This Vegetarian Pot Pie is truly the ultimate comfort food. The creamy filling is loaded with tender veggies, all wrapped in a buttery, flaky puff pastry crust. It's easy to make using store-bought puff pastry, so don't let your pastry skills hold you back. It's a hearty, satisfying entree for a cold night in and makes a stand-out vegetarian centerpiece for any occasion!
When the temperatures drop, there's nothing quite as comforting as pot pie. The flaky crust and creamy vegetable filling hit the spot, and the aroma fills the whole house! This vegetarian pot pie recipe is very similar to my chicken pot pie, except we ditch the chicken and add creamy coconut milk for extra richness. This makes it easier and faster to prepare, too. Enjoy it on its own or with a simple side salad for a little extra freshness. It doesn't need anything else!
Why You'll Love This Vegetarian Pot Pie
- Buttery, flaky crust. This recipe uses a double-crust made out of puff pastry, the flakiest, butteriest crust of all time. It's significantly better than regular pie crust and makes this dish extra special and indulgent.
- Classic comfort food. No one should have to live a life without pot pie, but it is hard to find vegetarian versions in stores. This homemade version has the same warm, cozy flavor you love without compromising on your dietary preferences.
- Complete meal in one. With the flaky puff pastry dough, tender vegetables, and creamy sauce, you really need nothing else. It's surprisingly filling, too, and will keep you going for hours.
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious Vegetarian Pot Pie, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- vegetables - this recipe uses garlic, onion, celery, carrots, potatoes, and peas. The potatoes need to be boiled separately and can be cooked ahead of time.
- avocado oil
- all-purpose flour - to thicken the pot pie filling.
- vegetable broth
- coconut milk - or coconut cream, for a rich, creamy texture without dairy.
- salt + pepper
- egg - beaten well and brushed over the crust before baking.
- puff pastry double pie crust - if using store-bought puff pastry, thaw it completely. Homemade pie crust can be used instead, like this rough puff pastry, for an extra flaky crust.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a large pot, a large skillet, a stirring spoon, a 9-inch pie plate, a rolling pin, a sharp knife, a small bowl, and a pastry brush for egg wash.
How to Make the Best Vegetarian Pot Pie
First, prepare the creamy veggie filling.
- Boil potatoes. Place potatoes in a large pot and fill with salted water to cover the potatoes by about one inch. Bring to a boil over high heat. Then turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Drain well and set aside to cool off.
- Sauté veggies. In the meantime, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté until tender, about 2 minutes.
- Thicken. Add flour and stir well until thickened into a paste, about 1 minute.
- Add broth and simmer. Slowly add vegetable broth and coconut milk. Stir constantly until smooth and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until thickened to a desired consistency (similar to gravy), about 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat.
- Add potatoes. Stir in cooked potato and peas and season with salt and pepper. Set the filling aside, allowing it to cool off, about 10 minutes.
Then, assemble the pot pie and bake.
- Prep. Grease a 9-inch pie plate with cooking oil spray or butter.
- Roll dough. Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll the pie dough out into a 12-inch round. Carefully transfer it to the prepared pie dish and fit it in. Trim any excess dough if needed. Place in the fridge while you roll out the second piece of dough (top crust) to a 10 inch round.
- Add filling. Remove the chilled pie crust from the fridge and fill with the veggie mixture.
- Add top crust. Carefully place the top crust over the filling to form a lid (It should completely cover the edge of the bowl).
- Seal. Tuck in the excess overhanging dough and press down to seal the edge. Flute the edges of the pie crust (to make it look pretty).
- Vent. Cut out a few small vents on the top crust with a knife.
- Add egg wash. Apply egg wash over the top pie crust and season with a little bit of salt and pepper.
- Bake. Bake on the middle rack of a 400F preheated oven for 20 minutes, then lower the heat to 350F and bake for 10 more minutes until the top turns golden brown and dough is flaky. Let it rest for 15 minutes, then slice and serve.
Recipe Variations
- Add "meat." Add plant-based chicken or a can of white beans (strained and rinsed) for a meatier pot pie.
- Add other veggies. Consider the garlic, onion, celery, and carrots to be the starting point. You can also add green beans, sweet potatoes, cubed butternut squash, and more.
- Make mini pot pies. You'll need more frozen puff pastry for this, but you can line buttered ramekins with pastry, add the filling, and then add a circle of dough on top of the ramekins. Seal, vent, and bake like normal (approximately 25-35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown). You can also skip the bottom crust and add just the top crust if you want to lighten things up.
How to Serve
This Vegetarian Pot Pie is delicious served on its own, or paired with some of my favorite sides including:
- Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
- Spinach Salad
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
- Curried Butternut Squash Soup
- Sweet Kale Salad
- Blistered Green Beans
For more recipes, see our 50 Best Fall Side Dishes.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Watch the temperature. If your filling is too warm, it will start to melt the butter in the pie crust. Let the filling cool off for a bit before assembling, and then bake right away after adding the top crust.
- Add slits. The filling will release steam in the oven, which can cause the top crust to rise up and potentially split or leave a big air pocket. Add a few small slits to vent the steam and have a smooth, flat crust.
- Watch the color of the pastry. I recommend starting with high heat and then dropping the heat to get a nice, crisp crust without burning the pastry. If it starts getting dark too early in the baking process, cover it with a sheet of aluminum foil.
- Bake on a baking sheet. With the flaky pastry and filling, the pie dish can be quite heavy and hard to maneuver. Place the pie pan on a sheet pan to make it easier to bring in and out of the oven.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Allow the pot pie to cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
How to Reheat
Microwaving is the quickest option, but you'll get the flakiest puff pastry crust by popping the leftovers back in the oven or air fryer at 350 F until fully heated through.
How to Freeze
You can either freeze leftovers or the entire unbaked pot pie. The leftovers should be placed in a freezer-safe container or wrapped in several sheets of plastic wrap and then frozen for up to 3 months. For the unbaked pot pie, use a freezer-safe pie pan and freeze the whole thing on a sheet pan until frozen solid. Then, wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze for several months. Thaw completely in the fridge overnight before baking like normal.
FAQ
This easy vegetarian pot pie can be made vegan-friendly using vegan puff pastry. Ditch the egg wash and brush the top of the crust with non-dairy milk instead. You won't get quite the same sheen, but it works great in a pinch!
Yes! But first, make sure the creamy filling is slightly warm or cold (not hot) before transferring it to the pie crust, then add the top crust. If the hot filling sits in the crust, it can cause the butter to melt out and change the texture of your pot pie. Cover well with foil or plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. Bake like normal the following day and serve.
Although you can certainly make a delicious, creamy, crave-it-all-day pot pie with regular pie crust, a little store-bought puff pastry takes it to a whole different level. That flaky, puffy crust adds crunch and a buttery flavor that contrasts the creaminess of the filling. There's really no comparison. Puff pastry sheets are the best option for any type of pot pie!
More Vegetarian Entree Recipes
- 60 Easy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
- Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie
- Vegetable Pasta Bake
- Pumpkin Curry with Chickpeas
- Eggplant Lasagna
- Vegetarian Burrito Bowl
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Recipe
Vegetarian Pot Pie
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Vegetarian Pot Pie is truly the ultimate comfort food. The creamy filling is loaded with tender veggies, all wrapped in a buttery, flaky puff pastry crust. It's easy to make using store-bought puff pastry, so don't let your pastry skills hold you back. It's a hearty, satisfying entree for a cold night in and makes a stand-out vegetarian centerpiece for any occasion!
Ingredients
- 2 medium potato, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- ¼ cup coconut milk or coconut cream
- 1 cup frozen peas
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 puff pastry double pie crust, thawed if frozen, homemade or store bought
- 1 beaten egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
Prepare the filling:
- Place potatoes in a large pot and fill with salted water to cover the potatoes by about one inch. Bring to a boil over high heat. Then turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Drain well and set aside to cool off.
- In the meantime, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté until tender, about 2 minutes.
- Add flour and stir well until thickened into a paste, about 1 minute.
- Slowly add vegetable broth and coconut milk. Stir constantly until smooth and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until thickened to a desired consistency (similar to gravy), about 2-3 minutes. Turn off heat.
- Stir in cooked potato and peas and season with salt and pepper. Set the filling aside, allowing it to cool off, about 10 minutes.
Assemble and bake:
- Preheat oven to 400F. Grease a 9-inch pie plate with cooking oil spray or butter.
- Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll the pie dough out into a 12-inch round. Carefully transfer it to the prepared pie dish and fit it in. Trim any excess dough if needed. Place in the fridge while you roll out the second piece of dough (top crust) to a 10 inch round.
- Remove the chilled pie crust from the fridge and fill with the veggie mixture.
- Carefully place the top crust over the filling to form a lid (It should completely cover the edge of the bowl)
- Tuck in the excess overhanging dough and press down to seal the edge. Flute the edges of the pie crust (to make it look pretty).
- Cut out a few small vents on the top crust with a knife.
- Apply egg wash over the top pie crust and season with a little bit of salt and pepper.
- Bake on the middle rack for 20 minutes, then lower the heat to 350F and bake for 10 more minutes until the top turns golden brown and dough is flaky. Let it rest for 15 minutes, then slice and serve.
Notes
How to store: Allow the pot pie to cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
How to reheat: Microwaving is the quickest option, but you'll get the flakiest puff pastry crust by popping the leftovers back in the oven or air fryer at 350 F until fully heated through.
How to freeze: You can either freeze leftovers or the entire unbaked pot pie. The leftovers should be placed in a freezer-safe container or wrapped in several sheets of plastic wrap and then frozen for up to 3 months. For the unbaked pot pie, use a freezer-safe pie pan and freeze the whole thing on a sheet pan until frozen solid. Then, wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze for several months. Thaw completely in the fridge overnight before baking like normal.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pie
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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