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Make the best turkey casserole with your Thanksgiving leftovers! The leftover turkey combines with a super creamy sauce, loads of veggies, egg noodles, and it’s all ready in 40 minutes. This leftover turkey recipe puts Thanksgiving leftovers to good use by creating another full meal.
If you love this idea and want to try to repurpose more leftovers, you’ll love this turkey pot pie and leftover turkey soup.
Why you’ll love this casserole with leftover turkey!
Thanksgiving is always a big holiday in my family. Every dish you can think of is on the table. I always love how everyone has a helping hand in the kitchen. No matter how many people, there are always leftovers, which is why I love this turkey casserole from leftovers.
It’s hearty, creamy, and so delicious! Here are a few reasons why you’ll want to make this dish:
- Repurpose Leftovers: Instead of eating the same meal, the casserole transforms the leftover turkey into a new dish. (You’ll love these easy leftover turkey recipes too!)
- One Dish: Everything bakes together for an easy dish that you can put right on the table.
- Kid-Friendly: My kids don’t say no to this leftover meal — they even ask for seconds!
Put your leftovers to use and make this casserole after Thanksgiving or anytime.
Table of contents
Turkey Casserole Ingredients
In addition to leftover turkey, you’ll need a few additional ingredients to create this creamy savory dinner recipe!
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Unsalted butter
- Panko breadcrumbs – While regular breadcrumbs work too, panko gives the topping some extra crunch!
- Parmesan
- Dried oregano
- Onion – Make sure to dice them nice and small.
- Celery – Dice the celery the same size as the onions so they cook at the same time.
- Garlic
- Cream of chicken soup – Adds flavor and thickness to the creamy sauce.
- Sour cream
- Cheddar cheese
- Leftover turkey – Shred or cube the turkey for the casserole. This recipe also works well with cooked chicken. If you don’t have turkey, buy a rotisserie chicken to make it easy!
- Egg noodles – Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. If you sub the egg noodles for pasta, keep in mind the texture may be different.
- Frozen peas
- Lemon zest – Adds a nice brightness to the casserole.
- Fresh parsley
Variations
- Frozen green beans: Not a fan of peas? Try frozen green beans instead.
- Extra vegetables: Want to amp up the veggies even more? Sautéed mushrooms or carrots would be delicious too!
- Add more crunch: Have some crispy French fried onions leftover from your green bean casserole? You can use those for the topping instead of the panko mixture!
How To Make Leftover Turkey Casserole
This delicious casserole recipe comes together easily with just a few steps.
- Make the topping: In a small bowl, combine the panko, half the parmesan, and melted butter. Mix everything together until the butter is fully combined and set to the side.
- Prepare the casserole: In a Dutch oven, add the remaining butter, onion, and celery. Add the garlic, soup, and sour cream into the pot and continue to stir. Let the mixture come to a simmer. Add in the cheddar and parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
- Stir: Stir in the turkey, noodles, peas, lemon zest, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Bake the casserole: Pour the turkey mixture into a prepared casserole dish and top with the buttered breadcrumbs. Bake until the crumbs on top of the casserole are golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let the casserole cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Storage Instructions
Fridge: Store for 5-7 days after cooking and warm up in the oven or in the microwave when you’re ready to eat.
Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container. Store for 2-3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Leftover turkey is good for about 3-4 days. It pays to use the leftover turkey and make this leftover turkey casserole right away, and freeze it if you don’t plan on eating it immediately. That way, you can use all of the leftovers and won’t have any of them go to waste.
Leftover turkey casserole is an excellent main dish and can pretty much be served with any side dish. Serve the casserole with roasted vegetables, a salad, dinner rolls, or any leftover side dishes for a mini Thanksgiving meal.
The best way to reheat leftover turkey casserole is to place it in the oven at low heat. Preheat the oven to 300ºF and let the turkey casserole warm up for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will allow it to be warm throughout without drying out the turkey.
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For More Thanksgiving Recipes, try these next!
Side Dishes
Cranberry Sauce
Side Dishes
Classic Mashed Potatoes
Side Dishes
Slow Cooker Green Beans
Side Dishes
Squash Casserole Recipe
Need help with this recipe?
Click the buttons below to summarize it, adjust for diets, swap ingredients, or ask your own questions!
Leftover Turkey Casserole
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, divided
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup parmesan
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ medium onion, diced small
- 2 stalks celery, diced small
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3-4 cups leftover turkey, cubed or shredded
- 8 ounces egg noodles, cooked
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons parsley, chopped
- Kosher salt & black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. Melt half the butter in a small bowl in the microwave. Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, add the panko, half of the parmesan, and melted butter. Stir to combine. Set aside.
- In a Dutch oven over medium heat, add the remaining butter and heat until melted. Add the onion and celery and cook for 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the soup and sour cream and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the cheddar and parmesan and stir to combine. Add the turkey, noodles, peas, lemon zest, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish and top with the buttered breadcrumbs. Bake until breadcrumbs are golden brown and the casserole is hot throughout, about 25 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- When cooking the noodles, you want them to be al dente, or a little less than fully cooked. Don’t worry, they’ll finish cooking in the casserole sauce while it bakes in the oven!
This is one of my favorite ways to use up my leftover turkey! So easy and so good!
This was so delicious
Thank you, Samantha! We’re so glad you enjoyed it. 😊