Leftover Turkey Casserole

Leftover turkey recipes are great to have and this easy leftover turkey casserole is the perfect Thanksgiving leftover casserole!

Creativity is the key ingredient with making Thanksgiving leftover recipes. You can make a leftover breakfast casserole, turkey lettuce wraps, or a turkey gobbler sandwich!

(What’s a turkey gobbler sandwich? Turkey, stuffing, and cranberry stuffed in a hoagie roll!)

After days of cooking and cleaning, all home cooks want to relax the days after Thanksgiving.

Casseroles are the answer when it comes to easy and hearty meals! You can make casseroles with bread, pasta, rice, or even just vegetables!

What is in a leftover turkey casserole?

This turkey casserole recipe does not have the traditional “Thanksgiving” profile. There are no cranberries, potatoes, or stuffing ingredients to be found in this turkey casserole.

Ingredients used in turkey casserole:

This leftover turkey casserole recipe is made with short noodles tossed in a creamy mushroom and chicken sauce, with bites of peas and green beans, and covered with a simple crunchy and cheese topping!

The beauty of this turkey casserole recipe is that it uses ingredients you already have on hand!

Topping Ingredients

• panko or breadcrumbs
• grated Parmesan cheese
• melted butter

Casserole Ingredients

• rotini noodles (or any short noodle)
• leftover turkey (diced)
• frozen peas
• frozen green beans 
• condensed cream of mushroom soup
• cream of chicken soup
• milk
• salt and pepper

How To Make Turkey Leftover Casserole

To make this easy casserole recipe, begin with preheating the oven. Preheating the oven ensures that your casserole cooks with an even temperature.

Next, in a small bowl mix together the butter, cheese, and either bread crumbs or panko and then set mixture to the side.

Are breadcrumbs and panko the same thing?

Breadcrumbs and panko are used for the same reasons -coating foods and adding a crunchy texture.

Panko is crunchier and a bit thicker than breadcrumbs, perfect for toppings!

In a small bowl, mix together the cooked noodles, cubed turkey, frozen peas, and frozen green beans.

Tips for success with making casserole:

• Use Frozen Vegetables– Using frozen vegetables helps with keeping the vegetables a bit firmer compared to using canned vegetables during the baking process. (If you have fresh green beans with no recipe in mind, definitely use that!)
• Under Cook The Pasta– Whether you use rotini or another short pasta noodle, under cook the pasta by about two minutes from al dente! Remember, the baking process will finish cooking the noodles for a firm, yet soft pasta!
• Cut Turkey Into Bite Sized Chunks- It can be tempting to take a hand mixer and shred leftover turkey, but this recipe really works best if you cube your leftover turkey. This helps keep the texture of the turkey casserole consistent. Also, bite sized chunks so no one chokes.

To the same large bowl (or you can use a separate bowl), add both soups, salt, and pepper and mix it together.

I personally like to mix the soups in a separate small bowl so I can taste for seasonings before pouring over the pasta.

If you find that your sauce mixture is too thick, pour a small amount of milk to your casserole to thin it out.

Do I have to use cream of mushroom soup for my turkey casserole recipe?

Using cream of mushroom soup for a turkey casserole is a great way to add variety, but you can switch it out with a second can of cream of chicken, or even some cream of celery.

If you choose to use cream of celery, add in a pinch of dry rubbed sage and onion powder to give it a Thanksgiving flavor profile!

Finally, pour the leftover turkey casserole with noodles over a well-greased casserole pan.

Spoon over an even layer of the topping mixture over the turkey casserole.

You can be a bit extra by adding some shredded cheese (mozzarella would work great here).

Bake turkey casserole for 20 minutes or until the top is bubbly and golden brown in spots.

Should I cover my turkey casserole when baking?

For this quick casserole recipe, covering the casserole while baking is not necessary.

What To Serve With Turkey Casserole

Since this turkey casserole recipe is essentially a one pan meal, sides are optional! Hopefully, there are still sides leftover from Thanksgiving like:

• Thanksgiving Stuffing
• Cornbread Dressing
• Scalloped Corn Casserole
• Sweet Potato Casserole

A tossed salad, a serving of fresh fruit, or steamed vegetables would compliment this turkey casserole recipe well!

Can you freeze a turkey casserole?

Yes, you can freeze a leftover turkey casserole if you store it in an airtight container that can be protected from being freezer burnt.

If you’re doing this intentionally, skip making the topping until you’re ready to bake it!

You can freeze the turkey casserole for up to three months.

For a better result with storing leftover turkey casseroles, refrigerate while covered for 1-2 days.

Here are some other casserole recipes we think you may enjoy!

• Green Bean Casserole
• Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
• Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Casserole
• Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole