Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Wendie · 6 Comments

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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.

Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (1)

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Let's face it after Thanksgiving nobody feels like cooking. This meal is so easy, you just basically pile all your Thanksgiving leftovers into a dish and bake it. You can use leftover turkey from myBrined Garlic Roasted Turkey Breast,Garlic Mashed Potatoes,and myMake-Ahead Turkey Gravy. Or you might prefer my Classic Shepherd’s Pie with ground lamb or a cottage pie with lean ground beef.

why this recipe works

This is a delicious way to repurpose that holiday meal you worked so hard on. All the flavors of Thanksgiving dinner without all the work, comfort food you can even make ahead of time so it's ready to pop in the oven for a busy weeknight meal.

Ingredients for Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (2)

Ingredients notes

  • Turkey: You can also use ground turkey or chicken.
  • Mashed potatoes: Perfect way to use up those leftover mashed potatoes.
  • Vegetables: I used carrots, celery, peas, and corn but you can add anything you like or have on hand.
  • Gravy: Use your leftovers or make a fresh batch with butter, flour and chicken stock.

How to make Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (3)
  • Step 1: Heat a large ovenproof skillet on medium-high heat and saute the butter and veggies just until soft.
  • Step 2: Add the turkey, frozen peas, and corn to the onion mixture.
  • Step 3: Pour gravy into the turkey mixture and mix.
  • Step 4:Heat up leftover creamy mashed potatoes, spread an even layer over the top, and bake.
Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (4)

Turkey Shepherd's Pie Recipe tips

  • You can substitute whatever veggies you have on hand, green beans are also a great choice.
  • I use a12-inch cast iron skilletbut this can also be baked in a9x13 casserole dish.
  • Be sure to warm your mashed potatoes up first it makes it much easier to spread the potatoes over the filling..
  • You can sprinkle a little cheddar cheese on top of the potatoes before baking.
  • Place your skillet or baking dish on a baking sheet to prevent any bubbling over the top and onto the oven.
Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (5)

Recipe Faq's

Can turkey shepherd's pie be prepared ahead of time?

Yes, it can be prepared the morning of or even the day before. Just prepare in a large skillet or baking dish, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Just keep in mind if your using leftovers they are generally only good for 3-4 days after serving.

Can I use chicken instead?

Of course, roasted chicken and gravy are also delicious in the recipe.

Can I freeze this recipe?

Yes, layer the turkey shepherd's pie recipe in a freezer-safe container and cover it with aluminum foil, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw the shepherd's pie in the refrigerator overnight and place it in a 350-degree oven and heat for 30-40 minutes.

What can I add to a leftover turkey shepherd's pie?

This leftover turkey shepherd's pie is really versatile, you can add whatever veggies you have on hand like green beans, broccoli, and cauliflower. Leftover stuffing would also be delicious.

What should I serve with my turkey shepherd's pie?

It's really a meal all by itself, but you can certainly add a fresh crisp salad and maybe some homemade Artisan Bread.

Looking for more hearty recipes?

  • Hearty Beef Stew
  • Ham and Cheese Hash Brown Casserole
  • One Pot Cajun Rice and Beans
  • Slow Cooker Classic Pot Roast

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Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (10)

Turkey Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Wendie

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.

4.29 from 42 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Entrees

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 448 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3/4 cup onion diced
  • 3/4 cup carrots diced
  • 3/4 cup celery diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 4 cups leftover turkey shredded or diced
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fresh chopped thyme
  • 1 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary
  • 2 cups gravy
  • 4 cups mashed potatoes
  • fresh chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

  • 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. Add garlic and saute another 30 seconds.

  • Add Turkey, peas, corn, thyme, rosemary, and gravy and stir.

  • Heat leftover mashed potatoes until warm (they spread easier) and spread over turkey filling.

  • Bake for 25-30 minutes. Turn the oven to broil for the last 5-8 minutes to brown the top.

  • Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve.

Video

Notes

If you don't have an oven-safe skillet. use a 9x13 baking dish instead.

Warm your mashed potatoes up, it makes it much easier to spread them.

Any combination of leftover veggies works great.

You can add 1 cup of shredded cheese on top if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 448kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 31gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 1271mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6g

Keyword leftover turkey, shepherd's pie, turkey

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (11)Wendie

    The directions for that are above the recipe in the post!

  2. Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (12)Rda

    Can you freeze?

  3. Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (13)Wendie

    Yay Bob! So happy everyone loved it 🙂

  4. Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (14)Bob

    We made this last night. It was perfect for the left overs. Will make for the Chirstmas dinner left overs also. Thank you

  5. Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (15)Wendie

    Woohoo, Tiffany so happy you loved it 🙂

  6. Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (16)Tiffany

    This was the perfect recipe to use up leftovers from Thanksgiving!! Thanks so much for sharing this, it was fantastic!

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Easy Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie | Butter Your Biscuit (2024)

FAQs

How long will cooked shepherd's pie keep in the fridge? ›

The best way to store leftover shepherd's pie is in a Tupperware container. Once you have separated the food to an airtight container, transfer it to your refrigerator. Shepherds pie will last up to five days in your refrigerator.

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›

Classic shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies like peas, corn, celery, and carrots. Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

Can you reheat homemade shepherds pie? ›

To properly reheat shepherd's pie in the oven, wrap the dish in foil, then place it in an oven at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. If you're reading this, chances are you have a delicious shepherd's pie stored in your freezer or fridge, and you're looking for the ideal method to heat it.

Can I freeze cooked shepherd's pie? ›

Wrap cooled pie in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label with contents and date; place in freezer. For best quality, serve within 2-3 months; however, shepherd's pie will remain safe indefinitely, stored at 0° F. When ready to eat, thaw for about 24-hours in the refrigerator.

Is it safe to eat shepherd's pie that was left out overnight? ›

The USDA says food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. At room temperature, bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick. Reheating something that has been sitting at room temperature for longer than two hours won't be safe from bacteria.

Can you eat shepherd's pie the next day? ›

A Shepherd's Pie is the perfect make-ahead food. In the fridge Cook up to point 11 in the recipe below and you can keep this recipe in the fridge for 2 days.

How to thicken up shepherd's pie? ›

How can I thicken my shepherd's pie? This shepherd's pie recipe uses 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the gravy but if you feel like the meat mixture is too watery, add in another tablespoon and stir to combine. You may also try simmering the mince mixture for longer so that the stock reduces down and thickens.

How to tell if shepherd's pie is cooked? ›

How do I know when my Shepherd's Pie is done? Your pie is done when it's bubbly hot (look around the edges) and the potatoes are lightly browned.

How to stop mash sinking in shepherd's pie? ›

To stop the mash sinking into the filling, allow the meat to cool before topping with the mashed potato. Freeze in individual ovenproof dishes for an easy meal for one. For a really crisp, golden topping, flash under the grill for a few mins before serving.

Can you eat shepherd's pie cold? ›

I made shepherds pie a couple days ago. I left remainder in the fridge overnight and ate it yesterday. It was lovely.

Can you eat leftover pie cold? ›

Yes. I prefer most pies - fruit or meat - cold as I think they have more flavour that way. It's purely a matter of one's personal preference.

How do you reheat a pie without going soggy? ›

If you have a flaky crust pie that has been in the fridge, we recommend reheating it for 10-20 minutes in a 325 degree oven before serving. How long depends on your taste.

How long can you keep a cooked shepherd's pie in the fridge for? ›

Freshly baked shepherd's pie will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge refrigerate covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Is shepherd's pie good for you? ›

This ultimate comfort food can be quite unhealthy, with lots of butter in the mash and pushing up your saturated fat intake. Here are a few ideas to make this classic a little healthier and just as tasty.

Do mashed potatoes freeze well? ›

Schmidt tells us that, for best results, you can keep mashed potatoes in "a freezer set to 0°F or colder" for "up to one year." At this temperature and for this length of time, frozen mashed potatoes can be thawed and reheated without losing texture or flavor (and without risking the transmission of foodborne bacteria) ...

How long can I keep a cooked meat pie in the fridge? ›

How to Store Meat Pie. Store your leftover meat pie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat thoroughly in the oven or in the microwave.

Can I eat 4 day old cottage pie? ›

As long as you follow good food hygiene, it should be fine for 3-4 days.

How long can you keep pie and mash in the fridge? ›

The BBC good food's home economist Steffi recommends keeping leftover mash in the fridge for up to three days.

How long does cooked pie filling last in the fridge? ›

And you can definitely make the filling up to 4 or 5 days ahead, and stash it in the fridge; or even farther ahead, and freeze it.

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