This post is brought to you in partnership with Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q.
Thanksgiving leftovers don’t have to be boring! This Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie recipe is a hearty and flavorful twist on a classic comfort food!
Every news show, talk show and cooking show right now is talking all about Thanksgiving; which is obviously no surprise since Thanksgiving is NEXT week. But what is surprising this year is the amount of cooking demos, food articles and over all general Thanksgiving talk purely centered around Thanksgiving leftovers, including my recipe for Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie!
It seems like every cooking segment I catch is for a Thanksgiving leftover recipe or how the Thanksgiving Day dinner recipe they are sharing in said cooking segment “makes enough to have plenty of leftovers”… since you know “Thanksgiving is all about the leftovers.”
And I’m not going to argue with that one bit! If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, there is nothing like a ham or turkey sandwich, err slider, using fresh, hand carved meat on a pillowy homemade roll. Or sneaking a bite of the last slice of Pecan Pie while no one is looking.
But depending on exactly HOW MUCH leftovers you have you MAY be a little tired of it all by day three! 🙂
For us it is hit or miss on whether we have Thanksgiving leftovers or not. Usually on Thanksgiving Day there are so many family members that pretty much by the end of the day the buffet line has been ripped to shreds. But Friendsgiving, which is normally a smaller group with *almost* as much food, we definitely have more than enough leftovers.
So over the years I have had to get creative with transforming those leftovers into something equally (or almost equally) drool worthy as the Thanksgiving feast itself! I have made TONS of turkey soups and chili, turkey salad sandwiches, enchiladas, pasta dishes, and more, just trying to think up of delicious ways to eat leftovers.
Today, I’m sharing my latest Thanksgiving leftover recipe, Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie! For years, I have heard people say they don’t like Shepherd’s Pie, that is until they try mine! You see the key to a great, no AMAZING, Shepherd’s Pie is adding a little homemade gravy to the meat and vegetable mixture. I’m telling you, this quick and easy fix takes Shepherd’s Pie haters and makes them Shepherd’s Pie lovers just. like. That!
Not only is this Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie recipe flavorful with my creamy white gravy, made using milk, turkey stock and Stubb’s Chicken Spice Rub, it is incredibly easy since it uses not only leftover turkey but leftover mashed potatoes too. YES! This is the kind of day after Thanksgiving dinner that is right up my alley!
What is your favorite way to use Thanksgiving leftovers? Please share in the comments below!
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 cups turkey stock
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 ½ tablespoons Stubb’s Chicken Spice Rub
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
- ½ tablespoon fresh sage, minced (or 1 teaspoon dried sage)
- 3 cups shredded leftover turkey
- 1 (16-ounce) bag frozen mixed vegetables
- 3-4 cups leftover mashed potatoes
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Heat butter in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, cook for 6-7 minutes or until translucent. Add celery and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Stir in flour, stirring constantly until a thick, golden roux is formed, about 2-3 minutes. Stirring constantly, stir in turkey broth and milk. Simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until gravy is thickened. Stir in Stubb’s Chicken Spice Rub, thyme, sage, turkey and mixed vegetables. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes.
- Pour prepared Shepherd’s Pie filling into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread prepared mashed potatoes evenly over the meat and vegetable filling. Bake in preheated 375 degree F oven for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes start to brown and casserole is heated through.
Whether you’re still planning your Thanksgiving menu or looking for more ways to use up those Thanksgiving leftovers Stubb’s has you covered! Check out all of these fantastic recipes that are perfect for the holidays!
BAR-B-Q Mashed Potatoes
Hickory Bourbon and Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Hickory Bourbon Apple Cobbler
Deep Fried Turkey
Smokehouse Bourbon Turkey Noodle Casserole
Disclosure: I am in a working relationship with Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q. This Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie recipe was developed by me for Stubb’s and this blog post was written by me on behalf of Stubb’s. Giveaway prize pack provided by Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Because of sponsors like Stubb’s I am able to continue to bring you all the content I feature here.
to make turkey macaroni salad
I like to make pot pies and turkey wraps with the leftovers.
I like to make turkey salad sandwiches, which are made just like tuna sandwiches.
I make Turkey and Stuffing casserole.
I like turkey pot pie.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/800407294840283136
I like turkey sandwiches on potato rolls!
I’ll eat anything with Thanksgiving leftovers! 😉