Leftover Thanksgiving casserole can use up just about any leftovers from your holiday meal. You could make a turkey salad, turkey soup or sandwich… but with this leftover turkey casserole you can use up multiple things from Thanksgiving or Christmas in one dish. So convenient! This is a great option for anyone looking for healthy leftover turkey casserole recipes. It’s naturally low carb (if using my sugar-free cranberry sauce and this roasted turkey) and gluten-free, plus it’s packed with vegetables. And, it’s still filling and comforting at the same time.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for leftover Thanksgiving casserole, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Leftover Turkey – For a turkey leftover casserole, use any cooked, cubed, or shredded leftover Thanksgiving turkey you have on hand. If you’re out of turkey, you can also use shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken instead.Green Beans – I used regular green beans with salt and pepper, but you could use garlic roasted green beans, green beans almondine, or any veggie you prefer, such as corn, peas, onions, or broccoli.Cheddar Cheese – Helps meld flavors together. You can also use Monterey Jack, mozzarella cheese, or your favorite melting cheese.Garlic – Use freshly minced for best flavor, or grab jarred minced garlic for convenience.Mayonnaise – I prefer my homemade mayo, but use any brand you prefer (or Greek yogurt).Cranberry Sauce – I always make sugar-free cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving so that’s what I used, but you can use any leftover canned or homemade cranberry sauce you have.Goat Cheese – I used a plain variety here. You can also substitute plain cream cheese, or even grated parmesan. Walnuts – Adds a satisfying crunch to the casserole. You can leave them out for a nut-free option, or swap with other nuts, like pecans.
How To Make Leftover Turkey Casserole
This section shows how to make leftover Thanksgiving casserole, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Variations
One of the best things about this Thanksgiving leftover casserole? It’s so versatile! In fact, this entire casserole consists of things I always have around at that time of year. You can easily adjust the amounts of each ingredient based on how much you have. Here are some ideas:
Turkey stuffing casserole – Add a layer of stuffing to your leftover turkey casserole, if you have some left. You can use traditional versions, or dishes like cauliflower stuffing.Green bean casserole – I used plain cooked green beans with some sea salt, but it would work equally well by layering classic green bean casserole (or my low carb green bean casserole) into it.Ham casserole – If you have holiday ham, you can easily throw that in instead of (or in addition to) turkey.Add starch – I kept this dish light, which is perfect after a heavy holiday meal, but you can add cooked pasta, cooked rice, or leftover roasted sweet potatoes to make it more hearty. You might need to increase the amount of cranberry sauce and mayo if you do this.
Storage Instructions
Store: You can store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Meal prep: Layer your casserole, cover, and store in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to bake. Reheat: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes, until warm.Freeze: Assemble the casserole and store in the the freezer for up to 3 months. (You can also store individual portions instead.) Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or bake directly from frozen.
More Ways To Use Leftover Turkey
Need other ideas for leftover turkey meat? Try the soup or salad below, or swap the chicken for turkey in the casseroles to make leftover turkey casserole recipes out of them: Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it! Nutrition info does not include optional walnuts and uses sugar-free cranberry sauce.
