Turkey Leftover Pie Recipe: Zero-Waste Christmas Dinner Idea

This Turkey Leftover Pie recipe is the best way to turn Christmas dinner scraps into a whole new, delicious meal.

Originally published: December 2012

What do you usually do with Christmas dinner leftovers? Over the years I’ve turned ours into soups, curries and stews, but this leftover pie has become a family favourite. It’s an easy, satisfying way to use up every last scrap and avoid waste.

You can freeze both the pie filling (the chopped leftovers) and the finished pies, which makes them perfect for pulling out on a cold evening when you want a comforting meal with minimal effort.

How to make Christmas Turkey Leftover Pies

Begin by lining a pie dish or individual pie tins with ready-rolled shortcrust pastry. I often use shop-bought pastry for convenience, but homemade pastry works equally well. Lining tins with baking paper first makes it much easier to remove the pies and keeps pans cleaner.

Christmas Dinner Leftovers

Chop all your leftovers into bite-sized pieces and combine them in a large bowl. Our mix included turkey (or chicken), Brussels sprouts, cabbage, shallots, roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, broccoli, stuffing and little sausage meatballs. I also scraped up the jelly from under the bird and added any leftover gravy for extra flavour and moisture.

Fill the prepared pastry shells with the mixed leftovers, pressing down gently. If you have only a little gravy left, dissolve a small amount of gravy granules in hot water and pour a little into each pie to keep the filling moist. Alternatively, place a knob of butter on top of each pie filling.

Cover each pie with a pastry lid. You can use the same shortcrust pastry or try a puff pastry lid for a lighter, flakier finish that feels a bit more special. Brush the edges with beaten egg or milk to help seal, then crimp the edges to secure the lid. Pierce a small hole in the top of each pie to allow steam to escape, then brush the top with the beaten egg or milk for a golden glaze.

Bake the pies in a preheated oven. Individual pies typically take around 30–40 minutes at 180°C (350°F) until the pastry is golden and the filling is heated through.

And that’s it—an easy, budget-friendly way to make the most of your leftovers and turn them into a tasty new dish. Wishing everyone who celebrates a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Janie x