My mom makes a great pot pie--flaky crust, potatoes, peas and carrots covered in a generous portion of chicken or turkey gravy, all baked to perfection. This was one of my favorite meals growing up—the kind where you always over-indulge. At Thanksgiving time, the stuffing is my favorite part. So when Trader Joe’s touted it’s turkey pot pie with “turkey gravy and savory stuffing”, literally bringing together two things I love, I was in!

At $6.99 for a 1lb 6oz pot pie, the price seemed right. I’m not sure you could make a pot pie from scratch for less than that, not to mention the time it takes for all the prep.

I popped the pot pie in the oven per the instructions and waited. Before long, the smell of turkey and dressing filled the kitchen. It was like a pre-Thanksgiving treat. As I pulled it from the oven a little over 20 minutes later, the scent wafted throughout the house. Mmmm…so good.

Unfortunately, I could tell this was not my mom’s pot pie when I struggled  to break through the “flaky puff pastry” topper. I would venture to say it was more like a hard, tough cracker than a flaky pastry, but I managed to get through that top layer, only to find all the stuffing a mushy mess. But that didn’t deter me from pushing forward, so I took out a scoop and prepared to taste.

Oh, so…disappointing. No potatoes, no peas but turnips and parsnips instead. It’s a sad, sad day when you add turnips to a pot pie. The turkey texture was off—a bit spongy—and the deep, satisfying, homemade flavor just wasn’t there.

Trader Joe’s Turkey Pot Pie packaging says, “Just heat and serve, get comfy and enjoy!” This is what I wanted to do; unfortunately, this pitiful pot pie took the comfort and joy right out of my day.

On a sidenote, I find it fascinating that Trader Joe’s has a classic turkey pot pie recipe on its site. Is there a subliminal message here? I wonder.

PS the last photo in the gallery is where this pie landed…right in the trash!