Turkey Noodle Casserole

Rich with a savory Gruyere and mustard sauce, it’s the perfect leftover turkey recipe.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated November 09, 2023
Elise Bauer
leftover Turkey noodle casserole recipe

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Every year we start our Thanksgiving planning with the best of intentions. "Last year was over the top. Could we please put the brakes on with the side dishes this time?" And every year, we cook way more food than our extended family could possibly eat in one sitting.

I blame my father.

He can't resist a side that sounds good. Of course we need creamed turnips along with creamed cauliflower, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, and turnip gratin. And that's just the starches!

Turkey noodle casserole served with green salad

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Every year we pick out a turkey big enough for all of us, not counting the fact that we will be so full of sides that we won't have a lot of room left for the turkey.

But is this a problem? Having too much turkey?

Uh, let me think about it. No. No, it is not a problem. It just means more opportunities for creative uses of turkey leftovers, like this luscious turkey noodle casserole.

It's creamy, it's crunchy, it's sort of fancy for a casserole. Never mind that though, it tastes great! A perfect home for the leftover turkey that lost out to too many sides.

Serving turkey noodle casserole from a baking dish

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Making This Turkey Casserole Recipe Your Own

  • Swap out the tarragon with some sage, thyme, or rosemary.
  • Throw in some leftover vegetables, like mushrooms, peas, or carrots.
  • Try an Emmental, raclette, Jarlsberg, cheddar, or Swiss cheese.
  • Replace the vermouth with more broth instead.

Saving and Serving Turkey Casserole

You can make this turkey casserole in advance and store it in the fridge right in the ceramic or metal casserole dish to go directly from the refrigerator to the oven.

You can also freeze the casserole before you put it in the oven. Then, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake. You can also go directly from the freezer to the oven. It just takes about twice as long to heat it up.

Just be sure to wrap your casserole a couple of times with heavy-duty foil before freezing. Be nice to your future self and label and date your casserole too! Then, you'll know what's in that mystery dish and remember to eat it within three months for the best results.

Sides to Serve With Turkey Casserole

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Turkey Noodle Casserole

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 80 mins
Total Time 100 mins
Servings 6 to 10 servings

Ingredients

  • Salt

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter

  • 2 cups sliced shallots or thinly sliced onions

  • 2 cups diced celery

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

  • 12 ounces egg noodles

  • 1/3 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine

  • 1 1/2 cups milk

  • 1/4 cup cream or sour cream

  • 2 cups chicken or turkey stock

  • 2 teaspoons dry tarragon

  • 6 ounces grated Gruyere cheese

  • 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard

  • 3 cups coarsely chopped cooked turkey

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

  • 1 tablespoon melted butter

  • Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish, optional

Method

  1. Preheat the oven, and boil water:

    Preheat the oven to 375°F. Start heating 4 quarts of water for the pasta. Add 2 tablespoons of salt to the water (1 tablespoon for every 2 quarts of water).

  2. Cook the shallots and add flour:

    Melt butter in a large, thick-bottomed (5-quart) pot on medium heat. Add the shallots and celery, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

    Cooking leeks in a pot for leftover turkey recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Stir in the flour and cook over low heat, stirring, for about 3 minutes.

    Cooked leeks in a pot

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  3. Cook the noodles firmer than al dente:

    Put the noodles into the boiling water. Follow the package directions and cook the noodles for 2 minutes less than the range given on the package.

    The pasta should be a bit firmer than al dente. So, for example, if the package instructions say bring to a boil and cook for 6 to 10 minutes, add the pasta to the hot water, return the water to a boil and cook it for 4 minutes. While the pasta is cooking, continue on with the recipe.

  4. Start the sauce:

    Into the saucepan with the butter, shallots, celery, and flour, add the dry vermouth and let bubble for a minute. Then, stir in the milk, cream, and stock. Add the tarragon.

    Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 to 8 minutes.

    how to make sauce for tuna noodle casserole

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Cream the sauce for a leftover turkey casserole

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  5. Drain and rinse the pasta:

    By the time the sauce is done, the pasta will be ready. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking.

  6. Add the cheese, mustard, and turkey to the sauce:

    Add the grated cheese and mustard to the pot. Stir until the cheese is melted. Add the chopped cooked turkey to the pot.

    Add salt to taste (depending on if you are using salted stock or not, or salted butter or not, that could be no added salt to as much as a teaspoon added). Add freshly ground black pepper.

    cheesy tuna noodle casserole

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    leftover turkey in turkey noodle casserole

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  7. Add the pasta, lemon juice, and transfer to casserole dish:

    Now it's time to add the cooked pasta to the pot. If the noodles have stuck together, rinse them in the colander with a little water to separate them. Add the noodles to the pot with the turkey.

    Stir in the lemon juice and adjust the seasonings to your taste.

    Transfer the mixture to a buttered 3-quart casserole dish.

    what type of pasta for tuna noodle casserole

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    how to prepare casserole dish for tuna noodle casserole

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  8. Top with the panko and melted butter:

    Sprinkle the top with panko and drizzle 1 tablespoon of melted butter over the top.

    panko best topping for tuna noodle casserole

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  9. Bake until golden:

    Bake the casserole at 375°F on the middle rack of the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it is bubbling, and the top is golden.

    golden brown topping turkey noodle casserole

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    If you can wait, let the casserole cool a bit before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley, if using.

    Did you love the recipe? Give us some stars and leave a comment below!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
375 Calories
19g Fat
26g Carbs
23g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 375
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 99mg 33%
Sodium 474mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 23g
Vitamin C 4mg 20%
Calcium 269mg 21%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 429mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.