National Great American Pot Pie Day
September 23
About National Great American Pot Pie Day
National Great American Pot Pie Day is celebrated every year on 23 September, falling on a Wednesday in 2026. The day honours one of the most comforting dishes in American cooking: the pot pie, a flaky pastry case filled with savoury meat, vegetables and gravy. It was created by the frozen food and restaurant brand Marie Callender’s in 2002, and it has become a fixture of the autumn food calendar in the United States.
How to Celebrate National Great American Pot Pie Day
This is a day made for getting into the kitchen, gathering round the table and enjoying proper comfort food. Here are eight ways to mark the occasion.
- Bake a pot pie from scratch – Make your own shortcrust or puff pastry, prepare a filling of chicken, beef or turkey with carrots, peas and potatoes, and finish with a generous ladle of gravy before baking until golden.
- Try a meat-free version – Swap the meat for mushrooms, lentils, leeks or a medley of root vegetables so vegetarians and vegans can join in. A creamy plant-based sauce keeps it just as rich and satisfying.
- Host a pot pie dinner party – Invite friends and family round, serve individual pies in ramekins and let everyone enjoy their own golden-topped portion straight from the oven.
- Hold a friendly bake-off – Challenge family members or colleagues to make their best pot pie, then vote on the tastiest crust, the richest filling and the most creative recipe.
- Use up your leftovers – Pot pie began life as a clever way to use up odds and ends, so raid the fridge for cooked chicken, leftover roast vegetables or gravy and turn them into a hearty pie.
- Buy from a local bakery or diner – If baking is not your thing, support a neighbourhood bakery, deli or diner that makes pot pies and treat yourself to a ready-made one.
- Experiment with the crust – Top your pie with puff pastry, shortcrust, a biscuit topping or even mashed potato for a cottage-pie twist, and see which version your household prefers.
- Share your creations online – Photograph your golden pies and post them with the day’s hashtags to inspire others and swap recipes with fellow pot pie fans.
What is National Great American Pot Pie Day?
National Great American Pot Pie Day is an annual food holiday dedicated to celebrating the pot pie in all its forms. A pot pie is typically a savoury dish made of meat and vegetables in a thick sauce or gravy, encased in or topped with pastry. The day is open to everyone who enjoys home cooking, comfort food and a bit of culinary tradition, whether you bake your own pie or simply pick one up to enjoy. It tends to be marked most enthusiastically in the United States, where the dish holds a special place in family kitchens.
When is National Great American Pot Pie Day?
National Great American Pot Pie Day takes place on 23 September every year. In 2026 that date falls on a Wednesday. The date was originally intended to coincide with the first day of autumn, a fitting moment to welcome warming, hearty meals back to the table, and 23 September has remained the fixed date ever since.
The History of National Great American Pot Pie Day
The pot pie itself has roots stretching back thousands of years. Versions of meat baked in pastry were enjoyed in Ancient Greece and Rome, where the pastry casing often served as a cooking and storage vessel rather than something to be eaten. The dish travelled through medieval Europe and was embraced by the English gentry in the sixteenth century, who filled their pies with everything from pork and lamb to game birds.
European settlers carried the tradition across the Atlantic, and the dish took firm root in American kitchens. One of the earliest written American recipes appeared in Amelia Simmons’ “American Cookery” in 1796, and the pot pie became closely associated with Pennsylvania Dutch country, where Lancaster County versions remain well known. The modern frozen pot pie arrived in 1951 when the Swanson company began selling chicken pot pies in grocery freezers, helping turn the dish into an everyday convenience meal across the country.
National Great American Pot Pie Day was established in 2002 by Marie Callender’s, the restaurant and frozen food brand that built much of its reputation on its pies. The company chose to honour the dish with its own dedicated day, and the celebration has grown into a recognised entry on the food calendar, encouraging home cooks and pie lovers to enjoy a classic comfort dish each September.
Fun Facts About National Great American Pot Pie Day
- The day was created in 2002 by Marie Callender’s, a brand long associated with American pies.
- Early pot pie pastry in Ancient Rome was sometimes inedible, made only of flour and oil to hold the filling together during cooking.
- An American pot pie recipe appears in Amelia Simmons’ 1796 cookbook, one of the first cookery books written in the United States.
- The frozen pot pie was popularised by Swanson, which began selling chicken pot pies in 1951.
- In North America a “pot pie” usually has a pastry top and often a base, while similar British dishes are simply called meat pies.
- The date was chosen to fall around the start of autumn, the season when hearty, warming dishes return to the table.
Why National Great American Pot Pie Day Matters
Beyond simply being delicious, the pot pie carries a sense of home, history and resourcefulness. It began as a practical way to use up leftover meat and vegetables, and that thrifty spirit still resonates with anyone trying to reduce food waste today. The day also celebrates the simple pleasure of sharing a warm, home-cooked meal with the people you care about, and it gives families a reason to pass down recipes and traditions from one generation to the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Great American Pot Pie Day?
It is an annual food holiday celebrating the pot pie, a savoury dish of meat and vegetables in gravy encased in pastry. It encourages people to bake, buy and enjoy pot pies and to share the tradition with others.
When is National Great American Pot Pie Day in 2026?
It falls on Wednesday 23 September 2026. The date is fixed and is celebrated on 23 September every year.
Who created National Great American Pot Pie Day?
The day was created in 2002 by Marie Callender’s, the American restaurant and frozen food brand well known for its pies, as a way to honour this classic comfort dish.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your golden, flaky pot pie photos on social media with #PotPieDay and #PotPieDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to bake their own and take part in the day.
Related Awareness Days
- National Corn on the Cob Day – Another all-American food day that celebrates a homely seasonal favourite enjoyed at the family table.
- National Catfish Day – A US celebration of a much-loved comfort food, perfect for fans of hearty, traditional cooking.
- National Onion Ring Day – A fun food day honouring a classic crispy side dish that pairs well with comfort food feasts.
Links
- Visit the National Day Calendar page for National Great American Pot Pie Day
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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