Tourtière Calories Calculator
Calculate tourtière calories per slice. French Canadian meat pie nutrition, macros, protein content, and tips for including tourtière in a balanced diet.
Tourtière Calculator
To burn about 520 kcal you may need roughly:
📊 Data source note: Nutrition values are estimates based on standard food composition databases and common recipe data. Actual values vary by cooking method, oil quantity, ingredient brand, and serving size. See our Data Sources and Methodology pages.
Tourtière Nutrition Tips
Tourtière is a traditional French Canadian meat pie that has been a centrepiece of Quebec cuisine for centuries, particularly during the Christmas season (Réveillon) and the holiday period between Christmas and New Year. The filling is made with ground or minced meat — most commonly ground pork, though regional variations use beef, veal, wild game, or a mixture — seasoned with cloves, cinnamon, al...
How to use this calculator
To estimate accurately, enter the grams of Tourtière you consumed rather than a guess at plate size. In practice, a 1 small slice (120g) comes to about ~300 kcal, while a 1 standard slice (180g) is closer to ~450 kcal. Oil quantity and preparation style shift these numbers, so treat the output as a realistic range for planning your remaining meals of the day.
Best for fitness goals
Tourtière can be part of a weight-conscious diet when consumed in a single controlled slice rather than a larger serving. Choosing leaner filling options (wild game, extra-lean ground pork or turkey) and a thinner pastry lid reduces the calorie count meaningfully. Serving tourtière alongside a large...
Tourtière Calories — Complete Guide
Calories By Portion Size
| Portion / Serving | Estimated Calories | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 small slice (120g) | ~300 kcal | Light serving |
| 1 standard slice (180g) | ~450 kcal | Common serving |
| 1 large slice (240g) | ~600 kcal | Generous portion |
| Mini tourtière (90g) | ~225 kcal | Individual size |
Calories By Preparation Method
| Preparation Method | Calories / 100g | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional ground pork + pastry | ~250 kcal/100g | Classic Quebecois |
| Mixed meat (pork + beef + veal) | ~260 kcal/100g | Common variation |
| Wild game (venison + rabbit) | ~225 kcal/100g | Lower fat option |
| Phyllo pastry crust version | ~230 kcal/100g | Lighter shell |
Nutrition Breakdown
| Nutrient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 250 kcal | Per 100g |
| Protein | 15 g | Primarily from meat filling |
| Carbohydrates | 20 g | Mainly from pastry |
| Fat | 13 g | Pork fat and pastry butter |
| Fibre | 1 g | Minimal from onion and spices |
| Iron | ~2.1 mg | From meat |
| Sodium | ~480 mg | Seasoning and pastry salt |
What Is Tourtière?
Tourtière is a traditional French Canadian meat pie that has been a centrepiece of Quebec cuisine for centuries, particularly during the Christmas season (Réveillon) and the holiday period between Christmas and New Year. The filling is made with ground or minced meat — most commonly ground pork, though regional variations use beef, veal, wild game, or a mixture — seasoned with cloves, cinnamon, allspice, and savory, all enclosed in a flaky double-crust pastry shell. Each region of Quebec has its own version: the Lac-Saint-Jean tourtière, for example, is a deep-dish version that uses cubed meat and potatoes and is sometimes called cipâte. Outside Quebec, tourtière is also popular in Acadian communities of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, and in Franco-Ontarian communities. It has become a beloved comfort food eaten by Canadians of all backgrounds.
Tourtière Calories Guide
Tourtière calorie content varies based on the meat used, the fat content of the filling, and the thickness of the pastry crust. A standard slice (180g) contains approximately 420–470 kcal. Ground pork versions are higher in fat than wild game versions. A homemade tourtière with a controlled amount of butter in the crust and leaner meat can be brought below 200 kcal per 100g.
Tourtière for Weight Loss
Tourtière can be part of a weight-conscious diet when consumed in a single controlled slice rather than a larger serving. Choosing leaner filling options (wild game, extra-lean ground pork or turkey) and a thinner pastry lid reduces the calorie count meaningfully. Serving tourtière alongside a large vegetable salad and reducing the portion of pie compensates for its calorie density.
Tourtière for Muscle Gain
Tourtière provides a solid combination of protein from meat and carbohydrates from the pastry, making it a reasonable muscle-gain meal in appropriate portions. A 180g slice delivers approximately 27g of protein — a meaningful contribution to daily protein intake. Choosing a filling with extra-lean pork or game meat and adding a side of vegetables creates a balanced muscle-building plate.
Smart Comparison
Tourtière vs Shepherd's Pie: Shepherd's pie uses a mashed potato topping instead of pastry, making it slightly lower in calories (around 160–180 kcal/100g versus 250 kcal/100g for tourtière). Tourtière vs Quiche: Quiche is similarly calorie-dense (around 250–280 kcal/100g) but typically has more fat and less protein than tourtière.
Portion Control Advice
A standard restaurant or bakery tourtière slice is often 200–250g — above the 180g reference serving. Cutting your own slices at home allows better control. Serve with a large salad rather than mashed potatoes and gravy to keep the meal balanced. Save the second slice for the next day's lunch rather than eating it immediately.
Common Mistakes
Eating tourtière with heavy sides like mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce, which can push a tourtière meal to 800–1,000 kcal easily. Underestimating slice size — bakery and restaurant slices are often 50–100% larger than a home reference portion. Forgetting that the pastry alone accounts for roughly 40% of total calories.
Burn This Food — Activity Equivalents
| Activity | Duration to Burn |
|---|---|
| Brisk walking | ~112 min for 1 standard slice |
| Jogging | ~54 min |
| Cycling | ~62 min |
| Swimming | ~58 min |
Healthy Alternative Tips
Vegetable soup with whole grain bread — ~180 kcal
Grilled chicken with roasted vegetables — ~280 kcal
Wild game filling in a single thin crust (open-face) version
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FAQs
How many calories in a slice of tourtière?
A standard slice of tourtière (180g) contains approximately 420–470 calories. A smaller 120g slice is around 280–320 calories. Wild game versions are slightly lower in calories than traditional pork versions.
Is tourtière healthy?
Tourtière provides meaningful protein from meat and is made with real, relatively unprocessed ingredients. It is higher in fat and sodium than some other meals, but a single controlled slice as part of a balanced diet is nutritionally reasonable.
What meat is in tourtière?
Traditional Quebec tourtière is made with ground pork. Regional variations use ground beef, veal, rabbit, venison, or a combination. The Lac-Saint-Jean version uses cubed meat and potatoes in a deep-dish crust.
When is tourtière traditionally eaten?
Tourtière is most traditionally eaten during the Christmas season — specifically at Réveillon, the Christmas Eve celebration in Quebec. It is also served throughout the winter holiday season in Quebec and Acadian communities.
Can tourtière be frozen?
Yes — tourtière freezes excellently for 2–3 months. Many Quebec families bake several tourtières in December and freeze them for the entire holiday season. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the oven.
📊 Data source note: Nutrition values are estimates based on Canadian food composition databases, Health Canada nutrient data, and standard recipe analysis. Actual values vary by cooking method, recipe, brand, and serving size. See our Data Sources and Methodology pages.