Creamy Turkey Shepherd’s Pie with Veggies & Mash || Best Way to Use Leftover Turkey!
By Rebecca St.Clair
This leftover turkey shepherd’s pie has everything you love about comfort food, a creamy filling, tender shredded turkey, sweet peas and carrots, and a fluffy mashed potato topping baked to golden perfection. It’s an easy, family-friendly dinner and one of the most flavourful leftover turkey recipes you’ll ever make.
This one-pan dish brings together holiday flavours in a creamy filling under a thick, fluffy mashed potato crust. Simple, satisfying, and perfect for cold-weather dinners. This Creamy Turkey Shepherd’s Pie is the coziest way to use leftover turkey after the holidays. Warm, filling, and absolutely delicious.
Turns holiday leftovers into a brand-new family-favourite dish! This dish is the perfect way to repurpose Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey. Cozy, hearty, and ready to warm up your weeknight dinner routine!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Leftovers – The perfect way to use up your holiday leftovers!
Comfort food – Warm, creamy, and packed with flavour. This has everything you want in a comfort food meal.
Filling – Extra hearty and cozy.
Family-friendly – This recipe will bring the whole family to the table.
How to store Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Fridge
- Allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Cover completely in plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container.
- Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezer
- Allow the casserole to cool to room temperature.
- Wrap completely in plastic wrap and foil or move leftovers to an airtight container.
- Store in the freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
From the fridge
- Oven: 350°F (180°C), covered with foil for 20–30 minutes
(uncover for the last 5–10 mins to crisp the top) - Microwave: Reheat individual portions 2–3 minutes.
From the freezer
- Thaw overnight in fridge, then bake as above
- Or bake from frozen: 350°F for 60–90 minutes, covered
Ingredients
Leftover turkey – Use cut or shredded leftover turkey or substitute for cooked chicken.
Leftover mashed potatoes – Or make you own fresh mashed potatoes.
Onion – Half an onion or one shallot.
Garlic – For flavour.
Carrots – For heartiness and flavour.
Celery – For heartiness and flavour.
Peas – Frozen peas can be substituted with green beans.
Broth – Vegetable, chicken, or homemade turkey broth.
Flour – To thicken the sauce.
Lemon juice – For brightness and flavour.
Cream – For rich creaminess.
Salt and pepper – Flavour.
Herbs – Use fresh or dried thyme and rosemary.
How to Make Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Filling
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup of butter.
- Fry 4 chicken thighs and 4 drumsticks until browned on all sides. (Alternatively, you can use 6 chicken breast for a boneless version.)
- To the pot add, half a diced onion and 2 minced cloves of garlic. Fry until translucent and just starting to colour.
- Add in 2 ribs of chopped celery, and 2 chopped carrots. Cover and allow to cook and soften 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle on top 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour. Stir this into the veggies until everything is well coated.
6. Stir in 2 cups of broth.
7. Add in 1 sprig of fresh thyme and rosemary (or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme and 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary.)
8. Bring to a simmer and stir until the broth starts to thicken.
9. Stir in 1 cup of peas and 3 cups of leftover cut or shredded turkey meat.
10. Cover and allow the mixture to cook 10 to 12 minutes or until the veggies are soft and the turkey is warmed through.
11. Preheat the oven to 375 °F (190 °C)
12. Remove from the heat and stir in the juice from 1/2 a lemon or 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice.
13. Stir in 1/4 cup of 10% cream.
14. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper or to taste.
Assembly
15. Transfer the mixture to a small casserole or oven proof dish and cover the the top with a layer of the leftover mashed potatoes. (If you don’t have any mashed potatoes leftover you can make your own fresh here!)
16. Place on a baking sheet and cook in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the top of the potatoes are browned and toasted.
Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie
This leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie has a creamy filling, tender shredded turkey, veggies, and a fluffy mashed potato topping baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter 60 g
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 37 g
- 2 cups chicken broth 500 ml
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 3 cups leftover, shredded turkey meat
- 1 teaspoon rosemary 3 g
- 1 teaspoon thyme 3 g
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice 15 ml
- 1/4 cup 10% cream 60 ml
- 3 cups leftover mashed potatoes
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup of butter.
- To the pot add, half a diced onion and 2 minced cloves of garlic. Fry until translucent and just starting to colour.
- Add in 2 ribs of chopped celery, and 2 chopped carrots. Cover and allow to cook and soften 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle on top 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour. Stir this into the veggies until everything is well coated.
- Stir in 2 cups of broth.
- Add in 1 sprig of fresh thyme and rosemary (or 1 teaspoon of dried thyme and 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary.)
- Bring to a simmer and stir until the broth starts to thicken.
- Stir in 1 cup of peas and 3 cups of leftover cut or shredded turkey meat.
- Cover and allow the mixture to cook 10 to 12 minutes or until the veggies are soft and the turkey is warmed through.
- Preheat the oven to 375 °F (190 °C)
- Remove from the heat and stir in the juice from 1/2 a lemon or 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice.
- Stir in 1/4 cup of 10% cream.
- Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper or to taste.
- Transfer the mixture to a small casserole or oven proof dish and cover the the top with a layer of the leftover mashed potatoes.
- Place on a baking sheet and cook in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the top of the potatoes are browned and toasted.
Notes
The leftover turkey in this recipe can be replaced with leftover chicken.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 744Total Fat 33gSaturated Fat 14gUnsaturated Fat 19gCholesterol 249mgSodium 295mgCarbohydrates 45gFiber 7gSugar 6gProtein 63g
Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
Hungry for more holiday leftover ideas? Try one of these! Creamy Turkey and Rice Soup || Cozy, Hearty & Perfect for Leftover Turkey, Christmas Cranberry Cheesecake Squares, How to make Easy Cranberry Baked Brie
