This Vegetable Pot Pie with puff pastry is proper comfort food. Mushrooms, carrots and broccoli cooked in a delicious creamy sauce infused with white wine, garlic and thyme make this veggie pie so tasty.
Chicken and mushroom pie used to be one of my favourite comfort foods. But since we switched to a vegetarian diet a few years ago I kind of missed it. So, I set myself the challenge of creating a veggie pot pie that was just as good. It took me a little while but I did it!
This creamy vegetable pot pie is now one of our favourite dinners. It's deliciously creamy, packed full of veggies and has a lovely flaky puff pastry topping. And it's so easy to make. I can also confirm that no one misses the chicken when I make this, even the meat-eaters in my life love this! Just serve with some creamy mashed potatoes for a delicious dinner.
Why This Recipe Works
- The perfect creamy filling - packed with veggies this is so easy to make and it tastes amazing.
- Shop bought pasty - make your life easier and use pre-rolled puff pastry!
- Ready in under an hour - from making the filling to cooking the pie in the oven this can be on the table in an hour!
What You'll Need
This is an easy recipe made with just a few simple store cupboard ingredients.
How To Make Vegetable Pot Pie
This is just a quick visual guide, please see the recipe card below for the full instructions.
- Cook the onion and leek until they are soft. This can take 10 - 15 minutes.
- Add the butter and mushrooms and cook for a few minutes. Then add the garlic. Turn up the heat then add the wine and cook until it reduces.
- Add the flour, mustard and creme fraiche and stir until you have a roux like paste.
- Slowly pour in the stock, stir well until you have a sauce, then add the carrots. The sauce should be getting thicker now.
- Drop the broccoli into the sauce. If your sauce is too thin, now is the time to thicken it. See the recipe card below for how to do this. Transfer the filling to a pie dish. Add the frozen peas and stir them into the sauce.
- Roll out the pastry, score the pastry with a sharp knife then place it on top of the filling. Brush the pastry with egg wash then put it in the oven and bake until the pastry is golden brown.
Recipe Notes and Substitutions
- Pastry - I use a store-bought pre-rolled puff pastry to make this pie. Unrolled it is a rectangular sheet measuring approximately 350mm x 230mm (14in x 9in). I roll it out further to fit my round pie dish which measures in at approximately 10"/25.5cm in diameter and 2.5"/6.5 cm deep. You can use shortcrust pastry if you prefer and still get very good results.
- Mushrooms - Chestnut or brown mushrooms are great for this pie, I have made this with wild mushrooms too with very good results. If you want you can also use white button mushrooms to make this. I like a mixture of big and small mushrooms in this pie, I slice the bigger mushrooms and cut smaller mushrooms into halves or quarters.
- Vegetables - This pie filling is very flexible so you can add in different veggies according to what you have in your fridge. I have made this using a variety of veggies, butternut squash, potatoes and parsnips work really well in here too.
- Creme fraiche - Full-fat creme fraiche makes the filling lovely and creamy without using any cream. You can use low-fat or half-fat creme fraiche if you wish, you will still get a good result.
- White wine - You can omit the wine if you wish, it does add a lovely flavour to the sauce but I have made it without wine and it still tastes great.
- Stock - I make my stock using 2 teaspoons of vegetable bouillon and just under half a pint of boiling water. If you wanted to use stock cubes I would use a whole stock cube dissolved in the same amount of water.
- Mustard - English mustard is best for this sauce if you don't have it you could substitute it for Dijon mustard.
Tips For Making The Best Vegetable Pot Pie
- Make sure you cook the onions and leeks until they are soft and creamy. This brings out the sweetness in the onions and the leeks, which adds to the flavour of the pie.
- Don't overcook the mushrooms. The mushrooms need to be just cooked as they will cook further when you bake the pie.
- Turn up the heat when you add the wine. The pan should be nice and hot when you add the wine, it should sizzle as soon as it hits the pan.
- Add the stock slowly. Once you start adding the stock do it slowly and stir the sauce continuously until you have added all the stock. This will ensure your sauce is smooth and not lumpy.
- Add the broccoli and peas at the end. I prefer to add the broccoli right at the end of cooking the sauce. It will cook once the pie is in the oven. The same goes for the frozen peas, I add them when I transfer the filling to the pie dish.
- If you find that your sauce is too thin thicken it. I often thicken the sauce by adding a cornstarch/cornflour slurry. I mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch/cornflour with 1 or two tablespoons of milk then pour it into the sauce, stirring it well. The sauce should thicken up really quickly.
- Don't forget to preheat your oven. I also place the pie dish on a baking tray to avoid any spillage and to make it easier to take the pie out of the oven without breaking any of that lovely pastry.
FAQs About This Vegetable Pot Pie Recipe
What do you eat with vegetable pie? We love to have this with creamy mashed potatoes, you can serve another vegetable with this but to be honest we rarely do.
Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, you can make the filling the day before and you can pop the pastry on it too. Just keep it in the fridge until you are ready to bake it. Don't brush the pastry with egg wash until you are ready to bake. This pie really is best baked fresh so I would recommend you bake it and serve it on the same day.
Can I freeze this pie? This pie really is best when made fresh but if you need too you can freeze it. You can freeze it before you bake it once the pastry has not been frozen already. If you freeze it this way make sure the filling has cooled fully and don't brush the pastry with egg wash. Place the pie on a tray then place in the freezer, after an hour or two, remove the tray, cover the pie in freezer wrap or put it in a large freezer bag and put it back in the freezer. It will keep for 3 months. You can cook it from frozen. Brush it with egg wash before you bake it. It may take longer to cook this way.
Can I freeze the pie once it is cooked? Yes, you can. Leave the pie to cool completely then place the pie on a tray and put it in the freezer, after an hour or two, remove the tray, cover the pie in freezer wrap or put it in a large freezer bag and return to the freezer. It will keep for 3 months. You can cook this from frozen, it may take longer to cook and you may have some differences in texture.
More Tasty Comfort Food Ideas
- Quorn Cottage Pie - another family favourite this pie is so easy to make and tastes amazing.
- Gnocchi Bolognese Bake - this is proper comfort food! A real treat and it's a one-pan dinner too!
- Stuffed Shells with Spinach & Ricotta - if you fancy a pasta dinner then this one is a winner, it never fails to satisfy.
- Lentil Cottage Pie - the perfect classic winter dish, easy to make and so full of flavour.
Have you made this Creamy Vegetable Pot Pie Recipe? Rate it and leave me a comment below to let me know what you think!
Vegetable Pot Pie
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium brown onion (approx 1 ¼ cups once chopped) finely chopped
- 1 medium leek (approx 1 heaped cup once sliced) cleaned then sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 280 g /approx 3 heaped cups chestnut(brown) mushrooms wiped clean, larger mushrooms sliced, smaller mushrooms cut in half or quarters.
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 80 ml / ⅓ cup of white wine
- 1 heaped tbsp plain flour (all-purpose flour)
- 1 heaped tsp English mustard
- 2 tablespoon creme fraiche
- 300 ml / 1½ cups of vegetable stock made with 2 teaspoons of vegetable bouillon or 1 stock cube and 300ml/ ½ a pint of boiling water.
- 2 medium carrots peeled then cut in half lengthways then sliced.
- 180 g /2 cups of broccoli cut into florets
- 80 g /¾ of a cup of frozen peas
- 4 or 5 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves picked
- 1 x 320g sheet of store-bought pre-rolled puff pastry 1 rectangular sheet measuring approximately 350mm x 230mm (14in x 9in)
- 1 medium egg beaten
- 1 teaspoon cornflour (cornstarch) optional
- 1 - 2 tablespoon milk optional
- ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C(356F) fan / 200C (392F) conventional oven.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan.Add the chopped onion and the sliced leek along with ¼ teaspoon of salt. Cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent and springy and the leek is creamy and soft. This can take 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan then add the sliced mushrooms. Cook for a few minutes then stir in 2 cloves of minced garlic. Cook for a minute.
- Turn up the heat then pour in the white wine. The wine should sizzle the minute it hits the pan. Stir well and then once the wine has reduced a bit return the heat down to medium again.
- Add 1 heaped tablespoon of plain/all-purpose flour, 1 heaped teaspoon of English mustard and 2 tablespoons of creme fraiche to the pan and stir well until you have a roux like consistency.
- Now start slowly adding the stock, stirring the mixture in the pan all the time. Once all the stock has been added add the sliced carrots and the thyme to the sauce.Season with ¼ teaspoon of salt and ½ a teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.If you prefer a thicker filling, like me, then mix 1 teaspoon of cornflour(cornstarch) with 1 or two tablespoons in a small bowl. Pour that into the sauce and stir the sauce until it is thickened.Finally, stir in the broccoli.
- Transfer the filling to a large pie dish, I use a round pie dish that measures in at 10in/25.5cm in diameter and 2.5in/6.5cm deep.
- Roll out the pastry to fit your pie dish, cut it into a round shape if your pie dish is round. The pastry should be slightly larger than your pie dish. Using a sharp knife gently score the pastry being careful not to cut through the pastry.Place the pastry over the pie, tuck the edges of the pastry under the lip of your pie dish all the way around. If you are using a rectangular pie dish then just let the pastry edges fall into place. It's ok if it folds over itself around the edges. Place the pie on a baking tray then pop it in the oven and bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Until the pastry is golden brown.Remove from the oven and leave to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Pastry - I use a store-bought pre-rolled puff pastry to make this pie. Unrolled it is a rectangular sheet measuring approximately 350mm x 230mm (14in x 9in). I roll it out further to fit my round pie dish. You can use shortcrust pastry if you prefer and still get very good results.
- Pie Dish - My pie dish measures in at approx 10"/25.5cm in diameter and 2.5″/6.5 cm deep.
- Mushrooms – Chestnut or brown mushrooms work best for this pie, I have made this with wild mushrooms too which worked really well. You can also use white button mushrooms to make this. I like a mixture of big and small mushrooms in this pie, I slice the bigger mushrooms and cut smaller mushrooms into halves or quarters.
- Vegetables – This pie filling is very flexible so you can add in different veggies according to what you have in your fridge. I have made this using a variety of veggies. Butternut squash, potatoes and parsnips work really well in here too.
- Creme fraiche – I use full-fat creme fraiche to make the result is a lovely creamy sauce. You can use low-fat or half-fat creme fraiche if you wish, you will still get a good result.
- White wine – You can omit the wine if you wish, it does add a lovely flavour to the sauce but I have made it without wine and it still tastes great.
- Stock – I make my stock using 2 teaspoons of vegetable bouillon and just under half a pint of boiling water. If you wanted to use stock cubes I would use a whole stock cube dissolved in the same amount of water.
- Mustard – English mustard is best for this sauce if you don’t have it you could substitute it for Dijon mustard.
- Nutritional Information - is approximate and is calculated using an online nutrition tool. It is based on one serving of 4 and does not include mash.
- Weights and measurements - For US readers, I use Cuisipro measuring cups and spoons, and a Pyrex measuring jug for liquids. These are the industry standard. Cup/spoon volumes can differ from brand to brand, for accuracy, I recommend weighing all ingredients if possible.
Caroline
Easy to make, thank you. Fancying putting spinach in. Would you add it to the sauce to wilt it or throw it in the pie to wilt in the oven?
Michelle Alston
Thanks so much Caroline. I haven't made this with spinach yet but I would stir in the spinach just before you put the pastry on and let it cook in the oven. Mx
Kevin Palmer
Hi Michelle, I'm a huge fan of your recipes and am looking to give this one a go. My only query is whether there was a way to make this vegan by using a good alternative to creme fraiche.
Michelle Alston
Hi Kevin that's so lovely to hear thank you! Well, there are a couple of things you can do to make this vegan. You can try a vegan creme fraiche, there are a few different ones available, oat, coconut or soy-based. I would think that the soy-based version would be the best option as it wouldn't affect the flavour of the sauce as much as coconut or oat would. The other option would be to make a bechamel sauce using plant-based butter and soy milk, I have used this method for another recipe (not on the blog yet) and it worked really well, the sauce was nice and creamy and not overpowering. If you go down the bechamel route I would make that separately then add it to the cooked vegetables before topping it with pastry. I hope this helps. Unfortunately, I haven't tried making this vegan yet so I can't guarantee the result you'll get but I will give it a go soon. Do let me know how you get on with it if you do give it a go! Mx
Kevin Palmer
Hi Michelle,
I ended up whisking together some soy milk and dairy free butter and it worked really well. The sauce was lovely and I added some veggie chicken pieces which worked really well. Me and my boyfriend absolutely love trying out your recipes. We tried the sweet and sour tofu earlier in the week, substituting the tofu for veggie chicken and the sauce was delicious. I can't wait to try another one.
Michelle Alston
Hi Kevin, I'm so glad it worked out well for you. I love your idea of adding veggie chicken pieces, I'll definitely have to try that. Thank you so much for your very kind words, I'm thrilled to hear that you both enjoy the recipes 🙂
Sue
Oh wow, this pie is a work of art! I love the step by step photos, they make this seem so do-able!
Michelle Alston
Thank you so much Sue! I'm glad you like it 🙂
Bintu | Budget Delicious
Pies are one of my favourite comfort foods! This sounds so delicious and creamy!
Michelle Alston
Thanks so much Bintu x
sarah
Wow, childhood nostalgia is in full swing with this recipe! I love this meat-free version of the recipe thank you for a wonderful recipe.
Michelle Alston
Thanks so much Sarah x
Emily Flint
So good, no one missed the meat! Thank you!!
Michelle Alston
Thanks so much Emily, I'm so glad you liked it.
Angela
This recipe is one I will keep and make again. My whole family loved it. So delicious!
Michelle Alston
Thanks so much Angela, I'm so glad you all loved it.