Tuna Potpie

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/2/21
Tuna Potpie

 Debbi Smirnoff/Getty Images

Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Yield: 1 potpie

Potpies dominate the microwave meals section of the grocery store freezer, but making them at home requires just a little more effort for an infinitely greater result.

Though commonly filled with leftover chicken or turkey, potpies adapt to nearly any combination of ingredients, with a few basic ground rules. You need a combination of meat and vegetables, a thick gravy, and some type of pastry at least on top.

This recipe uses canned tuna but lets you choose your favorite accompanying vegetables; You can go with the classic corn, carrots, green beans, and peas, or throw in some broccoli, cauliflower, or mushrooms.

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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter

  • 1/2 cup chopped onion

  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic and herb seasoning blend

  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 dash dried thyme, crumbled

  • 2 cups milk

  • 1 large (12-ounce) can tuna, or 2 small (6- to 7-ounce) cans, drained and flaked

  • 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

  • 1 (9-inch) pie pastry

Steps to Make It

  1. Heat the oven to 425 F (220 C/Gas 7).

  2. In a large saucepan, melt the butter; add the onion and saute it over medium-low heat until tender. Blend in the flour. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the pepper, herb seasoning blend, paprika, and thyme. Stir to distribute the spices.

  3. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture starts to bubble and gets thick. Fold in the tuna, vegetables, Worcestershire sauce, and cheese. Taste it, and add more salt and seasoning if necessary.

  4. Pour the mixture into a lightly buttered 2-quart baking dish or pie plate.

  5. Roll out the pastry to fit the top of the baking dish with an inch or two of overhang. With a sharp knife, cut several slits in the top crust. Place the pastry on the baking dish and flute the edge as desired.

  6. Place the baking dish on a baking sheet in the oven. Bake the potpie in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the filling bubbles and the crust turns golden.

Variations

  • Replace the garlic and herb seasoning with a dash of garlic and dried parsley.
  • You can include a bottom crust in a pie plate but you need to partially bake it at 425 F for about 10 minutes before you fill it to prevent sogginess. Line the crust with parchment paper and use pie weights or dried beans to keep it from puffing up in the center. Prick the bottom multiple times with the tines of a fork before you add the filling.
  • To make individual potpies in soup crocks, cut the pastry into circles for the tops.
  • Substitute puff pastry for the top crust if you prefer.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
593 Calories
32g Fat
49g Carbs
27g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 593
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 15g 73%
Cholesterol 69mg 23%
Sodium 1009mg 44%
Total Carbohydrate 49g 18%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 27g
Vitamin C 3mg 17%
Calcium 276mg 21%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 484mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)