Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Casserole

Thanksgiving leftover casserole

I love leftovers. There’s no need to waste food when you can take a meal you crated the day before and turn it into something great, like Leftover Lime Rice, Spaghetti Casserole, and Rice Tacos. Top tier leftovers always come the day after Thanksgiving. Sliced juicy turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, vegetables, ham, and plenty more await in the fridge to create casseroles, sandwiches, and anything else our brains can think of. Using a handful of my holiday favorites, I made my new favorite Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Casserole. It has a little bit of everything from the holiday, like leftover Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy. Each element tastes new and fresh thanks to the simple seasonings and a homemade gravy. Did I mention that it freezes well? Pack up the casserole and dig in days or even months after the holiday. You’ll feel so proud for never wasting a single thing!

How to make a Thanksgiving turkey casserole

There are plenty of meals you can create using leftover Thanksgiving turkey and sides, but this casserole is in a league of its own. Here’s how to put it together: Make the gravy by melting the butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and flour, then mix until it’s combined. Pour in the evaporated milk, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Stir until the mixture is creamy. Spread the leftover stuffing on the bottom of the prepared baking dish, then layer the turkey over top. Pour the gravy over the turkey and stuffing. Spread mashed potatoes over everything and finish with a layer of shredded cheese. Bake the casserole for 30 to 35 minutes, then remove and serve!

Variations

Add ins – Corn, mushrooms, green beans, rice, quinoa, carrots, sausage, bacon, or cooked noodles would be delicious additions to the casserole.Instead of gravy – Use cream of mushroom soup.Turkey – Make this with leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or leftover ham if you don’t have turkey or are making this throughout the year.Stuffing – You can use your favorite stuffing recipe or mix up the flavors with a batch of my Potato Kale Stuffing or Amish Potato Stuffing or Southern Cornbread Dressing or Stuffing Balls.Breadcrumbs – For an extra crunch, top the casserole with a layer of breadcrumbs mixed with herbs and melted butter.

What goes well with leftover turkey casserole?

Serve your turkey stuffing casserole with cranberry sauce, kale salad, dinner rolls, and your other favorite Thanksgiving sides. Serving this year-round? Pair it with a green salad and roasted broccoli for added nutrition.

Can I freeze turkey casserole?

You can! To freeze, assemble the casserole fully before wrapping the dish in foil and freezing for up to 2 months. Reheat the casserole from frozen and keep the foil on top until the last 15 minutes of baking. The casserole may need an extra 15 to 25 minutes in the oven. Serve with an extra batch of homemade gravy to make sure each bite is nice and moist.