By Krista Teigen
Published Nov 22, 2023
This Leftover Turkey Casserole with noodles, veggies, gravy, turkey, and a breadcrumb topping is the best post-Thanksgiving meal. It’s easy to make by simply throwing a few leftovers together and baking it in the oven, leaving you with a creamy and comforting casserole recipe!
Why We Love This Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe
- Easy. This is a great way to use up your leftover Thanksgiving turkey and turkey gravy !
- Flavorful. Garlic, rosemary, thyme, and chicken broth give this casserole tons of flavor.
- Comforting. The creamy sauce and crispy breadcrumb topping will have you coming back for seconds.
Variations on Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole
This leftover turkey casserole is so versatile! You can swap out some of the sautéed veggies for more leftovers, like brown sugar glazed carrots or creamy pea salad . You could even add in other veggies, like creamed corn or sautéed green beans . Feel free to leave out the pasta and instead top the dish with leftover mashed potatoes for a take on cottage pie .
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover turkey casserole tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-30 minutes, or until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze this Thanksgiving leftovers casserole tightly covered with 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Filled to the brim with leftovers and fresh ingredients alike, this turkey noodle casserole is a full meal all by itself. But you can serve it with a light Olive Garden salad or some dinner rolls , or any remaining Thanksgiving sides you didn’t put into the casserole.
More Leftover Turkey Recipes To Try
- Creamy Turkey Rice Casserole
- Turkey Noodle Soup
- Turkey Wild Rice Soup
- Thanksgiving Quesadilla
- More Turkey Leftovers Ideas
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3 cups dry rotini
- ▢ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided (½ stick)
- ▢ ½ onion chopped
- ▢ 2 carrots chopped
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- ▢ 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- ▢ 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ▢ 14.5 ounces low-sodium chicken broth (1 can)
- ▢ ¾ cup heavy cream room temperature
- ▢ ½ cup turkey gravy
- ▢ 3 cups chopped cooked turkey
- ▢ 1 cup peas fresh or frozen
- ▢ 1 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions. 3 cups dry rotini
- Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Once heated, add in the onion, carrots, and salt. Sauté until softened. ½ onion, 2 carrots, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Stir in the garlic, thyme, and rosemary, and cook for a minute. 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- Stir in the flour. Then, slowly pour in the chicken broth while whisking. 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 14.5 ounces low-sodium chicken broth
- Bring the mixture to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Continue whisking until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
- Pour in the heavy cream and turkey gravy and whisk to combine. ¾ cup heavy cream, ½ cup turkey gravy
- Add in the turkey, peas, and pasta, and stir to combine. Season with salt to taste. 3 cups chopped cooked turkey, 1 cup peas
- Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and combine it with the breadcrumbs in a small dish. 1 cup breadcrumbs
- Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the casserole.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and the casserole is bubbling.
Equipment
- 9×13 Baking Pan
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Leftover Turkey Casserole Step by Step
Prep the Filling: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Cook 3 cups of dry rotini to al dente according to the directions on the package. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then add ½ of a chopped onion, 2 chopped carrots, and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt. Sauté until softened, then stir in 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh thyme, and 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh rosemary.
Thicken the Filling: Stir in 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, then slowly pour in 14.5 ounces of low-sodium chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and whisk until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Pour in ¾ cup of heavy cream and ½ cup of turkey gravy and whisk to combine. Add 3 cups of chopped leftover turkey, 1 cup of peas, and the cooked pasta, and season with salt to taste. Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
Add the Topping: Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and combine it with 1 cup of breadcrumbs in a small dish. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the casserole.
Bake the Casserole: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and the casserole is bubbling.
Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 3 cups dry rotini
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided (½ stick)
- ½ onion chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 14.5 ounces low-sodium chicken broth (1 can)
- ¾ cup heavy cream room temperature
- ½ cup turkey gravy
- 3 cups chopped cooked turkey
- 1 cup peas fresh or frozen
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions. 3 cups dry rotini
- Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Once heated, add in the onion, carrots, and salt. Sauté until softened. ½ onion, 2 carrots, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Stir in the garlic, thyme, and rosemary, and cook for a minute. 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- Stir in the flour. Then, slowly pour in the chicken broth while whisking. 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 14.5 ounces low-sodium chicken broth
- Bring the mixture to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Continue whisking until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
- Pour in the heavy cream and turkey gravy and whisk to combine. ¾ cup heavy cream, ½ cup turkey gravy
- Add in the turkey, peas, and pasta, and stir to combine. Season with salt to taste. 3 cups chopped cooked turkey, 1 cup peas
- Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and combine it with the breadcrumbs in a small dish. 1 cup breadcrumbs
- Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the casserole.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and the casserole is bubbling.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
