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Need ideas for using up that leftover turkey? This Leftover Turkey Pasta Casserole Recipe is the best! I love a good turkey leftover casserole – it’s such a great dinner. You can even swap rotisserie or leftover chicken if that’s what you have!
Easy Creamy Turkey Casserole Recipe
It never fails that I always have a ton of turkey leftovers during the holiday season. This is especially true around Thanksgiving time, and I hate wasting food!
This is why this creamy turkey casserole became an overnight sensation in my house – because everyone loved that there was a new and creative way to enjoy leftover turkey.
Once you make your own homemade casserole with turkey, you just might buy an extra big turkey next year just so you have leftovers to use!
Ingredients Needed
- Pasta – Use any type of pasta that you’d like.
- Cream cheese – Make sure that it’s softened before using.
- Can cream of mushroom soup – This gives the casserole a creamy texture.
- Nonfat milk – You can use any type of milk that you’d like.
- Chicken broth (or water or turkey stock) – I also think adding bone broth is great.
- Ground black pepper – For flavor.
- Garlic powder – Minced garlic works, too.
- Frozen vegetables – Use your favorites and thaw them before adding.
- Cooked turkey or chicken – Be sure to shred or cube the meat for a better texture. I think that you could also use ground beef.
- Ritz crackers – Have the kids help out with the recipe by crushing up the crackers.
- Melted butter – You can use salted or unsalted butter for this recipe.
How to make Turkey Casserole with Pasta
- Cook the pasta: Read the directions on the pasta package and cook it accordingly.
- Mix the ingredients: As the pasta is cooking, mix the soup and cream cheese together and then add the milk, spices, and broth.
- Once the pasta is done cooking, drain the pasta and add it to the soup mixture. Also, add in the veggies and turkey and stir.
- Add to a baking dish: Pour the mixture into a 9X13 baking dish.
- Add the crackers: Crush the crackers in a large gallon bag and add the melted butter. Squeeze the bag together to mix the two ingredients, then add the crumbs to the top of the pasta.
- Bake: Put the pan in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes. It will be bubbling and very hot, so be careful. Serve.
Storing and Make Ahead Instructions
Can you have leftovers of leftovers? You bet! Talk about a great way to stretch that dollar! If you have any leftovers of this turkey casserole with noodles, just store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
You can also make this casserole recipe ahead of time and have it waiting in the fridge to bake. I would say that one day in advance is reasonable, and it’s a great way to save on prep time the next day.
Creamy Turkey Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1- pound pasta rotini, shells, etc
- 4 ounces (113g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 10.5 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup (118ml) nonfat milk
- ½ cup (118ml) chicken broth (or water or turkey stock)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 10-12 ounce bag frozen vegetables, thawed
- 2 ½ cups (345g) cooked turkey or chicken (shredded or cubed)
- 1 ½ cups about 30 ritz crackers, crushed
- 4 tablespoons (57g) melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente.
- While pasta is cooking, mix cream cheese with soup, then mix in milk, broth and spices.
- Drain pasta and add to soup mixture along with vegetables and turkey. Stir to combine.
- Pour mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Crush crackers in a large gallon size bag and add melted butter, mixing by squeezing the bag to incorporate butter throughout. Sprinkle cracker mixture over the top of the pasta in pan.
- Bake until bubbly and heated through, approximately 15 minutes. Serve hot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- You can use rotisserie chicken, leftover turkey, or chicken. Just be sure to shred or dice it bite size.
- Other cream soups may be substituted (i.e. cream of chicken or potato, etc)
Recipe Nutrition
What to serve with Turkey Casserole
Even though casseroles are hearty and delicious on their own, there is always room for extra side dishes to be paired with them.
Leftover Turkey Pasta Casserole Recipe is a creamy cheesy casserole with pasta and turkey – or use rotisserie chicken! The perfect easy weeknight meal done in 30 minutes.
Last Updated on November 26, 2023
Great casserole! Used some leftover pasta instead of cooking 1 pound. Used leftover smoked turkey and a bag of frozen butternut squash chunks.