Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe with Elbow Macaroni, Broccoli, and leftover stuffing makes for a hearty and comforting dinner recipe. This Leftover Turkey Casserole is the best way to use up leftover Thanksgiving Turkey!
This Leftover Turkey Casserole dish simply repurposes Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey and Stuffing.
This Leftover Turkey Casserole is everyone favorite because its one pot, creamy, hearty, comforting, full of thanksgiving flavors dinner recipe.
Great to save time in the kitchen on Black Friday.
Leftover Thanksgiving turkey ends up dry and boring. Its such a great way to use up leftover Thanksgiving Turkey into making a creamy and hearty dinner and that to in just 3 steps!
If you're anything like me, you think about how to use leftover Thanksgiving Turkey! I do it! Every Thanksgiving, that's my biggest concern.
I do not like to store frozen meat for a long time and rather love to use it regular weeknight dinners.
And whats better for a quick weeknight dinner along with a hearty and comforting casserole and a quick fall salad!
Jump to:
- More Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
- Leftover Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
- How long is leftover Turkey good for use?
- Ingredients needed to make Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe
- How to make Turkey Casserole?
- Variations to this hearty Leftover Turkey Casserole with Cream of Chicken Soup
- Storage
- Leftover Turkey Casserole with Mashed Potatoes and Stuffing
- Leftover Turkey Casserole with rice
- FAQs
- More Thanksgiving Leftovers recipes
- Leftover Turkey Casserole recipe with stuffing & mac (just 3 steps)
- MORE VARIATIONS
- SLOW COOKER TURKEY CASSEROLE
- Storage
More Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
- Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup - Talk about a delicious recipe!
- Leftover Turkey Mushroom and Wild rice soup (Deliciously Creamy!!)
- Garlic Sesame Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Italian Turkey Meatballs in marinara sauce
- Easy Turkey lasagna Recipe
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Turkey Tetrazzini
- Turkey Enchiladas Recipe
- Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
- Turkey Chili in a Crockpot
- Turkey Shepherd's Pie - Now that's a brilliant use of Leftovers!
Leftover Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
This recipe for Leftover Turkey Casserole with stuffing uses up leftover Turkey, leftover thanksgiving stuffing and of course leftover mac and cheese.
If you have just some meat left in the freezer you can still make this recipe.
Just use any Noodles or Pasta you love. (I prefer egg noodles) and add it in the casserole dish along with some sauteed veggies, leftover turkey, cream of chicken soup and noodles.
Top with cheese and bake!
How long is leftover Turkey good for use?
Frozen Leftover Turkey and stuffing should be used within 1-2 months. To thaw leftover frozen turkey keep it in the refrigerator overnight. This is the best way to thaw frozen turkey.
Do not thaw leftover Turkey on the counter. As per CDC, thawing leftover turkey at room temp is very harmful. So please thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
Thawed turkey can stay in the refrigerator in an airtight bag or container for 2-3 days.
Ingredients needed to make Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe
- Leftover Turkey - Leftover cooked turkey which has been cubed or shredded can be used.
- Salted Butter
- Leftover Thanksgiving stuffing (optional) - You can use any leftover stuffing you have which is either premade or leftovers.
- Elbow Macaroni (or leftover mac & cheese) - You can either use pre made or leftover mac and cheese or cook macaroni noodles or any pasta of your choice in the dish.
- condensed cream of chicken soup - prefer to use low sodium one.
- Half and Half - or skimmed milk
- Veggies of choice (I love to use frozen peas & broccoli)
- Mozzarella & Provolone cheese
- Onion & Garlic powder
- Salt & Pepper
- Italian Style Panko Breadcrumbs
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Turkey Casserole?
Weather you're making a simple Turkey Casserole or making Leftover Turkey Casserole, the list of ingredients remains the same.
The only thing is when you're making Turkey Casserole from scratch, you would have to cook the Turkey in a dutch pot or instant pot and then use it.
Alternatively for a quick and easy Turkey Casserole use Ground Turkey to make Ground Turkey Casserole.
STEP 1: COOK MACARONI (SKIP IF USING LEFTOVERS)
- Preheat the oven to 375F
- Bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook the pasta until al dente
STEP 2: COMBINE EVERYTHING IN A BOWL
- Shred the Turkey using two forks
- Combine the cooked pasta with shredded leftover Turkey, steamed veggies, leftover stuffing, condensed cream of chicken soup, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, mozzarella & provolone cheese, and half and half in a large bowl. Gently stir until combined.
- Transfer this to a 9x13" casserole baking dish
- To make the crunchy topping, combine Italian Style Panko Breadcrumbs with melted salted butter. Sprinkle this mixture over the casserole.
STEP 3: BAKE & SERVE WARM
- Bake for 25-30 min or until the casserole starts to bubble on the sides
- Serve Warm
Variations to this hearty Leftover Turkey Casserole with Cream of Chicken Soup
- Spicy - to make a spicy Turkey Casserole you can add chopped Jalapenos in the mixture
- Cream of Mushroom soup - Condensed Cream of Soup be it Mushroom Soup OR Celery Soup works perfect in this recipe. Leftover Turkey Casserole with cream of mushroom soup is so delicious, hearty and comforting.
- Chicken - shredded rotisserie chicken also works great into making leftover chicken casserole
- Cranberry sauce - many times I have added leftover cranberry sauce in the casserole and trust me it tastes really good!
- Stuffing of your choice - you can use any stuffing which you have made for Thanksgiving in this casserole. If you do not have leftover dressing, then you might want to use a small box of stove top dressing for this recipe!
Storage
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay good for 3-4 days. however it all depends on how old your Turkey was. Generally cooked Turkey is good only for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
You can freeze this casserole for up to a month.
However I would suggest you that you freeze the turkey separately and then thaw it overnight in the refrigerator to make this Turkey Casserole with stuffing.
Reheat the casserole in the microwave. You can add some half and half and reheat until heated through.
Leftover Turkey Casserole with Mashed Potatoes and Stuffing
You can easily use leftover mashed potatoes and stuffing to make leftover turkey casserole.
Mashed Potatoes can also be topped over Turkey Casserole or leftover turkey and stuffing to make Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie Casserole.
Leftover Turkey Casserole with rice
Rice makes a brilliant addition to this Leftover Turkey Casserole recipe. You can use cooked white rice or brown rice.. But I really love Leftover Turkey Casserole with wild rice.
Wild Rice gives a nutty taste to this Turkey Casserole which is super yum!
FAQs
Can I make Leftover Turkey Casserole in the slow cooker?
YES! Of course! You can simply dump leftover turkey, leftover stuffing, leftover mac and cheese along with half and half, mozzarella and provolone, onion & garlic powder, salt & pepper in the slow cooker.
Top with the mixture of Italian Panko breadcrumbs and melted salted butter sprinkled on top. And cover cook on low for 8 hours or on High for 4 hours.
If you do not have leftover stuffing you can use anything you have like leftover green bean casserole or even leftover mashed potatoes OR buy a small pack of stove top stuffing!
If you do not have Leftover Mac & Cheese, simply cook any pasta of your choice until al dente and then stir it in the casserole after it gets cooked!
Put in keep warm setting for 30 min and sprinkle some of the crispy breadcrumb topping over it.
Can I add any other Thanksgiving leftovers to this casserole?
Yes of course! In fact that's the best thing about this Leftover Turkey Casserole. Just dump everything you have and bake it to make a perfect one pot meal.
- Green bean Casserole you can simply include this along with the stuffing and noodles in the turkey casserole. Skip the veggies if using green beans casserole or any leftover green bean side dish.
- Candied Yams : Leftover Candied Yams can easily be used in the body of the casserole.
- Gravy - of course why not! I love to combine it with the cream of chicken soup and add to the Turkey Casserole. Makes the dish all the more Thansgiving-y!
What to serve with leftover Turkey Casserole?
I love to serve this Leftover Turkey Casserole as a main dish beside some leftover cranberry sauce and a quick green salad.
More Thanksgiving Leftovers recipes
- Crispy Fried Mashed Potato Balls with Cheesy Centers
- Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup - Talk about a delicious recipe!
- Easy Turkey lasagna Recipe
Leftover Turkey Casserole recipe with stuffing & mac (just 3 steps)
INGREDIENTS
- 6 cups cooked Turkey shredded or cubed
- 5 cups pre made stuffing any leftover bread stuffing (or 12 oz frozen veggies or stovetop stuffing mix)
- 2 cans Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup 2 10.5 oz cans (can replace with Cream of mushroom soup or Celery Soup)
- ¾ cup Half & Half or 1 cup skimmed milk
- 2 cups pre made Mac and Cheese can use 1 cup of dry macaroni or any pasta of your choice and cook until al dente
- 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese shredded
- 1 cup Provolone Cheese shredded
- ½ teaspoon Onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ¾ cup Italian Style Panko Breadcrumbs
- 1 stick Salted Butter melted, 8 tbsp
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 375F and grease the casserole baking dish with cooking spray or oil
- If cooking pasta from scratch, then bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook until al dente. Steam the frozen veggies in a microwave safe bowl filled with water for 5 min, if you're using them.
- Shred the leftover turkey using two forks. Combine the cooked pasta or leftover mac and cheese, with shredded leftover Turkey, steamed veggies (if using), leftover stuffing, 2 cans of condensed cream of chicken soup, 1/2 teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, 2 cups of mozzarella & 1 cup of provolone cheese, and ¾ cups of half and half in a large bowl. Gently stir until combined.Transfer this mixture to a 9x13" casserole dish
- Combine ¾cups of Italian style Panko Breadcrumbs with 1 stick of melted butter. Sprinkle this mixture over the casserole.
- Bake @375F for 25-30 min. Serve warm.
Notes
MORE VARIATIONS
- Cream of Mushroom soup - Condensed Cream of Soup be it Mushroom Soup OR Celery Soup works perfect in this recipe. Leftover Turkey Casserole with cream of mushroom soup is so delicious, hearty and comforting.
- Stove top Mac and Cheese (1 pack) - can be replaced if you do not have leftover mac and cheese OR use any pasta of your choice, cook until al dente and use in this casserole
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- Cranberry sauce - many times I have added leftover cranberry sauce in the casserole and trust me it tastes really good!
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- Stuffing of your choice - you can use any stuffing which you have made for Thanksgiving in this casserole. If you do not have leftover dressing, then you might want to use a small box of stove top dressing for this recipe!
- Mashed Potatoes can also be topped over Turkey Casserole or leftover turkey and stuffing to make Leftover Turkey Shepherd's Pie Casserole.
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- Green bean Casserole you can simply include this along with the stuffing and noodles in the turkey casserole. Skip the veggies if using green beans casserole or any leftover green bean side dish.
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- Candied Yams : Leftover Candied Yams can easily be used in the body of the casserole.
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- Gravy - of course why not! I love to combine it with the cream of chicken soup and add to the Turkey Casserole. Makes the dish all the more Thansgiving-y!
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Mia says
So delicious recipe!! Perfect to use leftover thanksgiving food