This Is Our Most Popular Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe of All Time

If you love leftovers as much as (or even more than) the actual Thanksgiving meal, you’re in good company. This comforting leftover turkey pot pie recipe–our most popular recipe for Thanksgiving leftovers of all time!—has more than 1,400 glowing reviews that average 4.9 stars. For many cooks, it’s become a family favorite that they look forward to almost as much as the big meal itself. Now that’s saying something.

Meet: Dad’s Leftover Turkey Pot Pie

Here’s how Allrecipes contributor Rob Neil puts together the magic: The pot pie combines plenty of chopped white and dark meat turkey, a mix of fresh and frozen vegetables, savory spices, and a simple roux to create a creamy filling. The filling is then encased in a top and bottom pie crust and baked until golden brown. Store-bought pie crust is a great time saver here, but if you have some extra bandwidth, you can also use a homemade version. And the filling ingredients are also very customizable depending on what you have on hand. You can swap in rotisserie chicken or cubed ham for the turkey or get creative with the veggies and spices. “I love this recipe,” comments Allrecipes community member Buddy Irwin. “I do add potatoes and corn to it but other than that. No changes.” 

One of the best things about this recipe is that it incorporates a mix of textures and food groups. The creamy roux-based filling, tender chunks of meat, and flaky pie crust just might be the definition of comfort food, but it’s also packed with lean protein and veggies, making it simple to turn leftovers into a balanced meal. Plus, after a flurry of holiday cooking and baking, the ease of heating up a single dish can be a welcome change.

The recipe, as written, makes two 9-inch pies, but if you’re feeding a crowd or looking to stock the freezer, you could easily double it. Once baked and cooled, the pies can be refrigerated for a few days, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your holiday leftovers. If you want those cozy Thanksgiving vibes to last even longer, freeze the pies whole or freeze just the filling in zip-top bags to use at a later date. When you’re ready to use the filling, just defrost it in the fridge before combining with the pie crust.

Thanks to the pot pie’s versatility and classic flavors, it’s easy to see why this recipe tops the Allrecipes leftovers list. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself making this dish all year round. As Allrecipes contributor Jules says, “This is so easy and super delicious that my entire family here asks me to make it twice a week.”