Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

If there is one thing almost guaranteed after Thanksgiving, it is opening the fridge the next day and wondering exactly how many meals you can reasonably make from turkey before everyone starts quietly requesting pizza.

This leftover turkey shepherd’s pie is one of my favorite ways to turn those holiday leftovers into a completely different dinner. You get tender turkey and vegetables in a rich, savory gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until everything is bubbling around the edges and lightly golden on top.

Even better, it uses two Thanksgiving leftovers at once: turkey and mashed potatoes.

And if there happens to be a little leftover gravy lurking in the fridge too, throw that in as well. This is very much a “use what you have” dinner, which is exactly what we need after cooking an enormous holiday meal.

If you still have turkey to use after this, our Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole is another easy fridge-clearing dinner idea, while the Turkey Crescent Braid is perfect when everyone wants something that no longer looks remotely like Thanksgiving dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Leftover Turkey Recipe

This is proper cold-weather comfort food, but without starting dinner completely from scratch.

It is:

• Perfect for leftover Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey
• A great way to use leftover mashed potatoes
• Easy to adapt with whatever vegetables you have
• Freezer friendly
• Family friendly
• Ready in about 45 minutes
• Just as good made with leftover roast chicken

Technically, traditional shepherd’s pie is made with lamb, but “turkey shepherd’s pie” has become a very handy way of describing this mashed-potato-topped leftover turkey casserole. And frankly, after Thanksgiving I am more interested in using what is in my fridge than arguing with dinner terminology.

Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients

For the turkey filling:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups chicken or turkey stock
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 3 cups cooked turkey, chopped or shredded
• 1 cup frozen peas
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the topping:

• 4 cups prepared mashed potatoes
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional

Optional Thanksgiving Leftover Additions

This recipe is wonderfully forgiving.

You can also add:

• Up to 1/2 cup leftover turkey gravy
• Cooked carrots
• Green beans
• Corn
• Roasted vegetables
• A spoonful of cranberry sauce served alongside
• A small amount of leftover stuffing scattered beneath the mashed potato layer

If you add leftover gravy, reduce the stock slightly so the filling does not become too runny.

How to Make Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 375°F / 190°C.

Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or a similar 2 1/2 to 3-quart casserole dish.

2. Cook the Vegetables

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.

Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

3. Make the Gravy

Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir well.

Cook for about 1 minute. This helps remove that raw flour taste and gives you a smoother gravy.

Slowly pour in the stock while stirring.

Add the Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary.

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.

If you have leftover turkey gravy, this is the moment to add it.

4. Add the Turkey

Stir in the cooked turkey and frozen peas.

Season with salt and pepper.

Remember that leftover turkey, stock, gravy, and mashed potatoes may already contain plenty of salt, so taste before getting too enthusiastic with the salt shaker.

Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, just until everything is heated through.

5. Assemble the Shepherd’s Pie

Spoon the turkey mixture evenly into your prepared baking dish.

Carefully spread the mashed potatoes over the top.

I find it easiest to add several spoonfuls across the filling first and then gently spread them together. If you dump all the potatoes into the middle and start pushing, half your turkey filling will try to escape up the sides.

Brush or drizzle the mashed potatoes with melted butter.

Sprinkle with cheddar cheese if using.

6. Bake

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling around the edges and the mashed potato topping is hot.

For a more golden top, place the dish under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes at the end.

Keep a close eye on it. There is a surprisingly small window between “beautifully golden potatoes” and “why is the smoke alarm going off?”

Let the pie stand for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

What If My Mashed Potatoes Are Too Thick?

Cold leftover mashed potatoes can turn into something resembling wall filler after a night in the refrigerator.

Do not try to wrestle them across the casserole.

Warm them gently and stir in a splash of milk, cream, or stock until they become soft enough to spread.

This also helps the topping heat more evenly in the oven.

Can I Use Leftover Gravy?

Absolutely.

Leftover gravy makes this recipe even better.

Use about 1/2 cup of gravy and reduce the stock by roughly the same amount. You want the turkey filling rich and saucy, but not swimming.

This is one of those rare recipes where having several different containers of leftovers actually feels like good planning.

Vegetables You Can Add

Do not feel locked into peas, carrots, and celery.

This leftover turkey casserole is perfect for clearing out all those little containers of vegetables after Thanksgiving.

Try:

• Corn
• Green beans
• Roasted carrots
• Brussels sprouts
• Mushrooms
• Sweet potato
• Parsnips
• Broccoli

Just keep the overall quantity reasonably similar so you still have enough gravy to coat everything.

Can I Use Chicken Instead of Turkey?

Yes.

Leftover roast chicken works beautifully and turns this into an easy weeknight chicken shepherd’s pie.

Rotisserie chicken works too, making this recipe worth keeping long after Thanksgiving has disappeared from the calendar.

For another quick turkey option, our Light Cranberry Turkey Quesadilla is particularly good when you only have a smaller amount of turkey left.

Give It a Thanksgiving Twist

If you really want to lean into the holiday leftovers, spread a thin layer of leftover stuffing over the turkey filling before adding the mashed potatoes.

I would not make the stuffing layer too thick because things can become rather heavy, but a little gives the pie that unmistakable Thanksgiving flavor.

Serve cranberry sauce on the side rather than mixing it through the filling. The sweet-tart cranberry flavor cuts through the creamy potatoes and rich turkey gravy beautifully.

Can You Make Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Ahead of Time?

Yes.

Assemble the pie, cover it, and refrigerate until you are ready to bake.

Because the entire casserole will be cold, allow a little extra baking time and make sure it is heated thoroughly right through the center before serving.

You can also assemble it in the morning and bake it for dinner, which is particularly handy during the slightly chaotic stretch between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Can You Freeze Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie?

Yes, although mashed potatoes can occasionally change texture slightly after freezing.

For the best result, assemble the pie in a freezer-safe container and allow everything to cool before freezing.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

If the potato topping looks a little dry, brush it with melted butter before placing it in the oven.

What to Serve With Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

Honestly, this one does not need much.

It already contains meat, vegetables, gravy, and potatoes, which is why I love it.

If you want something alongside it, try:

• A simple green salad
• Steamed green beans
• Roasted Brussels sprouts
• Cranberry sauce
• Crusty bread

And if you have crescent dough left from holiday cooking, our festive crescent roll ideas include Turkey Cranberry Crescent Bites that are another clever way to use the last little pieces of cooked turkey.

Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe Card

Serves: 6
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 25 to 30 minutes
Oven: 375°F / 190°C

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups chicken or turkey stock
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 3 cups cooked turkey
• 1 cup frozen peas
• Salt and pepper
• 4 cups mashed potatoes
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F / 190°C.
2. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
3. Cook onion, carrots, and celery for 6 to 8 minutes.
4. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
5. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
6. Gradually add stock while stirring.
7. Add Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and rosemary.
8. Simmer until slightly thickened.
9. Stir in turkey and peas.
10. Season to taste.
11. Transfer filling to a casserole dish.
12. Spread mashed potatoes over the top.
13. Brush with melted butter and add cheese if desired.
14. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until hot and bubbling.
15. Broil briefly for a golden topping if desired.
16. Rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

This is exactly the sort of leftover recipe I like because by the time Thanksgiving dinner is over, nobody wants another complicated cooking project. You are basically gathering up the good bits from yesterday, adding a simple gravy, covering the lot with mashed potatoes, and letting the oven do the work.

And somehow it stops feeling like leftovers and starts feeling like proper comfort food again.