Minnesota’s Favorite Hearty Pot Pie Recipes

When winter winds howl across Minnesota, nothing warms the soul like a bubbling pot pie fresh from the oven. These golden-crusted comfort foods are practically required survival gear during our legendary cold seasons.

From traditional chicken classics to creative vegan options, these pot pie recipes represent the best of Minnesota’s hearty home cooking tradition.

1. Classic Chicken Pot Pie

This masterpiece remains the undisputed champion of Minnesota comfort food. Tender chunks of chicken swim in velvety gravy alongside carrots, peas, and potatoes.

Grandma’s secret? A splash of sherry and a pinch of thyme elevate the filling from good to transcendent. The all-butter crust shatters perfectly with each forkful, revealing steamy goodness that could make even the toughest Minnesotan shed a nostalgic tear.

Family lore says this recipe prevented the divorce of my great-aunt Mabel during the particularly brutal winter of ’78.

2. Turkey And Wild Rice Pot Pie

Where else but Minnesota would transform our state grain into pot pie perfection? The nutty wild rice creates textural magic against tender turkey chunks and forest mushrooms.

Locals know the trick lies in using leftover Thanksgiving bird and authentic hand-harvested rice from northern lakes. My taste buds perform actual cartwheels whenever that crackly crust meets the creamy interior laced with thyme.

Should you encounter someone claiming not to like this pie, check their ID. They’re clearly not from Minnesota.

3. Beef And Vegetable Pot Pie

Carnivores rejoice! Nothing tames a minus-thirty windchill like beef chuck braised until it surrenders into fork-tender submission. The robust filling marries root vegetables with red wine and rosemary.

Those beautiful crimson juices create gravy so rich it should probably file its own tax return. My grandfather insisted this pie could resurrect the dead, an untested claim, but I wouldn’t bet against it.

Pro tip, splash a little Grain Belt beer into the filling for a truly Minnesotan twist that’ll have your dinner guests demanding the recipe.

4. Cheesy Ham And Potato Pot Pie

Did someone say “hotdish in pie form”? That’s essentially what we’ve created here, a glorious marriage of Minnesota’s favorite food groups: ham, cheese, and potatoes.

Chunks of smoky ham nestle against creamy potatoes while sharp cheddar brings tang that cuts through the richness. The secret is a splash of pickle juice in the sauce that brightens everything with unexpected zing.

My brother once ate three portions in one sitting and claimed to see the Northern Lights indoors, though that might have been the food coma talking.

5. BBQ Chicken Pot Pie

Fusion cooking hits Minnesota with this scandalous marriage of Southern BBQ and Northern comfort food. Shredded chicken bathes in tangy-sweet sauce alongside corn, black beans, and bell peppers.

A cornbread topping replaces traditional pastry, creating textural heaven with its slight sweetness. My uncle accidentally invented this recipe during a blizzard when traditional ingredients were scarce and has been insufferably smug about it ever since.

Skeptics become believers after one bite. I’ve witnessed this conversion at least seventeen times at potlucks across the Twin Cities.

6. Sausage And Pepper Pot Pie

However did Italian flavors infiltrate our Nordic stronghold? Through this magnificent pie featuring fennel-flecked sausage, sweet bell peppers, and caramelized onions in garlicky tomato gravy.

The herbed crust contains a surprise sprinkle of parmesan that creates irresistible umami edges. My Italian-American neighbor reluctantly admitted this pie might be better than his nonna’s cooking, then made me swear never to tell his family.

Serve with a robust red wine and prepare for the inevitable food coma that follows, a small price to pay for such deliciousness.

7. Spinach And Mushroom Pot Pie

Vegetarians needn’t feel deprived in pot pie paradise. Wild mushrooms foraged from northern forests create meaty satisfaction alongside wilted spinach and caramelized onions.

Gruyere cheese adds nutty depth while a splash of cognac brings unexpected sophistication. The herb-flecked crust shatters dramatically against the fork, creating that ASMR-worthy crackle that signals imminent deliciousness.

My vegetarian sister converted three committed carnivores with this recipe at last year’s holiday gathering. No small feat in a state where some consider bacon a food group.

8. Shepherd’s Pie-Style Pot Pie

Though technically an impostor in the pot pie lineup, we’ve adopted this British cousin by adding a proper top crust to the traditional potato topping. Ground lamb mingles with peas, carrots and onions in savory gravy.

The genius lies in the double-carb approach, mashed potatoes AND buttery pastry. My Scottish grandmother would be appalled at this hybridization, but even she couldn’t resist seconds when served at our last family reunion.

A splash of Worcestershire sauce provides that mysterious umami that makes everyone ask for your secret.

9. Vegan Lentil And Vegetable Pot Pie

Skeptical about meatless pot pies? This version will convert even the most dedicated carnivore with its hearty filling of French lentils, roasted root vegetables, and mushrooms in savory herb gravy.

The olive oil crust shatters with surprising flakiness despite containing zero butter. My brother-in-law, a self-proclaimed meat enthusiast, accidentally ate three servings before learning it was vegan and now questions everything he thought he knew about food.

Fresh thyme and a splash of balsamic vinegar create complexity that will have everyone requesting the recipe.

10. Creamy Seafood Pot Pie

Though we’re landlocked, Minnesotans know our way around seafood, especially when bathed in white wine cream sauce under buttery pastry. Plump shrimp, sweet scallops, and delicate cod create oceanic bliss in every bite.

Fresh dill and lemon zest brighten the richness, making this surprisingly sophisticated for something served in a pie tin. My mother-in-law requested this as her last meal, she’s perfectly healthy, just planning ahead because she’s completely obsessed.

Serve with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc and pretend Lake Superior is actually an ocean.