This Turkey Pot Pie is made in one pan, with tender turkey or chicken, vegetables, and a creamy gravy topped with puff pastry for an easy dinner idea that’s also freezer friendly!
This Turkey Pot Pie is one of my favorite easy meals — it has everything we love in a hearty dinner that’s easy to make and — even better — easy to make ahead!
It’s loaded with tender turkey — and you can use leftovers from a holiday meal, freshly cooked, ground turkey or even shredded chicken! — vegetables, an easy gravy that cooks in the same pan, and is topped with puff pastry and baked until golden brown.
There are a few reasons I love using puff pastry when it comes to a pot pie recipe like this.
Puff pastry is an easy “cheat” that not many people feel bad about because it’s so difficult to replicate at home. Pie crust? I can make easily enough myself but puff pastry? So much more intimidating!
I promise, if you slap this Turkey Pot Pie on the table in front of anyone: your picky eaters, your distinguished guests, your mother-in-law — ain’t no one complaining!
Pro tip: serve it with some sort of crusty bread or dinner rolls to soak up alllllll of that gravy!
Turkey pot pie is a delicious comfort food that many look forward to after Thanksgiving and Christmas. This hearty pie is made with tender turkey, vegetables, and a creamy sauce, all tucked into a flaky pie crust It’s perfect for using up holiday leftovers But can you freeze turkey pot pie to enjoy later? The answer is yes!
Freezing turkey pot pie is an easy way to save time and get more out of your effort in the kitchen. Whether baked or unbaked, pot pie can be frozen for months with great results. Here is a complete guide to freezing and reheating turkey pot pie to keep this tasty meal on hand anytime.
Is It Safe to Freeze Turkey Pot Pie?
Turkey pot pie can safely be frozen both before and after baking without compromising taste or texture. The filling ingredients including cooked turkey, vegetables, cream sauce thickened with flour, and the pie dough all hold up well in the freezer.
Freezing cooked pot pie allows you to:
- Make ahead when you have time and simply bake later
- Portion into individual servings to grab and reheat anytime
- Stock up while you have an abundance of leftover turkey and fresh produce
Freezing unbaked pot pie gives you the flexibility to:
- Assemble pies in advance and bake as needed for fresh meals
- Customize fillings and crusts to please different tastes
- Bake just what you need when you need it
Either way, having frozen turkey pot pie on hand means you can enjoy a wholesome, homemade meal with minimal effort.
How to Freeze Unbaked Turkey Pot Pie
To freeze unbaked turkey pot pie:
- Make your filling and pour into a pie dish. Allow to cool completely.
- Top with your choice of pie dough and trim edges if needed for a good fit.
- Seal the crust to the pie dish by pressing down with a fork.
- Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Wrap the pie dish tightly first in plastic wrap, then foil to prevent freezer burn.
- Label with contents and freeze date and freeze up to 3 months.
When ready to bake, simply unwrap and bake the frozen pot pie straight from the freezer. Add 15-20 extra minutes to the recommended baking time and watch closely to prevent overbrowning. Let rest 10 minutes before serving for the best consistency.
How to Freeze Baked Turkey Pot Pie
To freeze already baked pot pies:
- Allow pies to completely cool after baking, about 1 hour.
- Cut into individual portions if desired to make reheating easier.
- Place servings in freezer bags or airtight containers, removing excess air.
- Label bags with contents and freeze date and use within 1-2 months for optimal freshness.
Cooked turkey pot pie leftovers freeze very well, maintaining moisture and flavor when properly stored. Portioning into single servings makes quick reheating a breeze.
Tips for Freezing Turkey Pot Pie
Follow these tips when freezing turkey pot pie for best quality:
- Use high quality, fresh ingredients when making the filling for best frozen results.
- Underfill pie crusts slightly to allow for expansion during freezing.
- Cool pot pies completely before wrapping well for the freezer.
- Double wrap pies in plastic wrap and foil to prevent freezer burn.
- Portion into individual servings for easy reheating anytime.
- Avoid overbaking frozen pot pies and cover with foil if browning too quickly.
How to Thaw Frozen Turkey Pot Pie
When ready to enjoy your frozen pot pie, you have several thawing options:
- Thaw overnight in the fridge – Safest method that helps maintain texture. Place on a tray to catch drips.
- Thaw in the microwave – Unwrap and defrost at 50% power, checking often to prevent hot spots.
- Thaw at room temperature – Smaller pies may thaw in 1-2 hours on the counter. Only leave larger dishes out 1 hour before refrigerating to finish thawing.
- Bake frozen – For unbaked pies, you can simply add extra baking time and bake straight from frozen.
Once thawed, turkey pot pie fillings can be reheated in the oven or microwave until hot and bubbly.
How to Reheat Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
To reheat thawed turkey pot pie leftovers:
Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place pot pie portions in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil and bake 20-25 minutes until heated through. Remove foil last 5 minutes if you want a crispy top.
Microwave: Transfer thawed turkey pot pie to a microwave-safe dish, cover with vented plastic wrap or a damp paper towel. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between, until hot throughout. Take care not to overheat. Let rest 2 minutes before eating.
The benefit of leftovers is you can reheat one portion at a time. Bake or microwave individual servings for quick, fresh meals anytime.
Alternative Ways to Freeze Turkey Pot Pie
In addition to freezing whole pot pies, you can also freeze fillings in creative ways:
- Portion fillings into a muffin tin, top with dough, freeze, and store baked pot pies in a bag.
- Spoon filling into freezer bags laid flat and bake into a crust later.
- Fill cupcake liners 3⁄4 full, top with another liner, freeze, and remove fillings to reheat.
These methods allow you to mix and match fillings and crusts to please any preference. Grab just what you need for an impromptu meal from the freezer.
Can You Refreeze Turkey Pot Pie?
It is not recommended to refreeze turkey pot pie after reheating as this poses safety risks. However, you can safely refreeze in these cases:
- Unbaked, thawed pot pie can be baked, cooled, and frozen again.
- Thawed leftovers can be incorporated into a new pot pie or casserole and frozen.
The key is not allowing fillings to sit at room temperature for extended periods between thawing, reheating, and refreezing.
Storing and Reheating Dos and Don’ts
Follow these dos and don’ts when freezing and reheating turkey pot pie:
Do:
- Cool pie completely before wrapping for freezer.
- Allow thawed pie to fully reheat before eating.
- Discard pie left over 2 hours at room temperature after thawing.
Don’t:
- Leave unbaked or baked pie at room temperature over 2 hours before freezing.
- Freeze in just plastic wrap or just foil – use both.
- Microwave frozen pie without unwrapping from foil.
- Refreeze thawed fillings more than once.
Enjoy Delicious Homemade Turkey Pot Pie
With proper freezing and reheating, you can enjoy flavorful turkey pot pie for months after preparing it. Make multiple pies when you have leftover turkey and freeze them to bake later for easy meals. Or bake a batch and freeze individual portions for quick lunches or dinners anytime.
Following these tips for freezing and reheating will keep your turkey pot pie tasting fresh and delicious. So relax knowing you have hearty, homemade comfort food waiting in your freezer!
Variations on this Turkey Pot Pie recipe:
There are so many ways to take this Turkey Pot Pie and make it your own! Here are a few ideas if you want to mix things up:
- Don’t have puff pastry? Swap it out with pie crust, biscuit rounds, pizza dough — really any kind of neutral flavored dough will work as long as it is thin enough that it can cook through and not leave you with soggy dough through the middle. All will give slightly different results, so pick one you think would best suit your tastes!
- Swap out the vegetables for what you have on hand, or what your family prefers. There aren’t a lot of rules here!
- Spice it up: scan your spice drawer or fridge for something to add a little heat if that’s your style: spoonful of sriracha or a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes will do the trick.
- Add a spoonful of basil pesto for an herb-y twist that adds big flavor.
Can I use chicken instead of turkey?
You can definitely use chicken instead of turkey if that’s what you have on hand.
If you don’t have leftover chicken ready to use, this Slow Cooker Chicken Breast would work perfectly.
And if you’re into big batch meal prepping?
Try making a large batch of this Crockpot Shredded Chicken or this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken (so flavorful!) to keep on hand for easy dinners through the week.
Freezer Friendly Turkey Pot Pie
FAQ
Is it better to freeze chicken pot pie, cooked or uncooked?
We suggest freezing your chicken pot pie filling unbaked. You can pre-cook it and then freeze and then re-bake to reheat, but if you do that, you may want to under-bake your pie crust just a little before you freeze.
How to reheat a frozen turkey pot pie?
Unwrap the pot pie, and pop the frozen pot pie into the oven while cold and turn the oven on to 350 degrees F. Bake for 75-90 minutes until heated through and the pastry is golden, covering half way through baking if the top reaches desired color before the pot pie is heated through.
Can you refreeze turkey pot pie?
No, it’s had some bacterial growth and refreezing doesn’t stop growth it just slows it down, in general it’s not a good idea to refreeze anything unless it still has the ice crystals in it.
Can you freeze already cooked meat pies?
To freeze, wrap the cooked pie/s well in plastic wrap or foil. Seal in an airtight container or freezer bag, label, date and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.