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Home / Recipes
1 hour
4.5 from 10 votes
8 Comments

Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

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by: Joanna Cismaru
11.15.20
Updated: 11.15.20

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pin for leftover turkey shepherd's pie.

This Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie is the perfect way to use up any leftover turkey and mashed potatoes from the holidays! Easy to make, even easier to devour. Leftovers have never tasted so good!

closeup shot of leftover turkey shepherd's pie in a skillet with a serving spoon.

Stuck with lots of leftovers from Thanksgiving and don’t know what to make with them? Well this Shepherd’s Pie is perfect for that leftover turkey or mashed potatoes. My version here is very simple, I used up whatever I had in the fridge and in no time at all, I had this comfort food masterpiece!

Why Make This Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

  • Great Use Of Holiday Leftovers
  • Easy & Straightforward
  • Simple Ingredients
  • Total Comfort Food
  • Overall Pretty Healthy

This shepherd’s pie was amazing, especially since I topped the mashed potatoes with some fresh mozzarella cheese, baked the pie until the cheese melted and became golden and bubbly. This is best way to use up those holiday leftovers, totally delicious and a true comfort food in my book!

Ingredient Notes

overhead shot for ingredients needed to make leftover turkey shepherd's pie.
  • Turkey Meat – White or dark, whatever you have left, chopped in small pieces.
  • Veggies – Chopped onion, bell peppers, carrots, celery, peas and garlic. Load it up with whatever veggies you have on hand.
  • Butter – I used unsalted to control the sodium!
  • Spices – Dried thyme and basil. You can use whatever herbs you like, for a great substitute, use Italian seasoning.
  • Cheese – Mozzarella cheese, shredded. I would say this ingredient is optional but I really like my mashed potatoes cheesy, so I strongly recommend adding it.
  • Chicken Broth – I always opt for low sodium.
  • Mashed Potatoes – let’s not forget the best part. Lots of creamy mashed potatoes.
  • Chicken bouillon – Note this ingredient is missing from the picture. This is an optional ingredient to add more flavor to the filling.

How To Make Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

process shots showing how to make the filling for leftover turkey shepherds pie.
  1. Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Cook veggies: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat, then add the chopped onion, bell pepper, carrot and celery. Cook until veggies soften and onion is tender and translucent, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add herbs and broth: Add the basil, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic. Stir well and cook for another 30 seconds until garlic is aromatic. Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and stir well. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste. Add the chicken broth and chicken bouillon cube and stir to dissolve the cube. Cook for 5 more minutes until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add turkey, peas and finish with mashed potatoes: Add the turkey and peas. Stir well and bring the filling back to a boil. Spread the mashed potatoes over the filling and smooth with a spoon. Take a fork and rough up the top a bit then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
  5. Bake: Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 30 minutes until cheese melts and it’s golden on top and bubbly.
  6. Garnish and serve: Garnish with parsley if preferred and serve warm.
process shots showing how to assemble shepherd's pie and bake it.

FAQs & Expert Tips

FAQs

What Can I Add To My Turkey Shepherd’s Pie?

You can incorporate whatever you like into this dish! It really is just a dump and go kind of meal. I would suggest adding different types of veggies, like green beans, mushrooms or corn! If you have leftover stuffing, that would work great as well.

How To Serve

My favorite part about Shepherd’s pie is that it includes all of the typical dinner items in one dish! This is the best way to utilize your holiday leftovers.

overhead shot of leftover turkey shepherd's pie in a skillet with a serving spoon.

Tips

  • If you use frozen veggies, you’re saving chopping time. Choose a bag of mixed vegetables from the freezer.
  • Incorporate any of your other thanksgiving leftovers you see fit! Stuffing, cranberry sauce. If you think it’ll work, try it out! No harm, no foul.

Storing Leftovers

Wrap the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and foil, or transfer to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezing

Transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer. You leftover turkey shepherd’s pie will last for about 2 months stored in your freezer!

leftover turkey shepherd's pie in a white plate with a fork.

More Related Recipes

  • Instant Pot Turkey Breast
  • Skillet Shepherd’s Pie
  • Roast Turkey
  • Leftover Turkey with Pistachio Pesto and Arugula Sandwich
  • Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

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closeup shot of leftover turkey shepherd's pie in a skillet with a serving spoon.

Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

4.5 from 10 votes
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 1 hr
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 6
Print Pin Rate
This Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie is the perfect way to use up any leftover turkey and mashed potatoes from the holidays! Easy to make, even easier to devour. Leftovers have never tasted so good!

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter unsalted
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 medium green bell pepper chopped
  • 1 medium carrot peeled and chopped
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • ½ tsp dried basil
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chicken broth low sodium
  • 1 cube chicken bouillon
  • 2 cups turkey meat white or dark, chopped in small pieces
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • 4 cups mashed potatoes
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Cook veggies: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat, then add the chopped onion, bell pepper, carrot and celery. Cook until veggies soften and onion is tender and translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add herbs and broth: Add the basil, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic. Stir well and cook for another 30 seconds until garlic is aromatic. Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and stir well. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste. Add the chicken broth and chicken bouillon cube and stir to dissolve the cube. Cook for 5 more minutes until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
  • Add turkey, peas and finish with mashed potatoes: Add the turkey and peas. Stir well and bring the filling back to a boil. Spread the mashed potatoes over the filling and smooth with a spoon. Take a fork and rough up the top a bit then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
  • Bake: Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 30 minutes until cheese melts and it's golden on top and bubbly.
  • Garnish and serve: Garnish with parsley if preferred and serve warm.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. Incorporate any of your other thanksgiving leftovers you see fit! Stuffing, cranberry sauce. If you think it’ll work, try it out! No harm, no foul.
  2. Wrap the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and foil, or transfer to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  3. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer. You leftover turkey shepherd’s pie will last for about 2 months stored in your freezer!

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1servingCalories: 330kcal (17%)Carbohydrates: 42g (14%)Protein: 20g (40%)Fat: 10g (15%)Saturated Fat: 5g (31%)Cholesterol: 56mg (19%)Sodium: 285mg (12%)Potassium: 763mg (22%)Fiber: 5g (21%)Sugar: 5g (6%)Vitamin A: 2406IU (48%)Vitamin C: 53mg (64%)Calcium: 133mg (13%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Course:Dinner
Cuisine:American
Keyword:leftover turkey recipe, leftover turkey shepherd’s pie
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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Comments

  1. NA says

    December 3, 2020 at 10:57 am

    5 stars
    This was such a hit in our home. So yummy with all the chunks of turkey and creamy Inness. Also Love that my husband had a great lunch the next day & I didn’t have to make anything!

    Reply
  2. Marjorie Fein says

    November 28, 2020 at 7:50 pm

    What size skillet did you use, 10″ or 12″?

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      November 29, 2020 at 8:46 am

      That’s a 12 inch skillet.

      Reply
  3. BelindaCarney says

    November 25, 2020 at 2:12 am

    5 stars
    Thanks for the yummy recipes.
    Happy cooking.

    Reply
  4. Gordie Gasch says

    November 16, 2020 at 8:23 am

    Imake this with a couple of additions. 1. Put a layer of dressing on the bottom. 2. Include some craisins for different texture and some sweetness. Even though I love cheese, I skip the cheese. Great way to use leftovers!!

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      November 16, 2020 at 8:39 am

      Great idea with the craisins. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Jennifer says

    October 17, 2013 at 4:51 am

    Hi Jo! I’m confused. Why did you celebrate so early this year?

    Reply
    • jo says

      October 18, 2013 at 12:20 am

      Hi Jennifer,
      I live in Canada, our Thanksgiving is in October. 🙂

      Reply

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