Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (2024)

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by Diane

Leftover Thanksgiving leftovers Cottage Pie is an all time favorite for us because it’s the whole Thanksgiving dinner in one awesome warm casserole. Cottage pie is a celebration of all of our favorite Thanksgiving comfort dishes in a “pie” and a great way to eat your Thanksgiving leftovers. This turkey cottage pie is a fantastic casserole using leftovers from Thanksgiving and nothing goes to waste!

Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (2)

Cottage Pie vs Shepherds Pie?

Traditionally Shepherds pie uses ground lamb and sometimes ground beef. We originally called this recipe a shepherds pie but got reminded that we were wrong. Ok! So we realized this recipe is more of a cottage pie because it doesn’t use the traditional ground lamb meat. But if you’re still fixated on this not being a cottage pie, then consider it a everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-leftover-thanksgiving-bake. What ever you decide to call it, we call it DELICIOUS!

Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie

It’s hard to pass up this dish because it’s topped with mashed potatoes and baked until everything is warmed and combined into one complete delicious goodness. This turkey cottage pie recipe has veggies, meats, gravy and potatoes. So it’s the perfect opportunity to take all our Thanksgiving leftovers into a cottage pie version because Thanksgiving has all those delicious components! Share it with family and friends and enjoy. Thanksgiving doesn’t have to just be one day of feasting! This is the dish that keeps on giving. Click here for all of our great Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes and Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes.

Video: Watch how Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie is made!

Add Leftover Gravy to Cottage Pie

Thanksgiving and Holidays is always about the gravy and this cottage pie definitely is better with it. You can add some to the filling to make it more saucy. But we love adding more on top during serving. Having the rich gravy on top adds so much more flavor and decadence. Make an extra batch of gravy because you’ll love pouring this over this casserole.

Can you freeze this recipe?

You can freeze leftovers and they still taste great! If you made a big batch and more leftovers, then freeze them small batches. By doing this, they will thaw a little quicker. Or you can leave it in the fridge overnight to get a head start on thawing. They are even better later, especially when you’re craving leftovers. But also beware because when mashed potato thaws, it can often get a little dry and mushy.

Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (3)

Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (4)

Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 50 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

If the leftover ingredients are cold and straight from the fridge, they might be a little firm to spread and pour. Microwave them a bit to loosen up the texture. This will also help reduce the cooking time if the ingredients were layered warm.

5 from 6 votes

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups (480 ml) leftover stuffing , approximately
  • 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) leftover turkey , cubed or cut in small pieces
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) cranberry sauce
  • 1 cup (240 ml) leftover veggies , ham or anything but the pie, cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup (240 ml) leftover gravy , or more if you like!
  • 3-4 cups (720-960 ml) of leftover mashed potatoes
  • 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) butter , cut into 1/2” pieces

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9” pie pan or an 8”x8” baking dish.

  • Layer stuffing, turkey, cranberry sauce, veggies and gravy. Spread potatoes over the casserole. Dot with the butter.

  • Bake until heated through and potatoes are golden, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool slightly. If you want, drizzle more gravy on top! Enjoy!

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 371kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 642mg, Potassium: 489mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 1415IU, Vitamin C: 10.3mg, Calcium: 34mg, Iron: 1.4mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Holiday

Calories: 371

Can you make this a vegetarian cottage pie?

Sure! If you don’t have leftover turkey, then use all your other leftovers except for the pies. Sautee up some extra vegetables if you’re a little low on leftovers. And for a vegetarian gravy, try our vegan mushroom gravy recipe.

More Holiday Recipes:

  • Thanksgiving leftover pull apart sliders
  • Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe
  • Fresh cranberry sauce
  • No bake cranberry pie
  • Here’s more shepherds pie recipe ideas. This recipe was originally published in 2017 and re-published in 2018 with an updated video!

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posted in: 300+ Easy Meals, Casseroles, Chicken | Turkey, Holiday, Holiday-Thanksgiving 5 comments

Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (5)

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Leave a Reply

    5 Comments on “Thanksgiving Leftovers Cottage Pie”

  1. Janis Neill Reply

    Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (8)
    Looking forward to making this !

  2. Christiana Reply

    Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (9)
    I look forward to make this after Thanksgiving. We always end up with so much leftover.

  3. Melody Reply

    Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (10)
    Had the chance to make this last year and it was good!
    Came back here to check out how to make it again for this year’s Thanksgiving.

  4. Alice Reply

    Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (11)
    I remember making this for Black Friday dinner. It was the best. I’m totally making it again.

  5. Patricia Reply

    Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (12)
    This was such a great idea. I’m glad to get the chance to make it again.

Leftover Thanksgiving Cottage Pie with Turkey | Best Recipe Box (2024)

FAQs

Can you make cottage pie to eat the next day? ›

You can absolutely prepare Cottage Pie to the pre-baking stage and fridge (or freezer) it until the next day.

How long is leftover turkey and stuffing good for? ›

Turkey can last up to four more months if frozen. However, keep that four-day time frame in mind. If it is frozen two days after cooking, once it is thawed out, it is only good for two more days. Stuffing and gravy: 2 days.

How do you pack leftovers for Thanksgiving? ›

Divide leftovers into smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze them in covered shallow containers so they cool quickly. A large container or whole turkey will take too long to cool down to a safe temperature, which gives bacteria a chance to multiply.

Can you freeze shepherds pie leftovers? ›

Wrap cooled pie in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label with contents and date; place in freezer. For best quality, serve within 2-3 months; however, shepherd's pie will remain safe indefinitely, stored at 0° F. When ready to eat, thaw for about 24-hours in the refrigerator.

How long will a cooked cottage pie keep in the fridge? ›

How long can you keep Cottage Pie in the fridge? Once you've put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours. If you allow any left overs to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Cottage Pie in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.

How do you reheat leftover cottage pie? ›

The best way to keep the textures of your dish just right and as delicious as before is to use an oven to reheat it. Place your desired serving of cottage pie in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

Can you eat 7 day old turkey? ›

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends using cooked turkey within three to four days as long as it is kept refrigerated at a temperature that is 40°F or lower.

Is turkey still good after 7 days in the fridge? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months.

Can you eat turkey 5 days after Thanksgiving? ›

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for three to four days, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Turkey typically lasts up to four days in the fridge before it goes bad.

Can you eat cooked turkey after 5 days? ›

Snyder points to the USDA FoodKeeper app for best guidance: The tool notes that refrigerated, cooked turkey should be eaten within 4 days. Eat frozen turkey leftovers within 6 months for premier quality.

When should you throw out Thanksgiving leftovers? ›

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends throwing out refrigerated leftovers after three to four days. If foods are kept in the freezer, they can usually still be consumed for three to four months.

What is the rule for leftovers? ›

2 + 2 + 4 rule . You'll want to refrigerate or freeze your food within 2 hours of cooking. Store your food in dishes that are 2” or less so they can cool safely. Eat leftovers within 4 days.

Can you freeze cottage pie after 3 days? ›

Refrigerated for later, Yes; but frozen, No. I would not try to freeze a leftover Cottage Pie as the freezing process will dehydrate the pie, cause separation of the ingredients, and result in taste and texture issues with the reheated product.

Do mashed potatoes freeze well? ›

Schmidt tells us that, for best results, you can keep mashed potatoes in "a freezer set to 0°F or colder" for "up to one year." At this temperature and for this length of time, frozen mashed potatoes can be thawed and reheated without losing texture or flavor (and without risking the transmission of foodborne bacteria) ...

Can you reheat shepherds pie three times? ›

Food should only be reheated once. If ovens or grills are used for reheating, make sure they are preheated. If you re reheating food in a microwave, stir it regularly to make sure the centre of the food is thoroughly heated.

Is it OK to make a pie the day before? ›

You can bake a fruit-based pie a few days in advance as long as it's stored properly. Loosely cover: After baking and cooling your pie, loosely cover it with aluminum foil. Store: store for at room temperature for up to two days, or up to seven days in the fridge according to USDA guidelines.

Can you make a pie the night before and bake the next day? ›

If made ahead without baking, the pastry crust can become too wet and end up soggy after baking. The best way to make your apple pie in advance? Bake the pie completely, then chill it overnight, allowing the pie to sit at room temperature for at least an hour before serving.

Can you eat shepherd's pie the next day? ›

A Shepherd's Pie is the perfect make-ahead food. In the fridge Cook up to point 11 in the recipe below and you can keep this recipe in the fridge for 2 days.

Can you reheat homemade cottage pie twice? ›

While most food can be reheated more than once, it is better to only reheat food once which is why it's suggested that you split large portions into smaller ones. Each time you reheat and cool food it is likely that you will alter the food's taste/texture as well as increasing the chances of bacteria growing.

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