Home cooks across the UK are hailing a classic recipe as the perfect solution for festive leftovers. A top-rated turkey and leek pie from BBC Good Food has been described as 'utterly delicious' and 'by far the best turkey pie' by enthusiastic reviewers, offering a stress-free way to enjoy a second-day feast.
Why This Pie Is a Post-Christmas Winner
The recipe, which serves six people, has garnered glowing feedback for its rich flavour and impressive versatility. One home cook branded it 'fabulous', noting they adapted it by adding cooked ham, mushrooms, and courgettes when their turkey supply ran low. Another reported that 'everyone loved' the pie, with family members immediately asking for seconds. Remarkably, the Express notes that not a single negative review was found among the feedback.
Simple Ingredients and Method
For a truly hassle-free experience, the recipe suggests using shop-bought ready-rolled pastry, which works brilliantly. The filling combines smoky bacon, butter, leeks, and thyme, thickened with flour and stock. The final richness comes from double cream or crème fraîche and a tablespoon of wholegrain mustard, all mixed with 600g of shredded leftover cooked turkey.
The preparation takes around 30 minutes, with a total cooking time of one hour and 10 minutes. After cooking the filling and allowing it to cool, it is poured into a pie dish, topped with pastry, and baked for 45 minutes in an oven preheated to 200C (180C fan).
Adapt and Enjoy Your Leftovers
The true beauty of this recipe lies in its flexibility. Cooks are encouraged to use it as a blueprint, adding any leftover vegetables from the Christmas roast to make it their own. This approach not only reduces food waste but also creates a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal that feels entirely new. It's the ideal culinary project for the relaxed days between Christmas and New Year, turning the remains of the big day into a celebrated main event all over again.
