Bake

Leftover Turkey Casserole

by:
October 27, 2021
5
3 Ratings
Leftover Turkey Casserole
Photo by Julia Gartland. Prop Stylist: Sophia Pappas. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi.
  • Prep time 15 hours
  • Cook time 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Serves 6 to 8
Author Notes

The most important part of a leftover turkey casserole? A really good sauce—one with enough muscle and flavor to pull all the odds and ends together, transforming them into a new dish. This version skips the canned condensed soup route and instead draws inspiration from béchamel-based macaroni and cheese, turkey tetrazzini, and creamed spinach.

Punctuated by a hefty amount of garlic, chile flakes, nutmeg, and black pepper, this Mornay sauce works particularly well with younger alpine cheeses. To make this style of cheese, the curds are gently cooked, then pressed into wheels and aged, giving them maximum meltability. My favorite for this dish is a 5- to 8-month aged Gruyère, but you can also use Comté, mild-to-sharp younger cheddars, domestic fontina, or even a young Gouda like Vlaskaas. Or use a mix of any of the above—to me, casseroles are made for using up any cheeses floating around my fridge. The sauce gets tossed with leftover turkey, of course, plus egg noodles, lots of kale, and peas. Top with herby, lemon-peppery bread crumbs and bake until bubbly and golden. The best part of this recipe is how versatile it is. Once you have the sauce, you mix and match whatever leftovers you have around. Instead of the peas, you can sub in frozen mixed vegetables, cubes of roasted butternut squash, or chopped, blanched green beans. And when it comes to the kale, feel free to sub in thawed, drained spinach, or use whatever greens you have on hand.

Cooking for a smaller crowd? This recipe is equally delicious cut in half and cooked on a quarter sheet pan for lots of crispy, bread-crumb-topped goodness. —Asha Loupy

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Casserole
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 2 large bunches kale
  • 1/2 cup (113 grams/1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 6 large garlic cloves, minced or finely grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup (60 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 6 cups whole (or low-fat) milk
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 12 ounces Gruyère cheese (or another meltable cheese, like cheddar), coarsely grated (3 cups)
  • 1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, finely grated (¼ cup)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 pound dried, wide egg noodles
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 3 cups diced leftover turkey meat
  • Topping
  • 1 cup panko
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Bring a large pot of abundantly salted water to a boil over high heat.
  3. Meanwhile, strip the kale leaves from their stems (saving the stems for another use). Blanch the leaves until bright green and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the cooked kale leaves to a colander and run under cold water until the leaves are cool enough to handle. Squeeze all the water out of the kale, finely chop, and place in a medium bowl. Reduce the heat under the water to medium-low, cover the pot, and keep the water at a simmer (for cooking the pasta and peas later on).
  4. To prepare the sauce: Melt the butter in a large, high-rimmed skillet or pot over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook until the garlic is fragrant and just starting to turn light golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Increase the heat back to medium, add the flour and cook, whisking frequently, until the roux is barely light beige, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in the milk in a slow, steady stream, until the milk and roux are incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, until it thickens enough to cling to the back of the spoon, 5 to 7 minutes.
  5. Reduce the heat to low, then add the cream cheese and whisk until it dissolves into the sauce. Add the Gruyère, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and stir to combine (it’s okay if the grated cheese isn’t fully melted). Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Turn off the heat, cover, and keep warm while you cook the pasta.
  6. While the sauce is cooking, increase the heat under the pot of kale-cooking water to high and bring back to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until almost al dente, about two-thirds of the time on the package’s directions. During the last minute of cooking, add the frozen peas. Drain the pasta and peas and return it to the pot along with the turkey and reserved chopped kale.
  7. To assemble, add the cheese sauce to the pasta, peas, and turkey. Stir to combine. Transfer the mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  8. For the panko topping, mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl, making sure all the bread crumbs are coated in the melted butter. Evenly sprinkle on top of the pasta.
  9. Place the baking dish on a baking sheet (to catch any sauce that bubbles over). Bake until the casserole is fully heated through and the bread crumbs are deep golden brown and crispy, 22 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving and enjoy hot or warm.
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1 Review

Cailey
Cailey May 2, 2022
I’ve made this recipe twice and it’s delicious. The perfect comforting casserole, and it makes plenty. Definitely use a large pot; both times that I’ve made this I replaced the turkey with chicken, and the second time I replaced half of the milk called for with bone broth and I found it to heighten the comfort food aspect and also kept the meal from being too heavy (since there’s so much dairy).