
Pie Perfection: Five Sweet and Savory Pies To Add to Your Recipe Book

Pie. One word βΒ endlessΒ possibilities.Β Sweet, savory, with or without crust, hot, cold, handheld orΒ slab baked in a sheet pan.Β Pie is simply one of those dishes that has something for everyone, every mood, every season, and every meal.Β To streamline the process,Β here areΒ five sweet and savory pie recipesΒ including Easy as Apple Pie, Chicken PotΒ Pie with Seasonal Vegetables,Β Weeknight Shepherdβs Pie, Sugar Cream Pie, and Tasty Tomato Tart, allΒ made using the same crust recipe (or no crust at all) that will likely become part of yourΒ personal recipe collection.Β
CrustΒ
Crust recipes do range from simple to complex, and yes, if you prefer to skip this step and go with store bought (frozen, a roll out sheet, orΒ fully prepared) β you are stillΒ making the pie. Do what works best for you!Β Β
The recipe below will make two layersΒ of crustΒ and can be used as either a top and bottom or to create the base for two different single layer crust pies.Β The combination of vegetable shorteningΒ withΒ butterΒ creates a tender, flaky result.Β
IngredientsΒ Β
- 2Β Β½Β cupsΒ all-purposeΒ flourΒ Β
- 1Β ΒΌΒ teaspoons saltΒ
- ΒΌΒ cup vegetable shorteningΒ
- 10 tablespoonsΒ of coldΒ butterΒ cut into cubesΒ
- ΒΌ cup ofΒ ice waterΒ (this will be used by the tablespoonful)Β
DirectionsΒ
- BlendΒ flour and saltΒ togetherΒ in a large bowl.Β
- Add the shortening andΒ combine.Β
- Place butter in the mixtureΒ andΒ work together minimally until coarse crumbles can be seen.Β
- Add 4 tablespoons of waterΒ toΒ the doughΒ and mix gently.Β
- Once the dough seems to holdΒ a shape when pressed together it can be shaped into a disk. If the dough still seems dry or too crumbly add another tablespoon of ice waterΒ as needed.Β
- Divide mixture in half.Β
- Create a disk out of each half and let each sectionΒ rest,Β wrapped, andΒ in the refrigeratorΒ for at least 30 minutes.Β
- After chilling, roll out the doughΒ with a rolling pinΒ lightly dusted with flour until the crust isΒ just slightly larger than the circumference of the pie pan.Β
- Place dough in pie pan and assemble filling.Β
Easy asΒ Apple PieΒ
The customizable part of this recipe lies in choosing theΒ combination of applesΒ you like best for the filling. While some apples are not as suitable for baking due to their texture when cooked,Β a list of options are here for you to pick your favorites.Β
Apple ChoicesΒ
- BraeburnΒ
- CortlandΒ
- Granny SmithΒ
- McIntoshΒ
Filling IngredientsΒ
- 6 β 8 mediumΒ apples, peeled and cut into same size chunksΒ
- ΒΎ cup of sugarΒ
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flourΒ
- ΒΎ teaspoon ground cinnamonΒ
- ΒΌ teaspoon saltΒ
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmegΒ
- 1 tablespoon lemon juiceΒ
DirectionsΒ
- Preheat oven toΒ 400Β°.Β
- Combine filling ingredients in a large bowl and make sure they are well combined.Β
- Place first crust in bottom of pie pan. Cut off any edges that hang over the sides.Β
- Add the filling to theΒ pie pan.Β
- Top with second crust.Β Crimp edges down with the tines of a fork. Cut slits or designs in top crust to allow steam to escape.Β
- If desired,Β use a pastry brush to coat the top crust with an egg mixed with water, then sprinkle with sparkling or coarse sugar.Β
- Place theΒ pie pan on baking sheetΒ andΒ put it on the middle rack in the oven.Β
- Bake for about 40 minutes until crust is golden brown and apples are tender.Β Β
Β


Chicken Pot PieΒ with Seasonal VegetablesΒ
Chicken pot pieΒ has a traditional version with a creamy sauce, carrots, onions, peas, and oh yes, chicken.Β Guess what? You canΒ change up the vegetablesΒ in the filling,Β so the pie is created with the freshest ingredients in your areaΒ β any month of the year.Β
Filling IngredientsΒ
- 2Β cupsΒ skinlessΒ roast chickenΒ (I like leaving the meatΒ in chunks or large strips butΒ chopΒ or shredΒ if desired)
- 3 cups of any combination of vegetablesΒ cut into similar size to ensure even cooking:Β asparagus, broccoli, carrots, celery, corn, green beans, mushrooms,Β peas, peppers, squash, or zucchiniΒ
- Β½ cup of diced mild onion or onion pearlsΒ
- 4 tablespoons of flourΒ
- Salt and pepper to tasteΒ
- 2 Β½ cups of chicken brothΒ
- Β½ stick of butterΒ
- 2 tablespoonsΒ chopped fresh parsley
Β DirectionsΒ
- Heat oven to 350Β°.Β
- Mix chicken and vegetablesΒ in a large bowl, coat with flour,Β salt,Β and pepper.Β
- Place first crust in bottom of pie pan. Cut off any edges that hang over the sides.Β
- Add the chicken mixture and remaining filling ingredients to the pie.Β
- Top with second crust.Β Crimp edges down withΒ the tines of a fork. Cut slits or designs in top crust to allow steam to escape.Β
- PlaceΒ theΒ pie pan onΒ aΒ baking sheetΒ and put it on the middle rack in the oven.Β
- Bake forΒ 45 minutes, until filling is bubbling,Β and crust is golden brown.Β
WeeknightΒ Shepherdβs PieΒ
The Shepherdβs Pie recipe inΒ vintage cookbooks may include lambΒ stew meat. Today, ground lamb, or ground beef, are the more commonly usedΒ protein.Β LocationsΒ around the globe may also refer to the use of beef asΒ a Cottage Pie and the use of lamb as Shepherdβs Pie.Β Although this dish does not use a traditional pie crust, theΒ mashed potato toppingΒ acts in a similarΒ way as a pastry crustΒ β the potatoes keep their soft, pillowy innerΒ texture but develop a crisp crust and workΒ byΒ holding the heat in and letting the filling cookΒ to create aΒ craveableΒ comfort dish.Β Β
When I make this for my family, I double the recipe and cook it in aΒ large baking dishΒ instead of a pie pan.Β
FillingΒ IngredientsΒ
- 3 β 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into similar size chunksΒ
- 1 stick of butterΒ Β
- 1 pound of ground beefΒ
- 2 cups of vegetables β carrots, celery, corn, peasΒ
- 1 medium onion, choppedΒ
- 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauceΒ
- Β½ cup of beef brothΒ
- Salt and pepperΒ to tasteΒ
DirectionsΒ
- Preheat oven to 350Β°.Β
- Boil the potatoes in salted waterΒ until tender.Β
- Drain potatoesΒ thenΒ mashΒ themΒ in the potΒ with half of the stick of butter. LeaveΒ the mashed potatoesΒ inΒ theΒ potΒ until needed.Β
- Brown ground beef in aΒ large skillet until brown. Drain beef and set aside.Β
- Place half of the stick of butter in the same skillet the beef was cooked in (ensure no grease remains in the pan). Add the onion and carrots.Β
- Once the onion is soft, add celery if desired.Β
- Combine beef, cooked vegetables, corn and peas, beef broth, salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce in a pie dish.Β
- Top mixture with a layer of mashed potatoes.Β
- Use a fork to create stripes in the potatoes.Β
- Place the Shepherdβs Pie in the oven on the middle rack and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until potato topping isΒ goldenΒ brown.Β Broil for the last 2 β 3 minutesΒ if desired forΒ crispier potatoes.Β
SugarΒ CreamΒ PieΒ
The history of Sugar Cream Pie seems to vary slightly depending onΒ the source.Β But,Β whether this dessert came from France,Β Quebec, or the Quakers who settled in North Carolina in theΒ 1800βs,Β the resultΒ is a silky,Β creamyΒ pie, perfect for anyΒ occasion.Β Β
One pie crust is needed for this pie.Β
Filling IngredientsΒ
- 2 cups heavy whipping creamΒ
- 1 cup sugarΒ
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flourΒ
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extractΒ
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut intoΒ cubesΒ
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmegΒ or ΒΌ teaspoon cinnamonΒ
DirectionsΒ
- PreheatΒ the ovenΒ to 425Β°.Β Β
- Whisk the heavy whipping cream, sugar,Β flour,Β and vanilla in a bowl.Β Β
- Place crust in bottom of pie pan.Β Cut off any edgesΒ that hang over the sides.Β
- Put the pie pan on a baking sheet.Β
- PourΒ the fillingΒ into the crustΒ and sprinkle nutmegΒ or cinnamonΒ onΒ theΒ top.Β Β
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350° andΒ place theΒ baking sheet with the pie on the middle rack. BakeΒ until the crust is golden,Β and the filling is bubbly in spots,Β just under one hour.Β Β Β
- Transfer to a rackΒ and let cool completely.Β Β
Tasty Tomato TartΒ
Is it a pie or a tart?Β The technical definition of a pie includes the use of two layers of crust, while a tart typically only has the bottom layer,Β and it is sometimes thicker than a standard pie crust.Β Technical information aside, this Tasty Tomato Tart was once made for me by a close friend andΒ after getting the recipe from her,Β it has been a popularΒ and requested dish in my house for years. Itβs a great starter, brunch item, buffetΒ dish, and can be served at room temperature.Β Β
Store bought or pizzeria bought pizza dough can always work beautifully as a crust forΒ Tasty Tomato Tart.Β
IngredientsΒ
- 2Β tablespoons ofΒ pestoΒ
- 1/2Β β 1 cup of gratedΒ Parmesan cheeseΒ
- 3Β large, slicedΒ tomatoesΒ Β
- Salt and pepper to tasteΒ
- 1Β cup of grated mozzarella cheeseΒ
- 1Β tablespoon of olive oilΒ
- 1 teaspoon of choppedΒ garlic choppedΒ
- 2 tablespoons of fresh, sliced basilΒ
DirectionsΒ
- PreheatΒ the ovenΒ to 425Β°.Β Β
- Place crust in bottom of pie pan.Β PinchΒ togetherΒ anyΒ dough that reaches over the side to form an edge.Β
- Put the pie pan on a baking sheet.Β
- Spread the pestoΒ over the dough.Β
- Sprinkle Β½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese on top of the pesto.Β
- Layer sliced tomatoes on top, season with salt and pepper.Β
- Cover with mozzarella cheese.Β
- Drizzle olive oil over cheese.Β
- Top with chopped garlic.Β
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes or untilΒ the crust is browned and the cheese is melted.Β
- Garnish with fresh basil.Β
Pie. So versatile.Β So delicious. And now, so many more options at your fingertips for both sweet and savory pie recipes.Β Easy enough for a weeknight dinner andΒ fancy enough to serveΒ at a special occasion.Β Try variations on these recipes to createΒ your own perfect pies!Β Β
