Leftover Turkey Noodle Skillet Casserole

ByCarol Updated
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A simple recipe for leftover turkey. This creamy turkey noodle skillet casserole is a classic recipe. It evokes memories of being in grandma’s cozy kitchen. Filled with tender bites of turkey. Lots of vegetables and egg noodles in a delicious creamy sauce. This recipe uses one skillet for a one pot comfort meal.

Turkey noodle casserole in a bowl with a spoon on a gingham napkin.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • 30-Minute Dinner – When you are short on time, this recipe will get dinner on the table fast.
  • Use Leftover Turkey – This the perfect recipe to use up any leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.
  • Simple But Flavorful – The best part of a casserole is the ability to meld flavors together. All the ingredients come together for a flavorful and hearty dinner. Your family will love it.
  • One Pot Meal – Using only one skillet to cook the turkey noodle casserole makes for easy clean-up. Even the noodles cook in the same skillet.
A spoon holding turkey noodle casserole over a skillet.

I have always loved casseroles. Especially my sweet potato casserole. You can throw together all the ingredients into one dish for a delicious and easy meal. Or side dish.

Casseroles are a true comfort food. There’s nothing fancy about them. But they are warm and nourishing. Like a hug from the kitchen. Grandma’s kitchen. She used what she had in the pantry and fridge to make dinner. It always turned out to be filling and satisfying.

Casseroles stretch your food dollar. You can take leftover turkey, add veggies and noodles for a complete meal. You didn’t spend that much money at all. It’s a delicious alternative to serving plain turkey. That’s a winning recipe (pun intended).

Ingredients for turkey noodle skillet casserole.

Ingredients List And Substitutions

TIP: For more time saving ingredients, look for frozen chopped onions and celery. Many grocery stores offer fresh onion and celery that’s already diced. Check the produce section of your grocery store.

  • Turkey – use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or leftover rotisserie chicken. Chop into bite sized pieces. I like to buy a turkey breast when they go on sale. This will yield a lot of meat which is why this recipe is perfect for the extra leftovers.
  • Butter – this adds flavor when sautéing the onions and celery. You could use olive or avocado oil instead.
  • Onion – yellow onion is preferable but a white onion would be fine.
  • Celery – you need only about one or two ribs from the stalk.
  • Chicken stock – the noodles cook in the chicken stock which creates the base of the creamy sauce.
  • Spices – dried thyme is a wonderful addition to poultry. It has a strong earthy flavor. I use it for almost all my chicken and turkey recipes.
  • Fresh herbs – I added fresh rosemary and fresh basil for an extra layer of flavor. This is optional. Fresh basil will add a light peppery taste.
  • Egg noodles – use medium wide egg noodles. Don’t add more than the recipe calls for. The noodles soak up a lot of liquid and will continue to do so after cooking. No need to precook the noodles. They cook in the skillet.
  • Frozen mixed vegetables – this makes it so easy to add to the casserole. No chopping necessary.
  • Milk – I use whole milk but 2% would work, too.
  • Cold water and cornstarch – these two ingredients make a slurry to thicken the sauce.

More One Pot Meals

I like one pot meals because they’re tasty and easy to prepare.

Old fashioned sloppy joes is an all time family favorite. Cooks in one skillet. Serve on a hamburger bun with a side dish like this classic creamy coleslaw.

I love this delicious Dutch oven beef stew. Everything cooks in the same pot. A good choice for a chilly day. Serve with dinner rolls to round out your meal.

Using Fresh Herbs

In my garden this year, I decided to grow rosemary and basil. The rosemary plant is growing a lot. This is an easy plant to grow.

I had planted quite a few tomato plants this year. I thought adding fresh basil to my garden would be good for adding to homemade tomato soup. Unfortunately, my tomato crop didn’t produce much. The basil plant has grown and grown. I’ve got lots of basil leaves.

What do you do? I added these two herbs to this recipe. I chopped up the rosemary and the basil, then added it with the rest of the spices. This gives the turkey noodle skillet casserole another layer of flavor. I recommend adding these herbs but it is optional.

How To Make Leftover Turkey Noodle Skillet Casserole

For the full ingredient measurements and instructions, see the recipe card below.

Melting butter in a cast iron skillet.
  1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
Cooking celery and onions in a cast iron skillet.
  1. Once the butter has melted, add the celery and onions. Sauté until the onions are translucent.
Cooking dried egg noodles in a cast iron skillet.
  1. Pour in the chicken stock and add in the spices. If desired, add herbs. Stir until combined. Bring to boiling. Add the dried egg noodles to the skillet.
Cooked egg noodles with onions, celery and chicken stock in a skillet.
  1. Cook for 5 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
Turkey noodle casserole cooking in a cast iron skillet.
  1. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in frozen mixed vegetables and milk. Pour in the slurry. Stir and cook until thickened. Add the chopped cooked turkey and cook until heated completely. Serve while hot.
A close up of turkey noodle casserole in a bowl on a gingham napkin.
A bowl of turkey noodle casserole on a napkin with a spoon beside it.

Leftover Turkey Noodle Skillet Casserole

Carol
A simple recipe for leftover turkey. Filled with tender bites of turkey, a mixture of vegetables with soft egg noodles in a delicious sauce. This creamy turkey noodle casserole recipe uses one skillet for a one pot comfort meal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

  • 10 inch or larger deep skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup celery (diced)
  • 1 cup yellow onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary finely chopped (optional)
  • 1 cup medium wide egg noodles (dried)
  • 1 package frozen mixed vegetables (12 ounces)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 2 cups cooked turkey (chopped into bite sized pieces)

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Once melted, add diced celery and chopped onions. Sauté until onions are translucent.
    2 tablespoons butter, ½ cup celery, 1 cup yellow onion
  • Add chicken stock, dried thyme leaves, garlic powder, salt and pepper to the skillet with the celery and onions. Add fresh basil and fresh rosemary, if desired.
    Bring to boiling. Add dried egg noodles and cook for 5 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
    2 cups chicken stock, 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped, 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary finely chopped, 1 cup medium wide egg noodles
  • Reduce heat to low. Stir in frozen mixed vegetables and milk.
    1 package frozen mixed vegetables, 1 cup milk
  • In a small bowl, add the cornstarch then the cold water. Using a fork, stir until smooth. Pour into the skillet. Cook while stirring continually until thickened and bubbly. Add the chopped cooked turkey. Cook and continue stirring for about 2 minutes or until everything is completely heated. Serve immediately.
    1 tablespoon cornstarch, 2 tablespoons cold water, 2 cups cooked turkey

Notes

Fresh herbs – I added fresh rosemary and fresh basil for an extra layer of flavor. This is optional. Fresh basil will add a light peppery taste.
Tip – Rinse fresh herbs and dry on a paper towel before chopping. 
Keyword casserole, noodle, turkey, vegetable
Did you make this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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