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Looking for a cozy, hearty way to use up holiday leftovers? This leftover turkey shepherd’s pie is the perfect solution. It’s packed with savory turkey, seasonal root vegetables and rich Guinness-infused gravy, then topped with creamy garlic mashed potatoes. Whether you’re working with smoked or roasted turkey, this dish transforms leftovers into something completely crave-worthy. It’s easy to assemble, comforting to eat, and makes an excellent one-pan dinner when you want something satisfying without a lot of effort.
Leftover turkey shepherd’s pie is a cozy, one-pan meal that’s made with tender vegetables, Guinness gravy and mashed potatoes—comfort food at its finest.
You might also enjoy leftover turkey fried rice, turkey taco casserole, a Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich, or smoked honey-glazed ham.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s great for leftovers: This recipe gives new life to leftover turkey in a completely delicious way.
Hearty and satisfying: Between the rich filling and fluffy potato topping, it’s a full meal in one dish.
Full of seasonal flavor: Guinness, sage, and root veggies bring cozy, earthy flavor to every bite.
Customizable: Use whatever root vegetables or mashed potatoes you have on hand.
One-skillet convenience: Fewer dishes and easy cleanup make this even more appealing.
Perfect for meal prep: It reheats beautifully for lunch or dinner the next day.
Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Turkey: Shredded leftover turkey adds protein and hearty flavor to the filling.
Salted butter: Adds richness to both the vegetable filling and the mashed potatoes.
Guinness: Deepens the flavor of the gravy and gives the dish a rich, malty note.
Bone broth: Boosts the savory flavor and makes a rich sauce.
Carrots, parsnips and celery: Classic root veggies that bring sweetness, texture and heartiness.
Tomato paste: Adds umami and helps thicken the gravy.
Yellow onion: Gives a savory base and adds depth to the filling.
Garlic: Brings bold flavor to both the filling and mashed potatoes.
Thyme and sage: Traditional herbs that add warm, earthy notes.
Yukon gold potatoes: Creamy and ideal for mashing, but you can use any mashed potatoes you have.
Sour cream: Makes the mashed potatoes rich and tangy.
Worcestershire sauce: Adds a little umami kick to the mash.
How to Make Cottage Pie with Turkey Leftovers
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Sauté the base: Cook onion in olive oil, then stir in tomato paste and pince.
Add Guinness and butter: Deglaze the pan and cook down for a richer flavor.
Boil and mash potatoes: Simmer until tender, then mash with butter, garlic, sour cream and seasonings.
Cook the vegetables: Add carrots, parsnips, celery, garlic and herbs to the pan.
Add the turkey and liquids: Stir in turkey, bone broth and more Guinness, then simmer.
Pipe the mashed potatoes: Spoon or pipe the mash over the filling in a cast iron skillet.
Bake and serve: Bake until golden, then garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Substitutions and Variations
Swap the vegetables: Use sweet potatoes, peas, turnips or whatever root veggies you have on hand. You could also add leftover veggies such as green beans.
Try another protein: Use shredded chicken, beef or even a vegetarian meat substitute.
Use pre-made mash: Leftover mashed potatoes work great if you want to skip that step.
Guinness: Substitute dark beer for the Guinness.
Bone broth: Use any kind of bone broth (maybe my homemade bone broth!) or even regular turkey, chicken or beef broth.
Serving Suggestions
With vegetable sides: Enjoy this dish with roasted Brussels sprouts, garlic green beans or one of these simple side dishes.
With a salad: Enjoy an iceberg wedge salad on the side, or perhaps asparagus and fennel salad.
How to Store Shepherd’s Pie with Turkey
Store: Keep leftovers of classic shepherd’s pie in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap or foil in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: Warm it back up in the microwave or in the stove.
Top Tips
Let the tomato paste cook out: Give it a few minutes to pincé. This deepens the flavor and helps the sauce taste richer.
Pipe the mash for presentation: It gives the top a beautiful finish and browns evenly.
Make it ahead: Prep everything the day before, then bake when you’re ready to eat.
Season the potatoes well: Don’t forget salt—underdone mash can fall flat.
Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie FAQs
Trying to eat lighter after treating yourself to delicacies over the festive period? You might want to reduce the carbs in this turkey shepherd’s pie. If you’re not using leftover mashed potatoes you could substitute mashed cauliflower. Either boil your own then drain it very well or you can buy frozen mashed cauliflower and use that.
You might wonder what this word means if you haven’t heard it before. No it’s not a typo. To pincé something means to cook it until it’s golden brown. In this recipe we are using tomato paste and browning it gives it a richer flavor, similar to how caramelizing meat, onions or another ingredient enriches the taste.
Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
Leftover Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 2 Cups turkey, leftover (smoked or regular), shredded
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 Teaspoon thyme, dried
- 1 Tablespoon sage, fresh
- 3 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 carrots, diced
- 3 parsnips, diced
- 2 Stalks celery, diced
- 2 Tablespoon salted butter, melted
- 1 Cup Guinness
- ½ Cup bone broth
For the Mashed Potatoes Topping
- 2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, unless you have leftover mashed potatoes, then use those!
- ¼ Cup salted butter
- 4 Cloves garlic
- 1 Teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoon sour cream
- ½ Teaspoon onion powder
- 1 Pinch salt
- 1 Pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and place a deep cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Prepare diced vegetables as it heats.
- Add olive oil and diced onions to a sauté pan over medium high heat. Sauté for 3 minutes, then add the tomato paste. Pincé the tomato paste for 5 minutes, then add ¼ cup of Guinness and butter. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, start preparing the potatoes. Add 4 cups of salted water to a Dutch oven along with potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes.
- Add the carrots, parsnips, celery, garlic, and dried thyme to the pan. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and add melted butter, crushed garlic, Worcestershire, sour cream, onion powder, thyme, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mash completely and allow to cool as the filling is cooked (2 minutes)
- Combine shredded Turkey with sage and add to the pan. Stir well, then pour in the remaining Guinness and bone broth. Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to medium/low. Cook for 15 minutes.
- When 5 minutes remains for the filling, add potatoes to a piping bag.
- Remove cast iron from heat. Pipe potatoes over the top.
- Place into the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
Notes
Pipe the mash for presentation: It gives the top a beautiful finish and browns evenly.
Make it ahead: Prep everything the day before, then bake when you’re ready to eat.
Season the potatoes well: Don’t forget salt—underdone mash can fall flat.
Nutrition
This leftover turkey shepherd’s pie is the kind of recipe you’ll look forward to making after every holiday. It turns simple ingredients into a flavorful, satisfying dinner with minimal cleanup. The Guinness gravy adds a rich twist, while the mashed potato topping makes it extra comforting. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just want to make the most of your leftovers, this dish is a guaranteed win. It’s cozy, filling and so much more than just another leftovers meal.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This leftover turkey shepherd’s pie is a game changer! So tasty and perfect for holiday leftovers.
The perfect dish for leftovers. Absolutely impressed!
This recipe was a winner! Can’t wait to enjoy it again.
This leftover turkey shepherd’s pie was a great way to use up about a tonne of leftover turkey! It’s just as good as the beef or lamb kind.
This looks delish with the beer in it