Pork Potpie

When cold weather rolls around, rich and savory potpie served steaming hot from the oven never fails to hit the spot. Pork potpie is a cozy, comfort food favorite featuring a creamy and cheesy sauce, flavorful pork and delicious veggies, all topped with a flaky puff pastry crust.

While making a potpie might seem daunting, this recipe is effortless (and when it comes to weeknight dinners, we all know the easier the recipe, the better). The secret to this recipe’s simplicity is frozen veggies, store-bought puff pastry and cooked pork. It’s a great way to use any leftover meat from those chops, tenderloin, roast or other pork recipes you made earlier in the week.

Pork Potpie Ingredients

• Butter and flour: In this creamy pork potpie recipe, butter is combined with flour to make a roux, which thickens the sauce.
• Chicken broth: Chicken broth adds flavor to the sauce. Use any low-sodium chicken broth brand to control the salt level in the final dish. You can also easily use homemade chicken broth.
• Milk: For the creamiest sauce, use whole milk. You can substitute low-fat milk, but avoid skim milk, which could result in a watery, thin sauce.
• Cooked pork: This recipe works with many cuts of pork, including leftover pork roast or pork chops. If you don’t have leftover pork in your fridge, look for packaged cubed pork in the deli section of your grocery store.
• Frozen broccoli-cauliflower blend: Frozen veggies make prepping this recipe a breeze. Use the recommended broccoli-cauliflower blend or sub your favorite vegetable combination.
• Cheese: A little shredded cheddar cheese adds to the sauce’s creaminess. You can choose your preferred level of sharpness.
• Seasonings: Seasoned salt combines salt with herbs and spices, including basil, oregano, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika. A dash of black pepper adds depth of flavor to the sauce; use freshly ground black pepper for the sharpest flavor.
• Frozen puff pastry: Packaged puff pastry is a versatile ingredient to keep on hand in your freezer. To roll it out easily, thaw it beforehand (it takes about 40 minutes to thaw at room temperature). Alternatively, remove it from the packaging, wrap it in a paper towel and thaw it in the microwave on high for 15 seconds. If you have some extra time on your hands, make puff pastry from scratch.
• Egg: An egg wash, made from a lightly beaten egg, is the secret to a shiny and perfectly browned pastry crust.

Directions

Step 1: Make the sauce

In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour until smooth. Gradually add the broth and milk, and bring to a boil. Cook and stir for two minutes or until thickened.

Editor’s Tip: Most roux recipes instruct you to use a whisk, but a rubber spatula helps you get into the saucepan’s corners, ensuring the mixture doesn’t collect and burn.

Step 2: Add the other ingredients

Add the pork, vegetables, cheese, seasoned salt and pepper. Continue cooking until heated through.

Step 3: Build the potpie

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Transfer the pork mixture to a greased 11×7-inch baking dish. On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry into an 11×7-inch rectangle. Place over the pork mixture. Brush with the egg.

Step 4: Bake the potpie

Bake the potpie, uncovered, for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for five minutes before cutting.

Editor’s Tip: Let a potpie (or any casserole) stand for a few minutes before slicing it. This will ensure a better, firmer slice and prevent the potpie from scalding your mouth when you bite into it.

DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME

Pork Potpie Variations

• Change it up with chicken: Leftover chicken is a simple and easy substitution for pork in this recipe. Potpie is the perfect recipe to use up leftover rotisserie chicken.
• Heap on some herbs: For added flavor, stir fresh or dried herbs like thyme, oregano, parsley, sage or rosemary into the sauce.
• Vary the veggies: You can easily customize this creamy pork potpie recipe with your favorite fresh or frozen veggies. One option is to start with a mirepoix—a classic combination of chopped onion, carrot and celery. Another tasty option is a cup of fresh or frozen corn, peas or green beans.

How to Store Pork Potpie

Any leftover pork potpie should be wrapped tightly in storage wrap, or individual servings should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the fridge. You can also keep pork potpies in the freezer for longer storage.

How long does a pork potpie last?

Eat leftover pork potpie within four days.

Can you freeze pork potpie?

Yes! You can freeze pork potpies before or after baking. To freeze the potpie before baking, carefully wrap the unbaked potpie and place it in the freezer. (Be sure to use a freezer-safe baking dish.) To freeze a baked potpie, first allow it to cool completely. Then, wrap it in storage wrap and place it in the freezer. You can freeze unbaked and baked pork potpies for up to three months.

How do you reheat pork potpie?

To reheat pork potpie that has been stored in the refrigerator, set it on a baking sheet and bake in a 350° oven until the filling is heated through and reaches 165°. (An instant-read thermometer is a home cook’s best friend.)

To bake a chicken potpie from frozen, you do not need to thaw it first, but note it will take significantly longer to cook from frozen than from thawed. Set the potpie on a baking sheet and loosely cover it with foil. Preheat the oven to 425°. Bake for 30 minutes. Then, reduce the oven temperature to 350°. Bake for 60 to 75 minutes longer or until the crust is golden brown and a thermometer inserted in the center reads 165°.

Can you make pork potpie ahead of time?

You can prep and assemble the sauce and filling for this creamy pork potpie recipe up to a day in advance. Tightly wrap and refrigerate the filling overnight. Top with the rolled-out puff pastry and brush with an egg wash before baking.

Pork Potpie Tips

DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME

What other kinds of dough can you use for pork potpie?

Although puff pastry makes a delightfully flaky crust, it’s definitely not your only option. You can also opt to use a traditional pie crust (premade store-bought crust works just as well as homemade butter pie pastry) or try a crust made from drop biscuit dough or canned store-bought biscuits.

What else can you serve with pork potpie?

A big green salad, fruit salad and roasted vegetables are all delicious side dishes that pair well with a creamy pork potpie recipe.