There’s something incredibly comforting about a classic pot pie, especially when it’s packed with tender turkey and wrapped in a golden, flaky crust. This Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Crust Recipe is my go-to for cozy dinners, and I promise it’s easier to pull together than you might think.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Crust Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Crust Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Crust Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This turkey pot pie has become one of my absolute favorites—not just because it lets me use up leftover turkey, but because it balances creamy, savory filling with a crust that truly melts in your mouth. Trust me, once you try this, you’ll see why I come back to it again and again.
- Flaky Homemade Crust: The sour cream in the dough gives it such a tender, flaky texture without any fuss.
- Hearty Filling: Loaded with turkey, sweet potatoes, and veggies for a wholesome, satisfying meal.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses staples you probably already have, making dinner prep stress-free.
- Single Pan Prep: You can cook the filling right in an oven-safe skillet—fewer dishes, yay!
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient here plays a vital role, creating that classic pot pie magic. The blend of fresh herbs and spices alongside creamy elements gives the filling depth, while the crust brings it all together with that signature flakiness. Here are a few tips on what each component brings to the table.
- All-purpose flour: Essential for both the crust and as a thickener in the filling’s roux.
- Unsalted butter: Critical for flaky, tender crust and rich filling flavor.
- Sour cream: Adds moisture and tenderness to the crust, making it wonderfully flaky.
- Egg: Used to brush the crust so it browns beautifully during baking.
- Onion: Builds a savory base for the filling with subtle sweetness when cooked.
- Fresh rosemary: Brings a fragrant herbal note that pairs perfectly with turkey.
- Smoked paprika: Adds warmth and a subtle smoky depth to the filling flavor.
- Chicken broth & heavy cream: Create a luscious sauce that’s creamy but not overwhelming.
- Sweet potatoes & russet potatoes: Provide varied textures and earthy sweetness.
- Carrots: Bring a gentle crunch and natural sweetness.
- Shredded turkey: The star protein—leftover works wonderfully here.
- Frozen sweet corn & green beans: Add pops of color and fresh flavor with minimal prep.
Make It Your Way
One of the things I love about this Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Crust Recipe is how you can easily swap out ingredients or tweak the filling to suit your taste or what’s on hand. I always encourage making it yours because a little customization takes the stress off and makes the dish feel special.
- Variation: I sometimes add mushrooms or peas for extra earthiness and sweetness—I find they complement the turkey beautifully without overpowering the flavors.
- Vegetarian option: Skip the turkey and use chickpeas or roasted butternut squash for a hearty meatless version.
- Pie crust shortcut: If you're short on time, store-bought pie dough works just fine though I do love the homemade crust’s texture and flavor the most.
- Seasonal twist: Swap rosemary with thyme or sage in the fall for a warm, autumnal touch.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Crust Recipe
Step 1: Whip Up That Perfect Flaky Crust
Start by pulsing your flour and salt together. Then sprinkle in the very cold butter—this cold butter is key!—and pulse until you get coarse crumbs; this is what builds the layers of flakiness. Add the sour cream and pulse just enough until the dough clumps together. I love forming the dough into a disk and chilling it while I work on the filling—it makes rolling out so much easier and helps the crust hold its shape during baking.
Step 2: Sauté Your Aromatics and Build the Filling
Melt butter in your oven-safe skillet, add diced onion, and cook until translucent and fragrant. Then whisk in the flour, rosemary, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to make a roux—cooking it for about 30 seconds to toast the flour really amps up the flavor. Slowly pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream while whisking to avoid lumps. This creates your rich base sauce.
Step 3: Cook The Veggies and Add Turkey
Throw in the diced sweet and russet potatoes along with the carrots, and bring the mixture to a boil. Let it bubble until the veggies are tender but not mushy—think piercing with a fork and having a little resistance. Lower the heat and stir in the shredded turkey, frozen corn, and green beans until everything's nicely combined.
Step 4: Roll Out Dough and Bake to Golden Perfection
Roll your chilled dough into a 12-inch circle and carefully lay it over your skillet contents. It doesn’t have to hang over the sides; just gently press it up against the inside of the pan. Cut a few slits to let steam escape, then brush with the beaten egg for a beautiful golden crust. Bake at 400°F for about 30 minutes or until the crust is a gorgeous deep gold. Pro tip: place a foil-lined baking sheet under the skillet to catch any drips—helps keep your oven clean!
Top Tip
Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks that make this Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Crust Recipe come out just right every time. These tips will save you from common hiccups and elevate your baking game.
- Keep butter cold for a flaky crust: Warm butter can make the dough tough – always chill it well and handle it quickly.
- Don’t overcook veggies: They should be tender but hold their shape to avoid a soggy filling.
- Roll dough evenly: Uneven thickness leads to inconsistent baking; aim for about ⅛ inch thickness.
- Use an oven-safe skillet: Prepping and baking in one pan cuts down on dishes and helps retain the pot pie’s rich flavors.
How to Serve Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Crust Recipe
Garnishes
I usually sprinkle a bit of fresh chopped parsley or thyme over the top just before serving. It brightens the flavors and adds a fresh pop of color, which makes the dish look as good as it tastes. Sometimes a dollop of sour cream or a little cracked black pepper on top finishes it off nicely.
Side Dishes
This pot pie stands beautifully on its own, but I love pairing it with a crisp green salad tossed in a light vinaigrette or some roasted Brussels sprouts for a little extra crunch and earthiness. A warm crusty baguette works too if you want to soak up any leftover sauce.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve baked individual pot pies in ramekins topped with pastry cutouts shaped like leaves or turkey silhouettes—adds an adorable, festive touch! You can also brush the crust with a little garlic butter after baking for a flavor boost that surprises guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled completely, I cover leftovers tightly with foil or transfer them to an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. This pot pie holds up well for up to 5 days—you can reheat a slice or two for an easy next-day dinner.
Freezing
I’ve had great luck freezing the pot pie before baking. Freeze it covered tightly, then pop it in the oven directly from frozen—just add a bit more baking time and watch the crust carefully to avoid over-browning. This trick is a lifesaver for busy weeks.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers in a 350°F oven until warmed through and the crust is crisp again—usually about 15-20 minutes depending on your oven and portion size. This keeps the texture just like freshly baked and avoids the sogginess microwave reheating can cause.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Store-bought crust will work perfectly and saves time, though the homemade crust adds that extra flakiness and tenderness that I love.
Yes, the filling can be made a day or two in advance and refrigerated. Just bring it to room temperature before assembling and baking your pot pie for best results.
You can use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream, though the sauce will be slightly less rich and creamy. For a dairy-free option, coconut cream is a good alternative.
If you notice the crust edges browning too fast, cover them loosely with foil halfway through baking to protect them while the middle finishes browning.
Final Thoughts
This Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Crust Recipe isn’t just a meal; it’s a little celebration of comfort and homemade goodness that I truly enjoy sharing. It takes that humble leftover turkey to something extraordinary with layers of flavor and that buttery crust you’ll want to savor. Give it a try—you’ll soon find it’s a recipe you’ll keep coming back to on chilly nights or whenever you need a cozy pick-me-up.
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Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Flaky Crust Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Turkey Pot Pie features a flaky homemade crust filled with a savory mix of shredded turkey, sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, carrots, corn, and green beans in a creamy, herb-infused sauce. Perfect for a comforting dinner, it’s baked to golden perfection in a single skillet for easy preparation and cleanup.
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 6 Tablespoons (85 g) very cold unsalted butter, cubed
- ¼ cup (57 g) sour cream
- 1 large egg, well-beaten (to brush over the pie crust before baking)
Turkey Pot Pie Filling
- 6 Tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter
- ½ cup (79 g) diced onion
- 6 Tablespoons (47 g) flour
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary (or ½ teaspoon dried rosemary)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups (473 ml) chicken broth
- ½ cup (118 ml) heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups (315 g) sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into pieces smaller than 1"
- 1 cup (215 g) russet potatoes, peeled and diced into pieces smaller than 1"
- ½ cup chopped carrots (about 2 carrots)
- 3 cups (445 g) shredded turkey
- 1 cup (140 g) frozen sweet corn
- 1 cup (110 g) frozen green beans
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking your pot pie.
- Prepare pie crust dough: In a food processor, pulse together the flour and salt. Sprinkle the cubed cold butter over the flour mixture and pulse until coarse crumbs form. Add sour cream and pulse until the dough just begins to clump. Remove the dough, form into a smooth disk, wrap it, and refrigerate while making the filling.
- Cook aromatics: Melt butter in a deep, oven-safe 10" skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and translucent.
- Create roux and season: Add flour, rosemary, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Whisk continuously and cook for 30 seconds to lightly toast the flour.
- Add liquids: Gradually stir in the chicken broth and heavy cream while stirring to form a smooth sauce.
- Cook vegetables: Add sweet potatoes, russet potatoes, and carrots to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Boil until the potatoes and carrots are tender when pierced with a fork, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add turkey and frozen vegetables: Reduce heat to low. Stir in shredded turkey, frozen sweet corn, and frozen green beans until well combined and heated through.
- Prepare crust topping: Roll out the chilled pie dough on a floured surface to an even 12" circle.
- Assemble pie: Carefully lay the rolled-out crust over the pot pie filling inside the skillet, pushing the crust up against the inside sides of the pan. Cut several slits in the crust to allow steam to escape.
- Apply egg wash: Lightly brush the beaten egg over the crust to help it brown beautifully.
- Bake: Place the skillet on a foil-lined baking sheet to protect from spills. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Serve: Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your delicious homemade turkey pot pie!
Notes
- You can use any unbaked pie crust if you prefer a shortcut, but this recipe uses a homemade sour cream crust for extra flakiness.
- If you don’t have a deep 10" skillet, you can prepare the filling in any large, oven-safe dish and transfer it to a pie plate before covering with dough and baking.
- To prevent spills in the oven, always place your skillet or baking dish on a foil-lined baking sheet while baking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat thoroughly before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
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