Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe (2024)

By: Author Julie Menghini

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Leftover Turkey Casserole repurposes leftover turkey and stuffing into one easy recipe. This one-dish turkey casserole is quick, creamy, and delicious. With only 3 steps it’s on your table in a jiffy!

Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe (1)

Leftover Turkey Casserole is a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers especially when everyone is screaming “not more turkey! This turkey casserole recipe is also a great fix for a turkey that ended up dry.

I just love Thanksgiving. All of that delicious food and sitting around the table with the people we love.

I have John’s family over every year, and even though it’s not a big group I still cook like I’m feeding a hundred. Can you relate?

I don’t mind because I WANT the leftovers! John’s always a big help because he cooks the bird on the grill which frees up my oven.

Here’s our tutorial onHow to Spatchco*ck and Carve your Thanksgiving Turkeyas well as some easy tips for making Thanksgiving stress-free!

It wasn’t all that long ago that my 96-year-old father-in-law declared that he liked my Turkey Dressing better than his wife’s dressing. He’s such a soft-spoken man that I didn’t know he was that brave even though he served in WWII and the Korean War.

I always make extra dressing to make sure I have plenty left to make this Leftover Turkey Casserole. After all of the cooking, I do in preparation for Thanksgiving, I want something quick, easy and delicious.

How long is leftover turkey good for?

According to CDC, refrigerate leftovers within two hours. Keep hot food hot and cold food cold until then. They have a lot of handling tips that are very helpful as well.

It’s important to use your leftover turkey and stuffing as soon as possible. Most leftovers can be kept for three to four days in the fridge. If you have more food than you plan to eat within four days, freeze it within two hours after it’s cooked.

When you’re ready to eat your leftovers, reheat them to an internal temperature of 74 C (165 F), measured by a digital food thermometer. Use frozen leftovers within 1 to 2 months.

I don’t use a lot of canned ingredients, but this turkey casserole recipe is the exception. I grab two cans of cream of chicken soup when I’m grabbing all of the other ingredients that I need for the Holiday.

Leftover Turkey Casserole Ingredients:

Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe (2)
  • Cooked turkey – Shred or chop turkey. Use white, dark or a combination. Whatever you like.
  • Bread Dressing (Stuffing if you like) Premade or leftover. Not the dry croutons.
  • Cream of chicken soup – use low sodium since your leftovers have already been seasoned.
  • Milk – I used skim but any is fine and found that it blends easier with the soup when it’s room temperature.

VARIATIONS & TIPS FROM THE COOK:

  • This recipe works well with cooked chicken whether you bake it or buy a rotisserie chicken at the store.
  • Turkey breasts are on sale and easy to freeze around the holidays. The leftovers will work great here.
  • If you don’t have any leftover dressing you can use a small box of “Stove Top Dressing”.
  • Add veggies! You will need to use vegetables that don’t have to cook very long such as frozen corn, peas, or green beans or saute them before you put this turkey casserole recipe together.
  • Cream of Mushroom or Celery soup works well if that’s what’s in your cupboard.
  • You can make a smaller amount if you don’t have a lot of leftovers or if you’re cooking for just a few. Use a smaller container and use only one can of soup.
  • Bake this recipe in two freezable containers. Eat one and freeze the other for a rainy day.

What can you serve with Leftover Turkey Casserole?

If you have any leftover cranberry sauce, that would be amazing. Keep it simple! Here are a few ideas for you.

Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe (3)
Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe (4)
Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe (5)
Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe (6)

Do you need some more leftover turkey recipe ideas?

You can substitute cooked turkey for any recipe that calls for chicken.

Pin this delicious turkey casserole recipe!

Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe (7)

A few items you may need to make the perfect Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe

  • Instant Read Thermometer – I use an instant-read thermometer for this recipe, for grilling, and even baking bread! I couldn’t function without one.
  • Baking Dish – I’ve got this one and love it. It comes with a lid that makes taking and refrigerating my treats a lot easier.

If it’s more recipes for Thanksgiving leftover recipes you’re looking for, here are some great ones

If you like this recipe, we would appreciate your comment and a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!

Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe (8)

Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini

Leftover Turkey Casserole repurposes leftover turkey and stuffing into one easy recipe. This one-dish casserole is quick, creamy, and delicious.

4.48 from 119 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword: leftover turkey casserole, turkey casserole recipe

Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 6 cups cooked turkey cubed or shredded
  • 4 cups pre-made bread stuffing
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup low sodium
  • 1 cup milk I used skim

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

  • Cover the bottom of the baking dish with the cooked turkey. Crumble the dressing over the top of the turkey.

  • Mix the canned soup with the milk and pour over the dressing and turkey.

  • Bake until bubbly, 40 to 60 minutes.

Video

Notes

  • The milk blends easier with the soup when both are at room temperature.
  • Chicken can be substituted for Turkey.
  • Cream of Mushroom or Celery can be substitued for Chicken soup.
  • You can use more or less turkey. Just make sure that it covers the bottom of the dish you use. The more you use the thicker the casserole will be.
  • You can add vegetables to a variation to this dish.
  • Leftovers can be frozen in an air-tight container.

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. Please calculate your own nutritional information if you want it exact to what you make and use my calculations as a guide only.

Nutrition

Calories: 369kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 22gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 1111mgPotassium: 319mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 543IUCalcium: 85mgIron: 3mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

What is your favorite way to repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers? Are you the cook or the guest? Please share, you are my inspiration!

Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I eat leftover turkey after 7 days? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

What is turkey tetrazzini made of? ›

It's a baked pasta recipe using a creamy, cheesy white wine sauce as the base. Cooked spaghetti, mushrooms, green peas, black olives, turkey, and bacon make up the bulk of the casserole and then it gets topped with panko breadcrumbs.

What is turkey casserole made of? ›

Mix turkey, celery, pimento peppers, almonds, and salt into mushroom soup mixture; cook and stir until heated through, about 5 minutes. Pour mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish; top with bread crumbs and Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven until casserole is bubbling and cheese is melted, 30 to 40 minutes.

When should you throw away Thanksgiving leftovers? ›

The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later. If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will be of best quality within 2-6 months.

Is it OK to eat turkey that's been in the fridge for 2 weeks? ›

Turkey typically lasts up to four days in the fridge before it goes bad. It can be stored in the freezer for up to four months before it starts to lose its flavor and texture. The USDA offers the following tips for storing and handling your turkey leftovers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc.

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

What does tetrazzini mean in English? ›

Tetrazzini in American English

(ˌtetrəˈzini, Italian ˌtetʀɑːtˈtsini) adjective. (often lc) served over pasta with a cream sauce, often flavored with sherry, sprinkled with cheese, and browned in the oven.

What is terrazzini? ›

Chicken Tetrazzini is a big, bubbly pasta bake with a creamy cheese sauce, juicy chicken and buttery garlic mushrooms. It's about as classic as a creamy pasta bake can get!

Why put foil on casserole dish? ›

2. Cover dishes. Covering dishes with aluminum foil during a bake helps lock in moisture. Loosely placing or tenting a sheet of foil over a dish can prevent the top from browning while the rest of your dish continues to bake.

What is the main ingredient in a casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What are the four components to a casserole? ›

There are 3 main parts that make up a casserole: the starchy base, the filling, and the sauce. The base: The starchy base is the foundation of the casserole. It isn't going to be the most flavorful part of the dish, but it is what will make the casserole filling and satisfying.

Can I eat 5 day old leftovers? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Can you eat cooked turkey after 5 days healthy? ›

Cooked turkey and other leftovers can be kept in the fridge safely for about three to four days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FoodSafety.gov say. But after that time, "the risk of food poisoning goes up," the Mayo Clinic notes, pointing to the growth of bacteria in refrigerated leftovers.

Can I eat Thanksgiving leftovers on Tuesday? ›

According to the USDA, leftovers should be frozen or eaten within four days, which means the Monday after Thanksgiving is your last day to safely eat leftovers. Starting Tuesday, they should be in the freezer or tossed.

Can I keep a fresh turkey in the fridge for 6 days? ›

Storing a Fresh Turkey

If no best-before date is present, Health Canada recommends using a fresh whole turkey stored in the refrigerator within 2-3 days of purchase or ask at the place of purchase.

How long is leftover turkey good for in the refrigerator? ›

How Long Does Turkey Last in the Fridge? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends using cooked turkey within three to four days as long as it is kept refrigerated at a temperature that is 40°F or lower. “Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth,” the website states.

Can I cook a turkey that's been in the fridge for a week? ›

Information. It takes approximately 24 hours for every four to five pounds of whole turkey to thaw in the refrigerator. Once the turkey is thawed, you can keep it in the refrigerator for one to two additional days before cooking.

Can you eat leftover turkey on the 5th day? ›

According to foodsafety.gov, a website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the following foods are safe in the fridge: Turkey: 3-4 days. Eat turkey within three to four days of cooking. If you use the turkey in a new dish like a soup or casserole, only consume within those initial four days.

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