Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie

This easy Turkey Shepherd's Pie recipe is the perfect way to use up leftover Turkey meat from Thanksgiving or Christmas roast dinner.

It is comforting, full of flavor, and very easy to make - a great casserole dish for cold fall and winter nights.

Jump to:

• What Is Traditional Shepherd's Pie
• Why This Recipe Works
• Ingredients You'll Need
• How to Make Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie?
• Top Tips From the Chef
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe Variations
• Recipe FAQs
• Related Recipes
• Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie is very similar to my Easy Cottage Pie and is a perfect way to use up leftover Pomme Purée(Creamy Mashed Potatoes), Swede and Carrot Mash, and turkey gravy as well as Oven Roasted Turkey.

You can easily replace leftover turkey meat with chicken, lamb, or beef, it will still be delicious!

What Is Traditional Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie is British comfort food consisting of ground lamb and vegetables cooked in a rich brown gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes, and then baked until golden and crusty.

Classic Shepherd's Pie made with beef is called Cottage Pie and they both can be made either freshly minced or chopped from cooked leftover meat.

Why This Recipe Works

• This recipe is the perfect way to use up some Thanksgiving leftovers such as turkey meat from Slow Roasted Turkey Leg, or Pomme Purée (Creamy Mashed Potatoes), roasted garlic, Swede and Carrot Mash, and turkey gravy.

• Turkey Shepherd's Pie is not only hearty, delicious, and comforting but is also healthy and low in calories. 1 portion of this casserole dish contains only 492 kcal.

• This casserole dish is very easy to make, ready in 40 minutes, and loved by everyone!

Ingredients You'll Need

Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.

Turkey Filling

• Turkey meat - You can use any part of the bird, dark, white, or a mixture. Finely chop them into small pieces.

• Mushroom - Although it is not a traditional ingredient for Shepherd's pie, it adds a great flavor and texture! I use whatever mushroom is available in my fridges such as chestnut mushrooms, button mushrooms, or a mixture of wild mushrooms.

• Onions - Any type of onions including shallots would work for this recipe.

• Celery - It adds flavor depth to meals, especially soups, sauces, and casseroles.

• Carrots - I like the aroma, texture, and color it adds to the dishes as well as nutrition.

• Garlic - I use roasted garlic left from roasting the turkey but you can substitute it with finely chopped fresh garlic cloves.

• Stock - I use chicken broth or stock if I don't have any leftover turkey gravy. They both work great with this recipe.

Mashed Potato Topping

• Potatoes - The best potatoes for fluffy, smooth, and flavorsome mashed potatoes are the ones with higher starch such as Maris Piper, Red Russets, Desire, or King Edward.

• Double cream - It is similar to heavy cream. You can substitute it with full-fat milk, single cream, or sour cream. If you want to omit it, add extra butter to your mashed potatoes.

• Butter - It helps make the starchy texture of potatoes richer and adds loads of flavor. 

• Egg yolks - They add creaminess and flavor to the mashed potatoes and also give some golden brown color to the top layer. 

• Cheddar cheese - Everything tastes better with a bit of extra cheese added. You can use any hard cheese such as parmesan, Comte, or Gruyère.

How to Make Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie?

This is a very easy recipe and you need to follow a few simple steps to achieve the best results :

Prepare the Pie Filling

Heat a heavy-based pan or a wok on medium heat and add olive oil.

When the oil is hot enough, add the diced onions and sauté for a few minutes, until soft and slightly browned.

Add the garlic and quickly sauté for 30 seconds before adding the carrots and the celery.

Sauté the vegetables for a few minutes until they slightly change color, and then add the mushrooms.

Cook the mushrooms until softened, for about 2-3 minutes, and then add the turkey meat.

Give the pan a good stir and then add the flour, thyme, salt, and freshly ground pepper.

Add the stock or the gravy, mix well, and let the mixture simmer for five minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the turkey mixture into a baking dish or pie dish.

Prepare the Potato Topping

Preheat the oven to 180° C - 360° F (fan oven).

Peel the potatoes and cut them into equal chunks.

Place them in a medium saucepan with plenty of cold water.

Put the pan on medium heat and bring it to a boil, bring the heat down, and let the potatoes gently simmer for about 20 minutes or until soft.

Drain well and return the potatoes back to the pan.

Put the pan back on low heat and let all the water evaporate for 30 seconds then remove them from the heat.

Add the double cream, butter, salt, and pepper.

Mash the potatoes by using a potato masher or a ricer until smooth.

Add the cheese and egg yolks and give it a quick stir to combine.

Spoon the mashed potatoes on top of the pie filling and cover completely.

Fluff the top by using a fork for extra crispiness.

Place in the oven for 30-35 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

Top Tips From the Chef

• Always start cooking the potatoes with cold water for even cooking. If you put your potatoes in boiling water, the outside will be mashy and start to flake while the core is still uncooked.

• Let the pie filling cool down for 30 minutes before adding the mashed potatoes to avoid them sinking in the meat sauce.

• Leftover meat from Dutch Oven Whole Roast Chicken or Rice Stuffed Chicken also works great with this recipe.

• Add ¼ cup extra chicken stock or turkey gravy if you want your pie filling soupier.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this hearty casserole dish along with some Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts, Swede and Carrot Mash, Baked Cheesy Cauliflower, Beetroot and Feta Salad, or/and some steamed green beans or broccoli.

Also, the tartness of cranberry sauce pairs wonderfully with the savory flavors of the pie, adding a burst of sweetness to each bite.

Crusty Little Caesars Italian Cheese Bread or Homemade Sourdough Dinner Rolls are great for mopping up any leftover gravy or filling.

Recipe Variations

• Swap the traditional mashed potato topping for creamy mashed sweet potatoes. Add a touch of cinnamon and brown sugar to the sweet potato mash for a hint of sweetness.

• Add crispy bacon pieces and frozen peas to the turkey filling for a smoky flavor. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of the mashed potatoes before baking.

• Use ground lean turkey meat, ground chicken, or ground beef instead of leftover Thanksgiving turkey.

• Season leftover turkey with aromatic Indian spices like garam masala and cumin. Top with a layer of mashed potatoes infused with turmeric and garnish with chopped cilantro.

Recipe FAQs

Related Recipes

For more delicious Thanksgiving recipes why not try:

Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

I hope you enjoy the process of making this delicious Turkey Shepherd's Pie as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂

Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun! 

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