The Turkey Leftovers nobody asked for!
Let’s get this out of the way: I wanted to love this. I really did. The golden puff pastry top looked so promising sitting there in the freezer case like maybe this was going to be the cozy fall dinner equivalent of a weighted blanket. But five years later, after giving it another chance, I can confirm… it’s still not that great.
It’s like Trader Joe’s threw the entire post-Thanksgiving fridge into a pie dish cranberries, gravy, turkey, random vegetables and said, “Good luck.”
Spoiler: luck doesn’t save it.
⭐️ Bottom Line Up Front
Rating: 5/10
Price: $5.99 (Frozen section)
Weight: 16 oz (enough for one hungry person or two disappointed ones)
Category: Frozen Comfort Foods
Best for: When you’re craving Thanksgiving nostalgia but don’t want to deal with actual leftovers.
Skip if: You like your pot pies savory, creamy, and not confused about their identity.
Real talk: It’s edible. It’s fine. It’s just… weird.
🦃 What You’re Actually Getting
Imagine if a Thanksgiving plate fell into a pie shell and someone decided to bake it. There’s turkey, gravy, carrots, peas, celery, potatoes and then, for reasons known only to the culinary team cranberries. Yes, cranberries.
The result? A pie that can’t decide whether it’s dinner or dessert. The filling is watery, the flavor muddled, and the cranberries clash hard with the savory gravy. It’s like your Aunt Linda’s “creative” leftover casserole that everyone politely eats once.
🥧 The Puff Pastry Problem
Credit where it’s due: the puff pastry top looks great coming out of the oven flaky, golden, and very Instagram-ready. But give it five minutes and it turns rubbery. If you microwave this (please don’t), it becomes the culinary equivalent of a damp paper towel.
Pro tip:
If you insist on trying it, bake it in an oven or toaster oven. Skip the microwave. Your taste buds deserve that much.
🕵️♀️ Quick Dietary Detective Work
❌ NOT vegan (turkey, cream, butter this pie is all about animal products)
❌ NOT gluten free (flour in the crust and filling)
⚠ Contains milk, wheat, soy, and eggs
✅ Feeds your nostalgia for holiday leftovers, if that’s what you’re after
Busy parent translation: This isn’t going to impress anyone at dinner. It’s a quick “heat and eat” meal that might make you wish you’d just ordered pizza instead.
🧂 Flavor & Texture Breakdown
- Filling: Soupy and uneven. Sometimes you hit a turkey chunk; sometimes it’s all gravy and sadness.
- Flavor: Too many competing notes. The cranberries try to add “zing” but end up clashing.
- Texture: Mushy vegetables + rubbery pastry = not a win.
If Trader Joe’s had just stuck to the basics, savory gravy, tender turkey, and flaky crust, this could’ve been solid comfort food. Instead, it feels like a well-intentioned experiment that went sideways.
🧮 The Value Equation
At $5.99, it’s not expensive, but it’s also not worth the calories. There are so many better frozen options at Trader Joe’s: like the Turkey Bolognese Lasagna or Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese. Both taste more balanced and don’t require an existential debate over whether dinner should include cranberries.
👎 Who Should Buy / Skip
Perfect For:
- People who think mixing all Thanksgiving leftovers together is charming.
- Anyone who values convenience over flavor.
Skip If You:
- Expect savory comfort food.
- Don’t want to play “find the cranberry” while eating dinner.
- Think puff pastry should stay crisp longer than five minutes.
🛒 The Final Verdict
Trader Joe’s Turkey Pot Pie is trying so hard to be nostalgic comfort food, but it ends up feeling like a reheated holiday mishmash instead. It’s edible, sure, but there are far better frozen comfort meals at Trader Joe’s that don’t confuse your taste buds or your sense of seasonality.
Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/10)
Bottom line: Looks good on top, chaos underneath. Bake it if you must but don’t expect Thanksgiving magic.
Leave feedback about this