22 Super Savory Pies and Tarts

Curry Chicken and Sweet Potato Galette
Photo: Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis

When we think of pie, most of us go straight to envisioning pretty lattice-topped numbers brimming with juicy fruit or perhaps billowing swirls of meringue or whipped cream nestled on beds of velvety custard. And while these pastries are certainly worthy of their top-of-mind status, we're here to remind you of just how delicious savory pies can be. From pot pies and quiches to meaty varieties and those bursting with garden-fresh flavor, don't reserve your flaky crusts and pie pans just for the dessert course. No matter the season or occasion, there are savory tarts and pies to satisfy everyone at the table.

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Winter Squash and Shallot Tart

Winter Squash and Shallot Tart
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Heather Chadduck Hillegas

This elegant tart is just the thing to serve for dinner on a chilly night. The rich, cheesy filling is packed with sweet cubes of butternut squash and savory shallots. It's lightened by the acidity of sherry vinegar and brightness of lemon zest. A peppery arugula salad tops it off.

02 of 22

Curry Chicken and Sweet Potato Galette

Curry Chicken and Sweet Potato Galette
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis

This golden galette's crust, seasoned with turmeric and garlic, surrounds a savory blend of green seasoning–spiked chicken thighs, roasted sweet potatoes, and sweet mixed bell peppers. Choose jarred sofrito for a shortcut, or make the piquant, herbal green seasoning from scratch.

03 of 22

Ratatouille Slab Pie

Ratatouille Slab Pie Recipe
Photo by Johnny Autry / Food and Prop Styling by Charlotte Autry

A crisp and sturdy crust transforms this French classic into a grab-and-go hero. Preheating the baking stone is essential to this recipe; it ensures the bottom of the slab pie is crispy and retains its texture for several hours after baking. A beautiful lattice top encases vibrant summer squash, eggplant, tomatoes, and fresh herbs in this vegetarian showstopper.

04 of 22

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart
Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman

This tart is the perfect way to take advantage of late-summer tomatoes. A variety of heirlooms will create a nice visual, but feel free to use any type of tomato here. Roasting the tomatoes before adding them to the tart dries them a bit, which concentrates their flavor and helps prevent the crust from getting soggy.

05 of 22

Chicken Pot Pie with Leeks and Thyme

Chicken Pot Pie with Thyme
Greg DuPree

This classic chicken pot pie comes together in just about an hour and uses only one skillet. Come for the patchwork of crispy, golden brown puff pastry, and stay for the comforting, classic flavors of the filling. Leeks and thyme lend a cozy, traditional flavor to this dish, while Dijon mustard adds a subtle, unexpected punch.

06 of 22

Erbazzone Reggiano (Emilian Spinach and Cheese Pie)

Erbazzone Reggiano Recipe
Cedric Angeles

Flavorful and filling with a light, almost cracker-like crust, this rustic spinach pie relies on simple ingredients for an impressive finish. Because the spinach gently steams within the crust, it retains its fresh, verdant flavor even after cooking.

07 of 22

Sausage and Red Onion Sheet Pan Quiche

Sausage and Red Onion Sheet Pan Quiche
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee

At Convivial in Washington, D.C., Cedric Maupillier's foot-long quiche takes the breakfast classic to the next level. This version, prepared in a rimmed baking sheet, makes plenty for the whole family.

08 of 22

Spaghetti Pie with Wild Mushrooms and Spinach

Spaghetti Pie with Wild Mushrooms and Spinach
John Kernick

Gail Simmons has prepared multiple flavor variations of spaghetti pie, and it always makes her guests extremely happy. This version incorporates plenty of wild mushrooms, spinach, and herbs. Add a spoonful of chopped oil-packed black truffles, if desired, as Gail sometimes does. 

09 of 22

Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Hand Pies

Brussels sprouts and Sweet potato hand pies
Gerard + Belevender

The golden, crispy pastry encasing these savory hand pies shatters almost like a croissant. Lightly mashed sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, tangy sour cream, and aged cheddar make up the creamy-cheesy filling. It's a simple mixture, but it tastes like a handheld bite of Thanksgiving.

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Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Tart

Ham-and-Cheese Puff Pastry Tart
© Oddur Thorisson

Blogger Mimi Thorisson spreads store-bought puff pastry with mustard-and-shallot bechamel, then layers it with ham and cheese before baking it into a crisp, rich, croque monsieur-like tart.

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Creole Crawfish Pie

Creole Crawfish Pie

Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Jillian Knox

Across south Louisiana restaurants, street food stalls, and eateries, numerous chefs and cooks all claim to offer the best crawfish pie — a flaky, buttery pie filled with herbs, aromatics, and, of course, Louisiana crawfish tails. It’s often served in the form of a hand pie, but sugarcane farmers Angie and June Provost make theirs as a 9-inch double-crust pie.

12 of 22

Mini Potato, Steak, and Chorizo Pies

Mini Potato, Steak and Chorizo Pies
Photo by Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

These smallish "pies" are filled with a smart combination of fresh chorizo and lean grass-fed ground beef. Seasoned with onion and Worcestershire, they come together in a snap and can easily be made ahead. Thinly sliced starchy russet potatoes form a crispy, potato chip–like topping on each meaty pie. The move is genius and delivers the comfort of shepherd's pie without the steps involved in making mashed potatoes.

13 of 22

Pear and Shallot Tarte Tatin with Whipped Goat Cheese

Pear and Shallot Tarte Tatin with Whipped Goat Cheese Recipe
Victor Protasio

Serve this savory-sweet tart as a decadent brunch centerpiece, or cut it into slivers to add to a cheese board. While this recipe is designed for a flameware pan, it can be made in a metal skillet — just monitor the caramel closely.

14 of 22

Pizza Chiena (Easter Pie)

Pizza Chiena
Christopher Testani

In their cookbook Italian American, chefs Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli share this recipe for a savory, meaty Italian pie served on Easter that came from Tacinelli's grandmother. It features a sausage duo in the filling — sweet and spicy Italian — as well as ham steak, eggs, mozzarella cheese, and sharp provolone. The filling is swathed in a crisp homemade crust made with reserved cooking liquid and fat from the meat.

15 of 22

Potato, Bacon, and Cheddar Tart

Potato Bacon and Cheddar Tart Recipe
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

It’s crucial to use thinly sliced bacon here to achieve a uniformly crisp crust. Seek out new crop potatoes for this recipe; they cook more evenly than potatoes that have been in storage. Plus, this tart can be assembled and refrigerated overnight before baking. 

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Natchitoches Meat Pies with Spicy Buttermilk Dip

Natchitoches Meat Pies with Spicy Buttermilk Dip
© Anna Williams

Natchitoches, Louisiana, is renowned for its meat pies. Chef Kelly English serves his mini version with a dipping sauce that combines two quintessential Southern ingredients: buttermilk and hot sauce.

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Free-Form Onion Tart

Free-Form Onion Tart
© Quentin Bacon

Chef Kelsie Kerr teaches the basics of preparing seasonal recipes. The buttery dough for her savory onion tart, for instance, is great with all kinds of fillings, like fruit. To make the crust flaky, keep the butter and dough cold.

18 of 22

Aussie Meat(less) Pie

Aussie Meat(less) Pie
Emily Kordovich

A hearty mushroom, tofu, and wine filling is enclosed in a buttery, crisp crust in chef Dan Churchill's umami-packed pie that's sure to please everyone around your table. Tofu is crumbled and cooked along with the mushrooms, adding protein and meaty texture.

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Dingle Pies (Irish Lamb Pies with Herbs)

Dingle Pies Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

Dingle, or Kerry, pies are savory lamb pies, a specialty of the Dingle Peninsula in southwestern Ireland. Traditionally, the pastry crust was made with mutton fat; here, chef JP McMahon uses Irish butter and eggs to keep the crust tender, flaky, and sturdy.

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Bacon and Onion Tart

Bacon-and-Onion Tart
© Stephanie Meyer

"This is one of my favorites," says chef Andrew Zimmern. "It's a bacon and onion filling bound with soft, ripened goat cheese and a ballsy Gruyère, poured fairly shallowly into a delicate pâte brisée. Pay attention while you make the tart crust; it's one you can adapt for a thousand fillings."

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Reblochon Tarts with Bacon and Fingerling Potatoes

Reblochon Tarts with Bacon and Fingerling Potatoes

With a golden layer of puff pastry topped by caramelized onions, soft potatoes, bacon, and tangy Reblochon cheese, this tart is lighter than the sum of its parts, making for a satisfying fall dish that's great any time of day. The Reblochon, a washed-rind cheese from France, can be replaced with a robust Taleggio from northern Italy or the smooth French soft-ripened cow's milk cheese Saint-André.

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Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd’s Pie
© Tina Rupp

Rainwater Madeira, a fortified wine, gives chef Brian Hill's pub dish a caramel-y sweetness.

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