Everybody loves turkey on Thanksgiving, but if you have a small party and don’t want to roast a whole bird, chef Kenneth Temple has a great suggestion for your family gathering: the ultimate Thanksgiving pot pie.
This recipe will warm your kitchen and bring the pleasing flavor of roast turkey along with some surprises. Mac and cheese? Carolina BBQ sauce? Yep, mix these in with vegetables, spices, turkey and gravy to make a pot pie that will provide a sweet and tangy turn on the usual dish.
This family-pleaser also adds variety to your table; you can serve the components as their own side dishes at your Thanksgiving table before turning the leftovers into a pot pie that you’ll keep coming back to even after the feast is over.
The Ultimate Thanksgiving Pot Pie
Hands-On Time
1 hourTotal Time
2 hours 20 minutesServes
4
- 1 (14.1-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 10-ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, and corn), thawed
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 2 ¾ cups low sodium chicken stock
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 ½ cups chopped, cooked JENNIE-O® turkey breast
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 cup Carolina BBQ Sauce (recipe follows) or purchased barbecue sauce
- 4 cups Mac Cheese (recipe follows) or 1 (1-pound 4-ounce) package HORMEL® Elbow
- ~1 cup Candied Yams (recipe follows)
Instructions
On lightly floured surface, roll pie crust into 12-inch circle. Place a bowl upside down on pie crust and with a small knife, trace around the bowl. Place each circle on parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat making four circles total.
In saucepan, combine water, sweet potatoes, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to simmer. Cook 15 minutes. Remove cover and flip over sweet potatoes on top. Cover and cook 5 minutes longer.
Remove cover and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until sweet potatoes are fork tender and mixture has glazed the sweet potatoes. Remove from heat and add vanilla and 2 tablespoons butter. Cover 5 minutes or until butter is melted.
In large skillet over medium heat, add oil and butter. Cook onion and celery in skillet 3 minutes or until tender. Add mixed vegetables, flour, salt, pepper, garlic, paprika and thyme; stir to combine. Slowly whisk in chicken stock and cream. Stir until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in cubed turkey and barbecue sauce.
Heat oven to 375°F. Place four oven-safe bowls on a baking sheet. Divide mac and cheese, candied yams, and turkey mixture among the four bowls.
In small bowl, beat together egg and water. Brush the rim of each bowl with egg wash. Top each bowl with pie crust circle, pressing down gently to compact ingredients. Brush the pie crust with remaining egg wash. Make three cuts in the center to allow steam to release. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
Carolina BBQ Sauce
Hands-On Time
20 minutesTotal Time
20 minutes
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons red chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
In saucepan, combine all ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.
Mac Cheese
Total Time
15 minutes
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese, divided
Instructions
Cook pasta in boiling water 6 minutes.
In saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk together 30 seconds. Add salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and garlic.
Whisk in half-and-half in thirds, then add cream. Bring to a boil. Add 1 cup cheese. Reduce heat to medium low and stir until cheese has melted. Add cooked macaroni and remaining cheese. Mix thoughly. Cool until ready to make pot pie
Candied Yams
Total Time
30 minutes
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled, sliced ¼-inch thick
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
In saucepan, combine water, sweet potatoes, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to simmer. Cook 15 minutes. Remove cover and flip over sweet potatoes on top. Cover and cook 5 minutes longer.
Remove cover and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until sweet potatoes are fork tender and mixture has glazed the sweet potatoes. Remove from heat and add vanilla and 2 tablespoons butter. Cover 5 minutes or until butter is melted.
