Some people are born with a sweet tooth, while others are into the savory scene. I’m more of the latter, so when I was tasked with researching the world of savory pies, I was all over it.

Savory pies are great for many reasons. They’re relatively easy to make. After a little bit of elbow grease, you’ve got a complete dinner (or brunch or lunch) in a pie plate. Just throw a pile of greens on the side and you’re set! Another great thing about savory pies is you can put anything you like in them, and you’ve got a lot of options for your crust, too. Make it yourself, buy a frozen pie crust or get creative with it, depending on how much time you like to spend in the kitchen.

If you’re not feeling particularly creative or culinarily inclined, many delicious savory pie variations have already been invented. Here’s a round up of delicious options you might like to try:

Tourtiere

Tourtiere is a traditional French-Canadian meat pie that originated in Quebec back when it was known as Lower Canada. It was originally enjoyed during the holiday season, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give it a try any time of year. The beauty of tourtiere is you can adjust the fillings according to the regional availability of ingredients. Fillings can include pork, veal, beef, wild game and even salmon. The protein is often accompanied by potatoes and mushrooms and seasonings like cinnamon and cloves, which give the pie its distinctive flavor. Try this recipe: Classic Tourtiere.

Shepherds Pie

One of my personal favorites, shepherd’s pie (also known as cottage pie), was originally created as a way to use up leftover meat, usually lamb. The ‘crust’ of this pie is made with a topping of mashed potatoes, and the filling usually includes various vegetables like peas, onions and carrots alongside the meat. This type of pie is a staple in many worldly cuisines, with fillings varying accordingly. In the Dominican Republic, they use cheese in the topping and sweet plantain or yucca are sometimes used in place of potatoes. To make your shepherd’s pie vegetarian, you can easily substitute the meat filling for lentils or your favorite veggie meat like Yves ground round. Whenever I make it, I like to add a Mexican twist. Try this recipe: Mexican Beef and Potato Pie.

Pot Pie

Not to be confused with any sort of ‘special’ baking, pot pie is another type of meat pie with a flaky pastry crust on top. Chicken pot pie is probably the most common iteration of this type of savory pie. You can use a regular pie plate, or try switching it up by filling a ramekin and topping it with pastry. Try this recipe from Ina Garten: Chicken Pot Pie.

Quiche

A beloved brunch creation synonymous with French cuisine, quiche might just be one of the easiest savory pies to make. All you have to do is pour an egg custard mixture into a pie crust and pop it in the oven. You can mix whatever you like into your eggs, including meat, veggies and herbs. Here’s a yummy looking vegetarian-friendly quiche recipe to try: Vegetarian Mediterranean Quiche.

Hand Pies

Who doesn’t want to be able to take a delicious savory pie to go? Perfect for picnics, snacks or quick meals, hand pies are a genius invention. You may have witnessed these delicious pies in the form of Jamaican patties, turnovers, or empanadas, but the filling and seasoning possibilities are virtually endless. Try this recipe from our very own photographer and food stylist the Artful Desperado: Mascarpone Strawberry Lime Hand Pie.

Galette

If you like to freestyle in the kitchen without the constraints of things like pie plates and ramekins, the galette is right up your alley. It’s a French free-form ‘pancake’ with a sweet or savory filling and mega rustic appeal. The crust is usually made from buckwheat flour. ‘Galette complete’ is a classic French galette recipe typically covered with grated Emmental cheese, ham and egg. Perfect for breakfast! Here’s a recipe to try: Ham & Gruyere Galette Complete.

What’s your favorite savory pie? Share in the comments or over on twitter at @luvoinc.