Man's Meat Pie - My Husband's Favorite Recipe!

I made this dish a few days before Christmas.  I dubbed this "Man's Meat Pie" over a year ago.  Short for Mandy and also for my "man" (Kirk's) favorite meal.  I hadn't made it in a long time.  My husband quickly reminded me that this meat pie is still his most preferred dish I make and that I should create it more often.  Both of my parents enjoyed its taste as well. 

Therefore I decided to share it here so you can make it for the special men and women in your life.  Consider yourself lucky too.  The recipe is printed in my cookbook and I don't normally share those family favorite recipes for free!  :-)  So Merry Christmas, this is a little present for you, from me! 

This meal is best described as a pizza pie.  It tastes just like a pizza but you use a deep dish pie crust instead of bread dough.  The flavor is amazing!  Everyone who has eaten this loves it!  Try it for your family and tell them they can thank me for it.  Enjoy!

Man’s Meat Pie, Italian Style

(Serves 4 to 6)

1 deep dish pie shell  (Use a whole wheat pie crust, if you can find one!  Or make your own)

1 pound of lean ground turkey

1 small onion, chopped finely

1 green bell pepper, chopped finely

1 can (14.5 oz) of Italian flavor diced tomatoes

2 cups of 2% reduced fat shredded mozzarella, cheddar or your preferred type of cheese

3/4 cup of water

1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

2 tsp corn starch

1 tsp onion powder

1 and 1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp basil, chopped

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a deep dish pie pan with cooking spray.  Place your pre-made shell inside pan.  Or simply use the pan that the pie crust came in from the store.  Set aside.  Generously grease a skillet.  Sautee onions and pepper in skillet on stove.  Add in your ground turkey.  Cook until brown.  Drain or blot any excess grease.  In a small bowl, dissolve the corn starch in the water.  Add cornstarch water into cooked meat mixture along with tomatoes, onion powder, garlic powder, basil, salt and pepper.  Cover and simmer for about fifteen minutes or until most of liquid has been absorbed. 

Remove from heat and stir.  Sprinkle half of the Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese at the bottom of your pie shell.  

 Spoon half of meat mixture into shell.  Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese.  Spoon the other half of the meat mixture. 

Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese on top.  Add in a bit more Parmesan cheese too, if desired.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.  Edges of pie will be brown.  Remove from oven.  Let cool for several minutes before cutting.  Cut into 6 pie wedges.  Savor the flavor! 

Freeze any leftovers in plastic containers.  Pie is good for up to two months.  Defrost in fridge and reheat in microwave. 

Cook's Note: You could also easily sneak in pureed broccoli or spinach into the pie as well - 1/2 cup to 1 cup of either or a combination of them both!