Now that Thanksgiving is over, many of us probably have a lot of turkey leftovers in the fridge. Use up any extra turkey by making this quick and easy turkey and noodles recipe on the stove in less than 30 minutes. You can also make the dressing or stuffing with the extra celery and onions you had on hand.
I don’t usually cook on Thanksgiving, but I love a good smoked turkey and have also made a turkey breast in the crock pot. When I make either of these, I always have leftover turkey. Repurposing my leftovers is sort of my jam.
Beef and noodles and chicken and noodles are two recipes my family is always on board for eating. Once I smoked a turkey and had a lot of leftovers, I thought I’d try making turkey and noodles with them. [feast_advanced_jump_to].
Leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner is a gift that keeps on giving. One of my favorite ways to repurpose those leftovers is in a hearty pot of turkey noodles. It’s like chicken noodle soup’s heartier cousin.
This old fashioned turkey and noodles recipe transforms sliced turkey and egg noodles into a creamy, soul-warming one-pot meal. With just a handful of ingredients, it comes together in under 30 minutes.
Keep reading for my easy method for making leftover turkey into the ultimate comfort food – turkey and noodles.
Start With Leftover Roasted or Smoked Turkey
The key to this recipe is having pre-cooked turkey on hand. Ideally, leftover sliced turkey breast or thigh meat from a holiday meal works best.
You can also roast or smoke an entire boneless turkey breast ahead of time just for this purpose. Shred or chop into bite-sized pieces. Rotisserie chicken can be subbed in a pinch too.
Aim for about 4 cups of cooked turkey meat Having a combination of both white and dark meat makes this dish extra moist and flavorful.
Sauté the Aromatic Veggie Base
With the turkey prepped, it’s time to build an aromatic veggie base. Melt 1⁄2 stick of butter in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Add in diced carrots, celery and onion. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the onions become translucent and tender. This classic trio of veggies is known as a mirepoix.
Stir in minced garlic during the last minute or two to release its flavor without burning.
Simmer the Turkey and Noodles in Broth
Next, pour in 7 cups of chicken broth and bring it to a boil. Feel free to use turkey broth for an even richer flavor.
Add in 2 packages of frozen egg noodles, gently stirring to separate any stuck together. Partially cover and gently simmer for about 8-10 minutes, until noodles are nearly cooked through.
Give the pot an occasional stir during simmering to prevent sticking. The noodles will finish cooking in the next steps.
Finish with Cream of Chicken Soup
Here’s where the magic happens. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in one 10.5-ounce can of cream of chicken soup until fully blended and warm.
Add in the cooked turkey pieces and continue simmering just until turkey is heated through, about 5 more minutes.
The cream of chicken soup acts as a flavor booster and thickens the broth into a creamy, comforting sauce.
Adjust Seasoning and Finish with Fresh Parsley
Before serving, I recommend taste testing and seasoning to preference with salt and pepper. Stir in 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley.
The fresh parsley adds a burst of flavor and bright green flecks of color. That’s it – enjoy your leftover turkey transformed into the coziest pot of noodles.
Customize It with Add-Ins and Variations
Part of the fun of this recipe is customizing it to suit your tastes. Try these easy add-ins or substitutions:
- Mix in broccoli, peas, zucchini or other veggies
- Use any combination of poultry – chicken, turkey, etc
- Swap broths – chicken, turkey, vegetable
- Add fresh herbs – thyme, sage, oregano, basil
- Stir in cooked wild rice or barley for variety
- Top with crunchy panko breadcrumbs or crackers
- Substitute the noodles – try egg, spinach, whole wheat
- Serve over mashed potatoes for extra carbs
- Thin it into more of a soup consistency
The possibilities are endless for transforming your leftover turkey into a hearty pot of noodles. Kids and adults alike will love this comforting, nostalgic meal.
Next time you’re looking for a way to use up leftover turkey, give this simple turkey noodles recipe a try. The flavors of the turkey, veggies and seasonings combine into the ultimate one-pot comfort food.
Instructions – How to Make Turkey and Noodles with Leftover Turkey
Start by grabbing a large Dutch Oven or soup pot to make this turkey and noolde recipe in. I love an extra large pot for making soups or noodle recipes like this one. Start this recipe by chopping up the celery, onions, and garlic.
Drop the holy trinity of cooking into the Dutch oven along with butter. Sauté until the onions just begin to soften.
Then add the chopped or shredded turkey to the sauteed vegetables. Pour in one can of the cream of chicken soup after 2-3 minutes of the turkey cooking.
Then slowly stir in the chicken broth. Keep stirring to dissolve the cream of chicken soup before adding the second can. Stir to combine to form a watery sauce. Add the garlic pepper to your taste preference.
Finally, add the egg noodles to the pot once the mixture begins to boil. Stir to combine. Once it starts to boil again, turn down the heat and let it cook for 20 minutes, or until the noodles are done.
My family loves any meat and noodle concoction over mashed potatoes. No need to do this, but if you have extra mashed potatoes, why not serve the homemade turkey and noodles on top of the warmed-up mashed potatoes?
When you’re cleaning up after Thanksgiving dinner, make this while the turkey is still warm. That way, you won’t have to cook again the next day.
I know that some of you may want to make this with a few changes because of allergies or different tastes. Here are some common substitutions I get asked about.
- Without Cream of Chicken Soup: Mix a cup and a half of milk with two tablespoons of cornstarch to make soup instead of cream of chicken soup. This should be added to the turkey and chicken broth instead of the soup. Another way to thicken the sauce is to mix flour into the butter that is already in the vegetables. Then, add the broth and milk.
- Gluten Free Noodles: To make the turkey and noodles gluten-free, use gluten-free noodles and the cornstarch and milk mix above.
This recipe for turkey and noodles is a great starting point for adding more foods or even making it into a soup. Regardless of how you change it up, it will still be able to use up those thanksgiving leftovers.
- Carrots: If you want more vegetables, add carrots to this recipe.
- Turkey Noodle Soup: To make this turkey noodle soup, double the broth.
- Herbs: To make the recipe taste even better, add any of these herbs, like thyme, parsley, or sage.
See this crock pot chicken and noodles on Beyer Eats and Drinks for the slow cooker cooking method.
When you want to make sure you have all the right things to pull off this turkey and noodles recipe, be sure to check out my favorite kitchen items and pointers on which tools and ingredients to stock your cabinets.
These leftover turkey and noodles absolutely are great the next day or two. They also freeze well for a great weeknight meal in the future.
- Refrigerating Leftovers – Store in an airtight container. You might need to add a little water to thin it out again when you reheat it. The noodles will absorb the liquid in the fridge.
- Putting leftovers in the freezer: Lay the turkey and noodles flat in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to three months. Let it thaw all the way, then heat it up on the stove or in the microwave. Add more water as necessary for consistency.
If you cooked a whole turkey for Thanksgiving and still have the neck and giblets from inside the bird, you can use them to make turkey broth. Just cook the parts with water completely covering them for 20 minutes and drain then.
Yes, you can freeze turkey and noodles. After the turkey and noodles have cooled, freeze for up to three months in a freezer-safe bag.
You can use cooked turkey that was frozen in this recipe. For trukey and noodles, you can use frozen turkey that was already cooked.
Ingredients for Leftover Turkey and Noodles
The ingredients for turkey and noodles are very similar to that of chicken and noodles.
- Extra Turkey Meat: Both dark and white turkey meat will work in this recipe. Cut up whatever you have left over and use it in this recipe.
- Onions: White or sweet onions work best for this. They add more flavor to the dish.
- Celery—You can leave out the celery if you don’t want it. It changes the texture and gives it an earthy flavor. Also, it’s a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers.
- Garlic: I have to have garlic, but you don’t have to if you don’t like it. I always have garlic bulbs on hand, but garlic mince from a jar would also work.
- Butter – Fat is flavor. Get the butter out to cook the celery and onions in.
- Cream chicken soup—The cream of chicken works best, but cream of celery could be used if you need to.
- Chicken Broth: You can also use Better Than Bouillon plus water instead of chicken broth. Use turkey broth from Thanksgiving that you have left over in this recipe.
- Wide Noodles: I like Reames frozen wide noodles, but dry wide noodles also work.
- Garlic Pepper: Garlic powder, salt, and pepper work well together in this recipe. You will use this in many recipes, so buy a big bottle. Garlic salt and ground pepper is also a great substitute.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Turkey Noodle Casserole Recipe – Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Special
FAQ
How long is leftover turkey good for?
What can I do with leftover turkey fat?
How do you get meat off leftover turkey?
How do you eat leftover Turkey Noodle Dinner?
Easy noodle dinner made with leftover turkey, veggies, and cream sauce. Dice carrots and slice onions thinly. Pour broth and heavy cream into the cups so it’s ready to use. Cook noodles according to the package instructions. You can save some time by cooking noodles at the same time as preparing veggies and sauce.
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.
What can I use leftover Turkey noodle casserole for?
Turkey: Use leftover turkey or use rotisserie chicken. Leftover ham is another great variation in this recipe. Vegetables: This turkey noodle casserole is so versatile. Use either frozen mixed vegetables or veggies from your crisper drawer (see recipe notes for fresh vegetables). Pasta: Any medium shape can be used in this recipe.
Can you freeze leftover Turkey & noodles?
These leftover turkey and noodles absolutely are great the next day or two. They also freeze well for a great weeknight meal in the future. Refrigerating Leftovers – Store in an airtight container. When you reheat, you may need to stir in a little water to thin out again. The noodles will absorb the liquid in the fridge.
What is Turkey and noodles?
I kind of love the recipe so much that I could roast a turkey just so I could make this dish! Turkey and noodles is pretty similar to turkey and dumplings (or chicken and dumplings), though obviously these starchy thick noodles are thinner than dumplings.
Can You refrigerate Turkey noodle noodles?
Refrigerating Leftovers – Store in an airtight container. When you reheat, you may need to stir in a little water to thin out again. The noodles will absorb the liquid in the fridge. Freezing Leftovers – Place the turkey and noodles in a freezer bag and lay flat. Freeze for up to three months.