By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 29, 2021
I always have way more leftover Thanksgiving turkey than I know what to do with, but these turkey croquettes are always a good idea. Made with stuffing, veggies, and seasonal spices, these little bites are bursting with Thanksgiving flavor. They’re such a fun and festive holiday appetizer. I love to dip them in gravy!
Perfectly crispy and deliciously festive, these turkey croquettes are my favorite way to make the most of my Thanksgiving leftovers . Deep fried to perfection, these croquettes are made with stuffing, turkey, carrots, and onions and coated with breadcrumbs for one delicious bite. I love how fun they are to make and eat!
What’s in This Turkey Croquettes Recipe?
- Celery: Adds crunch and a slightly sweet flavor to the croquettes.
- Carrots: Add a sweet flavor and a pop of orange color to the croquettes.
- Stuffing : Helps keep the croquettes moist and adds tons of flavor.
- Turkey: I like to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey , but you could also use a cooked turkey breast .
- Eggs: Bind the croquettes to keep them together and help the breadcrumbs stick.
- Onion: Adds a touch of earthiness to the croquettes.
- Spices : Dry rubbed sage, dried thyme, and kosher salt enhance the overall flavor of the croquettes.
- Oil : I like to fry in vegetable oil for its neutral flavor and high smoke point .
- Flour: All-purpose flour helps the egg stick to the croquettes.
- Breadcrumbs: Create a crispy shell on the outside of the croquettes.
Tips for Success
- You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to make these yummy turkey croquettes. You can easily substitute the shredded turkey for ground turkey instead. Just brown it in a skillet first before mixing it with the other ingredients.
- It’s important to let the mixture chill in the fridge before rolling it into the balls so that they hold together.
- Make sure that your oil is hot before frying. Use an instant-read thermometer to check that the oil has reached 265°F before adding the croquettes.
- I love the crispy texture that you only get with deep frying, but you can oven-bake these if you prefer. Place them on a lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
How to Store and Reheat
Once fried, let the turkey croquettes cool completely and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep well for 3 days and can be reheated in the oven at 365°F for 5-10 minutes. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving these turkey croquettes as an appetizer with turkey gravy for dipping. They’re also really tasty with ranch dressing . For a fun meal, I like to place a few on a bed of mashed potatoes and drizzle them with gravy and cranberry sauce .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 cup diced celery
- ▢ 1 cup diced carrots
- ▢ 3 cups leftover cooked stuffing
- ▢ 3 cups finely chopped cooked turkey (use leftover Thanksgiving turkey !)
- ▢ 3 large eggs divided
- ▢ ½ cup diced white onion
- ▢ 1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
- ▢ 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- ▢ Vegetable oil for frying
- ▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ ¼ cup water
- ▢ 1 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Boil 3 cups of water over high heat. Add the celery and carrots and boil until the carrots become tender, about 5 minutes. 1 cup diced celery, 1 cup diced carrots
- Let the carrots and celery cool completely before adding them to a large bowl along with the stuffing, turkey, 2 of the eggs, onion, sage, thyme, and ½ teaspoon of the salt. 3 cups leftover cooked stuffing, 3 cups finely chopped cooked turkey, 3 large eggs, ½ cup diced white onion, 1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Stir to combine then cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Place a sheet of parchment paper on a large baking sheet then roll the dough into 1-2 inch balls and place them on the baking sheet.
- Heat 2 inches of the oil in a deep skillet over medium heat until it reaches 265°F. Vegetable oil
- Grab 3 medium bowls. Whisk the flour and remaining ½ teaspoon of salt in one of the bowls. Add the remaining egg and all of the water to another bowl and whisk to combine. Place the breadcrumbs in the last bowl. 3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup breadcrumbs, ¼ cup water
- Dredge the stuffing balls one at a time in the flour, then in the egg, then in the breadcrumbs.
- Add 5-6 croquettes to the oil at a time and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until light and golden on all sides.
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Turkey Croquettes Step by Step
Boil the Veggies: Boil 3 cups of water over high heat. Add 1 cup of diced celery and 1 cup of diced carrots and boil until the carrots become tender, about 5 minutes.
Mix the Croquettes: Let the carrots and celery cool completely before adding them to a large bowl along with 3 cups of leftover cooked stuffing, 3 cups of finely chopped cooked turkey, 2 large eggs, ½ cup of diced white onion, 1 teaspoon of dried rubbed sage, 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt. Stir to combine then cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Shape and Coat the Croquettes: Place a sheet of parchment paper on a large baking sheet then roll the dough into 1-2 inch balls and place them on the baking sheet. Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium heat until it reaches 265°F. Grab 3 medium bowls. Whisk 1 cup of all-purpose flour and the remaining ½ teaspoon of salt in one of the bowls. Add the remaining 1 egg and ¼ cup of water to another bowl and whisk to combine. Place 1 cup of breadcrumbs in the last bowl. Dredge the stuffing balls one at a time in the flour, then in the egg, then in the breadcrumbs.
Fry the Croquettes: Add 5-6 croquettes to the oil at a time and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until light and golden on all sides.
More Turkey Appetizers to Try!
Turkey Sliders
Thanksgiving Quesadilla (Turkey Quesadilla)
Baked Turkey Meatballs
Cheesy Garlic Butter Sandwich Skewers
Turkey Croquettes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 3 cups leftover cooked stuffing
- 3 cups finely chopped cooked turkey (use leftover Thanksgiving turkey !)
- 3 large eggs divided
- ½ cup diced white onion
- 1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup water
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Boil 3 cups of water over high heat. Add the celery and carrots and boil until the carrots become tender, about 5 minutes. 1 cup diced celery, 1 cup diced carrots
- Let the carrots and celery cool completely before adding them to a large bowl along with the stuffing, turkey, 2 of the eggs, onion, sage, thyme, and ½ teaspoon of the salt. 3 cups leftover cooked stuffing, 3 cups finely chopped cooked turkey, 3 large eggs, ½ cup diced white onion, 1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Stir to combine then cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Place a sheet of parchment paper on a large baking sheet then roll the dough into 1-2 inch balls and place them on the baking sheet.
- Heat 2 inches of the oil in a deep skillet over medium heat until it reaches 265°F. Vegetable oil
- Grab 3 medium bowls. Whisk the flour and remaining ½ teaspoon of salt in one of the bowls. Add the remaining egg and all of the water to another bowl and whisk to combine. Place the breadcrumbs in the last bowl. 3 large eggs, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup breadcrumbs, ¼ cup water
- Dredge the stuffing balls one at a time in the flour, then in the egg, then in the breadcrumbs.
- Add 5-6 croquettes to the oil at a time and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until light and golden on all sides.
Notes
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
