ground Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
FAQ
Does shepherd’s pie have gravy in it?
What can I use instead of broth in shepherd’s pie?
Why is my shepherd’s pie soggy?
Why is flour used in shepherds pie?
How do you cook a Turkey Shepherd’s pie?
Turkey shepherd’s pie is a perfect way to use leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and delicious gravy. For a quick and easy weeknight meal, the whole family will love it. Heat a large oven-safe skillet (I use cast iron) on medium-high heat. Add butter, onion, celery, carrots salt, and pepper, and cook until soft about 3 minutes.
Is Turkey Shepherd’s Pie a good Thanksgiving recipe?
Turkey Shepherd’s Pie might not be the first recipe you think of for Thanksgiving, but Thanksgiving shepherd’s pie combines all the Thanksgiving flavors in one perfect bite, whether you make it as your main meal or to use up Thanksgiving leftovers! Watch my turkey dinner pie web story here.
How do you make a shepherd’s pie from leftovers?
Thanksgiving leftovers reinvented into a flavorful shepherd’s pie. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion, celery and carrots, cooking until onions are translucent. Add minced garlic, cooking for an additional minute.
Can you use ground turkey in a shepherd’s pie?
Use ground turkey: Similar to a traditional shepherd’s pie or cottage pie, you can use ground meat in this recipe—just cook it before using it! Swap in cooked ground turkey for the cubed turkey, then prepare the recipe as directed. You can also try this winter vegetable shepherd’s pie with ground turkey.
Do you need a shepherd’s pie for Thanksgiving?
Warm and filling, this “Thanksgiving shepherd’s” pie is brimming with Thanksgiving flavors. I realize that most turkeys and chickens do not require Shepherds, but please just go with it for the sake of the season and the mashed potatoes. Tried this recipe? Please give it a star rating! Would you like to save this post?
What to do with leftover Turkey Shepherd’s pie?
Whether you make this Thanksgiving Shepherd’s Pie for your main Thanksgiving meal as we did or use the remains of your turkey to make leftover turkey shepherd’s pie with stuffing crust the day after Thanksgiving, you’re going to love this versatile recipe. All the Thanksgiving flavors in bite after delicious bite!