From Linda Larsen,
Your Guide to Busy Cooks.
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When it's cold outside, everyone wants to come home to a hot, hearty meal, preferably full of meats and vegetables. Pot pies are old-fashioned foods that can be very easy to make using pie crust mixes, cornbread mixes, and refrigerated dough products.

Pot pies are traditionally a combination of cooked meats and vegetables in a savory gravy or sauce, baked in a casserole dish with a topping of pie crust or bread dough. These pies usually don't have a bottom crust, which means they are easier to serve and also easier to make! My definition of 'pot pie' isn't very strict, but there must be some kind of bread or starchy topping that you break through when serving, releasing the wonderful rich aromas from deep inside the pie.

Use your imagination when thinking about making your own pot pies. They are really the perfect way to use up leftovers, and make you feel efficient and competent. Toppings can include corn bread, mashed potatoes, refrigerated pie crusts, phyllo dough, puff pastry, biscuit dough, even popover batter. Here's the trick for the best synergy between filling and crust: make sure that the filling is hot when you place the crust on top. Then it will bake all the way through and be tender and flaky.

Substitute your favorite meats and vegetables in these easy recipes. Leftovers work beautifully in these pies. Try a recipe or two this week to warm your family's heart and soul.

Pot Pie Recipes

• Chicken Divan Pot Pie
  Chicken, cheese and broccoli combine under a flaky pie crust for a fabulous pie.
• Beef Tamale Crockpot Pie
  This wonderful recipe cooks all day in your crockpot, so you come home to a hearty, hot dinner that will satisfy the biggest appetites.
• Shepherd's Pie
  Traditional Shepherd's Pie can be a very complicated recipe. This one uses just five ingredients so it's ready for the oven in minutes.
• Meatless Shepherd's Pie
  Ground beef crumbles and lots of vegetables form the base for this delicious pot pie, topped with mashed potatoes.
• Updated Meatball Stew En Casserole
  I certainly consider this a pot pie, even though it probably wouldn't pass the strict definition. This is one of my favorite winter recipes.
• Veggie Pot Pie
  Hearty and delicious vegetables are baked under a tender pie crust for a great vegetarian meal.
• Chicken Paprika Pot Pie
  Sour cream and a jar of homestyle chicken gravy form a rich and creamy base for this spectacular main dish pie.
• Beefy Biscuit Pot Pie
  Refrigerated biscuits form the 'pie' in this recipe. The biscuits must be placed on a hot filling so they bake up firm and fluffy.
• Chicken Alfredo Pot Pie
  Refrigerated breadsticks form the crust for this easy pot pie. With frozen vegetables and cooked chicken, this recipe is ready for the oven in under 10 minutes.
• Cornbread Turkey Pot Pie
  Cornbread mixes are one of my favorite shortcuts in the kitchen. You can add herbs and different kinds of cheese to the mix to make the recipe your own.
• Hungry Boy's Casserole
  This classic Pillsbury Bake-Off winner combines beef and beans for the base, and tops the casserole with pinwheel biscuits. It's hearty, savory, and delicious.
• Enchilada Chicken Pot Pies
  The flavors of the southwest give this individual easy chicken pot pies some real zip.
• Cornbread Beef Bake
  Did you now that refrigerated breadstick dough comes in different flavors? Corn bread twists form the crust for this easy pot pie.