How to Turn Leftover Turkey into the Coziest Pot Pie

That post-Thanksgiving feeling is familiar to us all. The fridge is packed with leftovers, but the thought of another turkey sandwich just doesn’t spark joy.

What if you could transform that leftover turkey into a bubbling, creamy, and incredibly cozy meal that the whole family will be excited to eat? This Turkey Pot Pie with Biscuits is the answer.

It’s a simple, one-skillet wonder that combines a rich, savory filling with a crown of fluffy, golden-brown biscuits, ditching the fuss of a traditional pie crust. As a dietitian, I love this recipe not just for its comforting flavors, but because it’s a genuinely balanced meal that’s both satisfying and packed with protein and vegetables.

Let’s turn those leftovers into something you’ll look forward to.

Why Is This a Smarter Way to Use Leftovers?

We all love a good leftover plan, but this recipe is more than just a way to clear out the fridge. It’s a strategic choice for a delicious and nutritionally sound meal.

First, it’s a fantastic tool for reducing food waste, a common issue after big holiday meals. But more importantly, it creates a well-rounded dish.

The combination of lean turkey, a variety of vegetables, and a satisfying biscuit topping provides a balanced mix of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. A high-protein meal like this can increase feelings of fullness, or satiety, which helps prevent overeating later.

Research from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health indicates that protein is a crucial macronutrient for building bone, muscle, and skin, and it plays a vital role in how our body functions.

By combining it with fiber-rich vegetables, you’re creating a meal that supports stable energy levels and digestive health.

What You’ll Need and Smart Ingredient Swaps

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and flexibility. Each ingredient plays a role, but many can be swapped based on what you have on hand.

Here’s what you’ll need and why:

• Cooked Turkey: The star of the show. Using leftover Thanksgiving turkey is ideal. Both white and dark meat work wonderfully, so feel free to use a mix. If you don’t have turkey, shredded rotisserie chicken is a perfect substitute.
• The Vegetable Base: A classic mix of onion, celery, carrots, and peas forms the flavorful foundation. I also love adding frozen cauliflower florets; they become tender and blend seamlessly into the sauce, adding extra nutrients and fiber without altering the taste.
• The Creamy Sauce: We’ll create a simple, rich gravy using butter, all-purpose flour, chicken or turkey broth, and whole milk. The butter and flour create a ‘roux’ that thickens the sauce. Using whole milk adds creaminess without the heaviness of heavy cream, but you can certainly use cream for a more decadent texture. For a richer flavor, use turkey stock if you made some from your Thanksgiving bird.
• The Biscuit Topping: To keep things easy, we’re using a can of refrigerated biscuits. They bake up fluffy and golden right on top of the filling, soaking up the delicious gravy. If you have a favorite homemade biscuit recipe, feel free to use that instead!
• Herbs & Seasoning: Simple salt, pepper, and garlic are all you need, but adding a teaspoon of fresh or dried thyme or rosemary to the filling can elevate the flavor and add a classic holiday aroma.

How to Make the Perfect Creamy Filling Step by Step

Making the filling is a straightforward process that builds layers of flavor. Follow these steps for a perfect, creamy base every time.

1. Sauté the Aromatics: Start by melting butter in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. A 10 or 12-inch cast-iron skillet is perfect for this, as it can go directly from the stovetop to the oven. Add your diced onion and celery and cook until they soften and become translucent, usually about 5-6 minutes. This step builds the first layer of flavor. Then, stir in the minced garlic and cook for just another minute until you can smell its wonderful aroma.
2. Create the Roux: Sprinkle the flour over the cooked vegetables. Using a whisk, stir constantly for about one to two minutes. The flour will absorb the butter and toast slightly, turning a light golden brown. This ‘roux’ is essential for thickening your sauce and preventing lumps.
3. Build the Gravy: Turn the heat down to low and slowly pour in the chicken or turkey broth. It’s important to whisk continuously as you add the liquid to ensure the roux dissolves smoothly, creating a lump-free gravy.
4. Simmer with Veggies: Add your frozen vegetables—peas, carrots, and cauliflower—to the skillet. Stir everything together, cover the pan, and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes. This gives the vegetables time to cook through and allows the sauce to thicken nicely. During this time, you can gently break up any larger cauliflower florets with your spoon.
5. Finish the Filling: Remove the skillet from the heat. Now, stir in the whole milk and your cooked, diced turkey. Give it a taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. If the filling seems too thick, you can stir in another splash of broth until it reaches your desired consistency. Your filling is now ready for its biscuit topping!

The Secret to Fluffy Golden-Brown Biscuits

The biscuit topping is what makes this pot pie so special and simple. Instead of rolling out a pie crust, you get soft, fluffy biscuits that are golden on top and soaked in savory gravy on the bottom.

• Choosing Your Biscuits: A standard 16 oz. can of refrigerated biscuits (the kind that comes in a tube) is the easiest option. Southern-style, buttermilk, or flaky layers all work beautifully.
• Placement is Key: Arrange the uncooked biscuits evenly over the top of the hot filling in the skillet. You can place them side-by-side so they touch, or leave a little space between them for more of the filling to bubble up. Don’t press them down into the filling; just let them rest on top.
• A Pro Tip for Thicker Biscuits: Some brands of canned biscuits are quite thick. To ensure they cook all the way through without the bottoms becoming doughy, you can slice them in half horizontally, creating two thinner rounds from each biscuit. This gives you more surface area for browning and guarantees they’ll be cooked perfectly.
• Baking to Golden Perfection: Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 12-15 minutes. Keep an eye on them—you’re looking for the tops to be a deep golden brown. The filling should be hot and bubbly around the edges. Let the pot pie rest for a few minutes before serving, as the filling will be extremely hot.

A Quick Look at the Nutritional Benefits

As a dietitian, I appreciate that this comfort food classic can also be a powerhouse of nutrition when prepared thoughtfully. One serving of this turkey pot pie is surprisingly well-balanced.

You’re getting approximately 30 grams of high-quality protein from the turkey, which is essential for muscle repair, immune function, and maintaining that feeling of fullness. The variety of vegetables provides around 5 grams of dietary fiber, which is crucial for digestive health.

According to the Mayo Clinic, dietary fiber helps maintain bowel health, lower cholesterol levels, and control blood sugar. The filling is also a good source of vitamins like Vitamin A from the carrots and Vitamin C from the cauliflower.

By making it at home, you control the ingredients, particularly the sodium, which can be high in store-bought versions.

Is Turkey Pot Pie a Healthy Meal?

Absolutely! The term ‘healthy’ depends on your individual dietary needs, but this homemade version can certainly be part of a balanced diet.

The key is in the preparation and ingredient choices. Here’s how this recipe stacks up:

• Lean Protein: Turkey is a fantastic source of lean protein, especially if you use breast meat.
• Vegetable-Forward: This recipe is loaded with vegetables, which provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. You can easily boost the veggie content even more by adding chopped green beans, corn, or mushrooms.
• Controlled Sodium: Unlike many canned soups or pre-made pot pies, making it from scratch allows you to control the salt. Using low-sodium broth is an excellent way to significantly reduce the overall sodium content, a practice recommended by the American Heart Association to support heart health.
• Balanced Macronutrients: The meal provides a solid mix of protein, complex carbohydrates from the vegetables, and fats for energy. While the biscuits add refined carbohydrates, the overall dish remains balanced. For a whole-grain boost, you could seek out whole wheat biscuits or make your own.

How to Store and Reheat for the Best Results

Properly storing your leftover pot pie is crucial for both taste and safety. First and foremost, remember the 4-day rule for your turkey.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), leftover cooked turkey is safe to eat for up to 4 days when stored in the refrigerator.

When you make your pot pie, you need to account for how old the turkey already is. For example, if your turkey is 2 days old, your pot pie will be good for another 2 days in the fridge.

• Refrigerating: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days (factoring in the turkey’s age).
• Reheating for Best Results: The biscuits will soften upon refrigeration. To bring back some of their texture, the oven or an air fryer is your best bet. Reheat in an oven-safe dish at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through. The microwave works for a quick warm-up, but the biscuits will remain soft.
• Can You Freeze It? It’s best to freeze the filling only. The biscuit topping doesn’t freeze and reheat well. You can freeze the cooked and cooled filling in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, simply thaw the filling, reheat it on the stovetop, and top it with fresh biscuits to bake.

Clever Variations You Should Try Next

Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, it’s fun to experiment with different flavors and ingredients. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Herbaceous Filling: Add a teaspoon of finely chopped fresh rosemary and thyme to the sautéing vegetables. These herbs are classic pairings with poultry and add an incredible depth of flavor.
• Cheesy Biscuit Topping: Before baking, brush the tops of the biscuits with a little melted butter and sprinkle with a mix of grated Parmesan cheese and garlic powder.
• Sweet Potato Twist: For a change of pace, swap the regular biscuits with sweet potato biscuits. The subtle sweetness is a delicious contrast to the savory filling. For a similar flavor profile, you might also love this healthier sweet potato apple casserole.
• Add a Veggie Boost: Feel free to add other vegetables you have on hand. Sliced mushrooms, frozen green beans, or corn are all fantastic additions. Sauté the mushrooms with the onions and celery for the best flavor.
• Make it Spicy: If you like a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the filling when you add the milk and turkey.

What Should You Serve with Pot Pie?

This turkey pot pie is a complete meal on its own, so you don’t need much to go with it. However, if you want to round out your dinner table, a simple, fresh side dish is the perfect companion.

The goal is to choose something that cuts through the richness of the creamy pie.

• A Simple Green Salad: A crisp salad with a bright, acidic vinaigrette is the perfect contrast. Think mixed greens, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes with a simple lemon and olive oil dressing.
• Roasted Green Beans or Asparagus: Tossing some green beans or asparagus with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper and roasting them until tender-crisp adds a lovely bit of green to the plate.
• Cranberry Sauce: If you still have some leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving, a small spoonful on the side adds a wonderful sweet-tart element that complements the savory pie beautifully.

Conclusion

Reimagining leftovers is one of the most satisfying kitchen victories. This Turkey Pot Pie with Biscuits does more than just use up what you have; it transforms it into a meal that’s deeply comforting, nutritionally balanced, and genuinely easy to make. If you enjoy rich and creamy comfort food, be sure to try these creamy Alfredo meatballs next.

It’s proof that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to create something wonderful. So give your Thanksgiving turkey a delicious new purpose, and enjoy a warm, hearty meal that feels like a hug in a bowl.