Thanksgiving-Leftovers Shepherd's Pie

This Thanksgiving-leftovers shepherd’s pie is a delicious, inspired way to use up all the best parts of the holiday meal. The only equipment you’ll need is a pie plate, into which you’ll layer your stuffing, turkey, carrots (or another cooked vegetable), cranberry sauce, and gravy. In true shepherd’s pie fashion, the whole creation gets topped with a heavenly mound of mashed potatoes, which becomes golden and toasty when baked. The best part of this recipe is that you can swap in other components from the meal, like green beans, sweet potatoes, or even a vegetarian alternative in place of the turkey, making this an excellent way to not only clear out the fridge but get creative and make it your own at the same time.

The Origins of Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's pie is a variation on cottage pie, a classic British dish consisting of a stewed mixture of beef, vegetables, and gravy spooned between layers of boiled potatoes. Shepherd's pie first appeared in English and Scottish cookbooks in the 19th century, where it contained both layers of potatoes and a flour-based shell. Unlike cottage pie, which was strictly made with beef, shepherd's pie could be made with lamb (hence the name), chicken, or even fish.

Today, shepherd's pie is commonly made with a saucy mixture of either ground beef or lamb, plus vegetables like peas and/or corn. It's topped with a layer of mashed potatoes, and baked or broiled until the top turns deliciously golden brown.

Ingredients (and Swaps) for Leftovers Shepherd's Pie

The stuffing: A few cups of leftover stuffing form the base of this layered dish. Use your hands or the bottom of a measuring cup to gently press it into the edges of the pie plate.

The turkey: You can use light or dark meat (or a combination) for this recipe with great results. Slice or shred the turkey into smaller pieces before adding it to the pie to make serving and eating extra easy.

The vegetables: We love layering cooked carrots—glazed or not—on top of the turkey, but you can use another vegetable like turnips, green bean casserole, or roasted squash instead.

The sauces: A combination of gravy and cranberry sauce add moisture, flavor, and tanginess to this delicious dish. If desired, you can top the mashed potatoes with more cranberry sauce before baking or serve more of both sauces alongside the finished dish. (Homemade or store-bought versions of either sauce would work equally well.)

The topper: It wouldn't be shepherd's pie without a pillowy layer of mashed potatoes on top. If you've made mashed sweet potatoes instead, you can certainly use those here in place of the classic taters.

How to Make Individual Pies

If you'd prefer to bake mini shepherd's pies, use six ten-ounce ramekins instead of the pie plate and reduce the cooking time twenty to thirty minutes.