The Store-Bought Dough Swap For Easier Pot Pie

Of the many facts you never knew about pizza, perhaps the most compelling is that you should be using store-bought pizza dough for your pot pies. Pot pie is one of the most forgiving, hassle-free main dishes around, owing to the fact that there are so many ingredients that you can pop under the hood of a simple topper and call it a day. We've seen the viral TikTok trend of using Red Lobster biscuits to top chicken pot pie, but we'd argue that pizza dough is even easier. While Red Lobster biscuits have to be mixed up, and even ready-made pie crust from the grocery store tends to rip and get finicky, pizza dough — whether canned or fresh from your supermarket's deli case — is flexible and easy to work with, provided you let it come to room temperature first. It makes a substantial, hearty crust for your pot pies, and with a little seasoning, it tastes amazing.

There are some fundamental differences between pizza dough and pie crust, the largest of which is that pizza dough contains yeast, like a bread (although bread typically has more moisture than pizza dough). Meanwhile, pie crust is unleavened and contains a lot more fat than pizza dough. That doesn't mean, however, that you can't use pizza dough for pot pie! You might just notice a slight textural difference, which in fact may be a good thing. It does mean that the reverse is not true ... i.e., a flaky, crisp pie crust wouldn't hold up to the pizza treatment.

While your pizza crust is coming to room temperature so you can easily stretch it over your pot pie pan, consider your fillings. Chicken pot pie is one of the easiest weeknight pot pies, considering that it can be thrown together with shredded cooked chicken (pot pie is actually among the best uses for store-bought rotisserie chicken), cream soup, and a bag of frozen veggies. But that doesn't mean you are limited to the classic option. Since you are using pizza dough, why not fully send a gooey, saucy pizza pot pie with ground beef, pepperoni, diced tomatoes, and plenty of Italian cheeses? We also love turkey smothered in creamy gravy or a veggie-based pie with earthy mushrooms, soft, diced Yukon Gold and sweet potatoes, and fresh green beans.

Any combination of cooked protein, cheese, and sauce is really a no-brainer, so feel free to get creative. It's a lot easier to feel good about dinner on busy nights when you can attain something delicious without breaking the bank or your back with too many fussy ingredients or complicated steps, and a pizza dough pot pie is an objectively fun and yummy entree. Take stock of your fridge inventory and get imaginative with what you have on hand — this is a meal that easily adapts to thrifty lifestyles and endless customizations.