How to Make Delicious Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Biscuit Topping

Turkey pot pie is the ultimate comfort food that is perfect for using up leftover turkey after the holidays. This hearty and creamy pot pie is topped with flaky, golden biscuits for a irresistible homemade meal. Making turkey pot pie at home is easier than you think. Read on for my step-by-step guide to preparing this cozy family favorite.

Overview of Turkey Pot Pie

Turkey pot pie is a casserole that consists of turkey and vegetables like carrots, peas, and celery simmered in a creamy sauce. It is then topped with biscuit dough and baked until the biscuits are flaky and golden brown. The biscuit topping sets it apart from traditional chicken pot pie with a pie crust topping.

This recipe is a great way to repurpose leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or Christmas to create a delicious homemade meal. The secret is to start with an flavorful sauce made using a roux as the base. From there, you add turkey, vegetables, and herbs for classic pot pie flavor. The biscuit dough forms a flaky top crust that soaks up all the creamy sauce.

Benefits of Making Your Own

There are many benefits to making turkey pot pie at home versus buying a frozen one:

• You can control the ingredient quality and use fresh vegetables
• It allows you to use up leftover turkey instead of it going to waste
• Homemade is more cost effective than purchasing a premade pie
• You can customize it to your tastes by adding different herbs or veggies
• It has a homemade, comforting flavor you can’t get from store-bought
• Fun weekend cooking project with the family

Overall preparing turkey pot pie from scratch results in a fresher healthier version with endless customization possibilities.

Ingredients Needed

For the filling

• 3 cups cooked turkey, shredded or diced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 cup half and half or heavy cream
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas and carrots

For the biscuit topping:

• 1 can or 8-10 portions refrigerated biscuit dough

Optional:

• 1 tsp chicken bouillon granules for extra flavor

The filling ingredients create a rich, flavorful creamy sauce punctuated with tender turkey and vegetables. Using half and half or heavy cream makes it extra decadent. The biscuit dough adds the perfect crowning touch with a soft, flaky crust.

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these simple steps for homemade turkey pot pie:

Prep the Ingredients

1. Cook, shred and dice the turkey if using leftover meat. Thaw if frozen.

2. Chop the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and herbs. Measure out the flour.

3. Open the biscuit dough and let sit at room temperature while preparing the filling.

Make the Filling

1. Melt the butter in a skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for 3-5 minutes until soft.

2. Add the celery and carrots. Cook 5 more minutes until starting to soften.

3. Stir in the garlic, flour, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Let cook 1 minute.

4. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, then the half and half, mixing well after each addition.

5. Bring to a simmer then add the turkey, frozen veggies, and bouillon granules if using.

6. Simmer 5-10 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.

Assemble and Bake

1. Transfer filling to a 9×13 baking dish if skillet is not oven-safe.

2. Arrange biscuit rounds evenly over the top of the filling.

3. Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes until biscuits are puffed and golden brown.

4. Let cool 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Recipe Customizations

One of the best things about pot pie is how versatile it is. Try these modifications:

• Switch up the veggies like green beans, corn, mushrooms, or potatoes

• Use rotisserie chicken instead of turkey

• For more richness, use heavy cream instead of half and half

• Add cheese like cheddar, gruyere, or Parmesan

• For more flavor, brush biscuits with garlic butter before baking

• Use gluten-free biscuits for a gluten-free meal

• Make it vegetarian by using vegetable broth and adding beans

• Use pie dough instead of biscuits for more traditional pot pie

• Garnish with fresh parsley, thyme or chives

Tips for Making Perfect Turkey Pot Pie

Follow these helpful tips:

• Use bone-in turkey pieces when cooking the turkey to make a more flavorful broth

• Chop the vegetables into small, uniform pieces so they cook evenly

• Cook the roux slowly to avoid a raw flour taste

• Whisk in liquids gradually so no lumps form

• Simmer the filling to thicken it before adding biscuit topping

• Make sure to vent the crust by cutting small slits so steam can escape

• Bake at 400°F to help biscuits brown evenly on top and cook through

• Let cool at least 5 minutes before eating so filling can set up

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Turkey pot pie reheats beautifully, making it perfect for prepping ahead:

• Let cool completely before storing leftovers

• Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 4 days

• Can be frozen for 2-3 months – thaw overnight before reheating

• Reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven at 350°F

• Place a paper towel over the crust when reheating to prevent sogginess

• Always reheat to an internal temperature of 165°F

With this easy recipe and helpful tips, you can now make hearty turkey pot pie at home topped with tender biscuits. Customize it to please your family’s tastes. Leftovers will become a new family favorite!