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Turkey a la King Recipe

4.65 from 17 votes
22 comments
November 24, 2023
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Turkey a la King is similar to a pot pie and is a great way to give new life to Thanksgiving leftovers! A great meal in less than 30 mins! If you have a ton of leftovers, make my Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole Recipe!

Turkey A La King38

What is Turkey a la King?

This dinner recipe is great for using your leftover turkey and turning it into a fresh meal…a fresh meal in under 30 minutes?! Yes, please! You’ve likely heard of chicken ala king, but let me introduce you to Turkey à la King! The term “a la king” refers to a dish made of a basic white sauce (béchamel sauce) combined with veggies. Turkey breast or leftover chicken is usually chopped and added too. This makes for a great throw the leftovers together meal!

My mom used to make these all the time for us kids growing up because it was so darn easy and we all loved it. Plus, they look fancy because I used puff pastry shells. Look near all the other puff pastry items in the freezer section of your grocery store.

Turkey A La King2 2

Main Ingredients Needed

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make Turkey a la King:

  • Whole Puff Pastry Shells- used as a crust for the filling.
  • Minced Onion Or Shallot- for flavor.
  • Fresh Mushrooms- classic veggie in a la king
  • All-purpose Flour + Chicken Broth + Heavy Cream- together, creates the white creamy sauce
  • Ground Thyme + Poultry Seasoning- herbs and seasonings that pair well with turkey.
  • Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey or Chicken– white or dark meat is fine to use.
  • Vegetables Of Your Choice– I like to use a bag of frozen peas and then add fresh diced carrots and celery. You could also add green pepper, red peppers or green beans. Whatever your veggie preferences are will work in this dish.

Puff Pastry Shell Alternatives

If you don’t have puffy pastry shells on hand or are having a hard time locating some, I have good news for you! You can use biscuits, either store-bought biscuits or homemade is fine. Instead of the puff pastry being like a cup to hold the filling, you’d pour your creamy turkey mixture over the biscuits. You can also use croissants or toast the same way-spoon the turkey mixture over the top. A pie crust might also be a good option. You’d be creating more of a pot pie.

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How to Make Turkey a la King

This turkey ala king recipe comes together in a cinch! Start by baking the shells in the oven and then make the filling. Did I mention I use leftover turkey meat and frozen vegetables? Once everything is cooked, you scoop out the center to your shell, fill it with this creamy turkey filling and then dig in! That’s it! Easy as pie!

For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here is step by step directions to making this recipe:

Bake Puff Pastry Shells

Bake puff pastry shells according to package directions.

Next, Make the Filling

In a large skillet or cast iron skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and butter. Sauté onions, celery, carrot and mushrooms until tender, 12-15 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high heat. Slowly whisk in chicken broth. Let the sauce come to a boil to thicken.

A frying pan with butter and oil is placed on a countertop surrounded by bowls of chopped greens, peas, parsley, a whole onion, shredded chicken, broth, and flour.
A skillet contains chopped green bell peppers, onions, carrots, and sliced mushrooms. Surrounding items include peas, an onion, fresh parsley, a small dish of flour, and a jug of liquid.
A skillet filled with diced vegetables including mushrooms, carrots, and peas being sautéed with a wooden spatula. Surrounding the skillet are ingredients such as parsley, flour, an onion, peas, and broth.
A frying pan on a grey surface holds a mixture of chopped vegetables and mushrooms with a pile of flour. Surrounding the pan are fresh parsley, an onion, frozen peas, flour, and a glass container of liquid.
A wooden spoon stirs a mixture of vegetables in a black pan while broth is being poured in. A bowl of spices, chopped parsley, and an onion are nearby on a light gray surface.

Reduce heat to medium-low heat and stir in heavy cream, poultry seasoning, thyme, salt, pepper, turkey, and frozen peas. Keep warm on the stove top until ready to serve.

A wooden spoon stirs a creamy vegetable mixture in a pan as milk is being poured in, with an onion, peas, parsley, and dried herbs placed around the pan.
A skillet filled with a creamy sauce, shredded chicken, peas, and seasonings is being stirred with a wooden spoon. Fresh parsley, an onion, and a glass of milk are on the countertop beside it.
A skillet containing creamy chicken pot pie filling with shredded chicken, peas, carrots, and a wooden spoon. Fresh parsley and an onion are placed next to the skillet.

Serve + Enjoy

To serve, remove the center of a puff pastry shell and pour the mixture overtop allowing to spill over the sides. Use the pasty center as a top for the gravy mixture. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

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Storing Leftover Turkey a la King

Store any leftovers in an airtight container and into the fridge for 3-4 days. I would store the puff pastry and filing separately in airtight containers if possible.

To freeze: The filling freezes pretty well! Store in a freezer safe/ airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to use, allow to thaw in the fridge overnight.

To reheat– microwave or stove top in a saucepan are both great ways to reheat turkey a la king. Heat until warm throughout.

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FAQ

I can’t find puff pastry shells anywhere! What can I do instead?

You can use biscuits or croissants and pour the creamy turkey filling over the top, similar to biscuits and gravy….you could also cook egg noodles, rice, or an healthier option…cauliflower rice. 🙂

Can I freeze this recipe?

Yes! Store in a freezer safe, airtight container for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge.

Would this recipe work with leftover ham?

Yes! Diced ham, canned chicken, rotisserie chicken would all be fine substitutes.

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More Easy Turkey Recipes to Try!

I hope this creamy dish helps freshen up and give new life to your Thanksgiving sides and turkey leftovers! Have a great day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

A plate of creamy chicken and vegetables topped with biscuits, with a wooden spoon, an onion, a bowl of chopped herbs, and a skillet in the background.
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4.65 from 17 votes

Turkey a la King

Let me introduce you to Turkey a la King! A homemade mushroom cream sauce filled with turkey and other veggies served on top of puff pastry shells is the perfect Thanksgiving leftovers recipe.
servings 6 servings
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 Puff Pastry Shells
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
  • 4 tbsp butter 1/2 stick
  • 1/2 cup onion diced
  • 1 cup carrots diced
  • 1 cup celery diced, including leaves
  • 8 oz mushrooms sliced
  • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp celery salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground thyme
  • 1/2 tsp salt or more, to taste
  • 1/4 tsp pepper or more, to taste
  • 3 cups turkey cooked
  • 1/2 cup peas frozen
  • fresh parsley for garnish
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Bake puff pastry shells according to package directions.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, add oil and butter. Saute onions, celery, carrot and mushrooms until tender, 12-15 minutes.
    A skillet contains chopped green bell peppers, onions, carrots, and sliced mushrooms. Surrounding items include peas, an onion, fresh parsley, a small dish of flour, and a jug of liquid.
  • Stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Increase heat to medium high. Slowly whisk in chicken broth. Let the sauce come to a boil to thicken, stirring constantly.
    A frying pan on a grey surface holds a mixture of chopped vegetables and mushrooms with a pile of flour. Surrounding the pan are fresh parsley, an onion, frozen peas, flour, and a glass container of liquid.
  • Reduce heat to medium low and stir in cream, celery salt, poultry seasoning, thyme, salt, pepper, turkey, and peas. Keep warm on the stove top until ready to serve.
    A skillet filled with a creamy sauce, shredded chicken, peas, and seasonings is being stirred with a wooden spoon. Fresh parsley, an onion, and a glass of milk are on the countertop beside it.
  • To serve, remove the center of a puff pastry shell and pour the mixture overtop allowing to spill over the sides. Use the pasty center as a top for the gravy mixture. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
    A fork lifts a portion of a creamy mushroom and vegetable mixture over a biscuit on a pink plate. Another similar dish is in the background.

Nutrition

Calories: 468kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 350mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2155IU | Vitamin C: 13.9mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: leftover, turkey a la king
4.65 from 17 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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22 Responses
  3. Nora
    Reply

    5 stars
    I have tried many Turkey a la king recipes and this is hands down the best one!! I serve mine over biscuits but do not change the recipe otherwise. Thanks 🙂

  4. Sheila
    Reply

    5 stars
    Wonderful recipe. We used chicken instead and doubled the flour and chicken broth. We served it puff pastry cups. We used frozen puff pastry sheets that we put into greased muffin tins and baked .
    Delicious!!!!!!

  7. Betty
    Reply

    5 stars
    Excellent. I did not have thyme or cream in the house. I used rosemary and milk and added a little more flour and served over a dinner roll. I will make this again Thank you!

  14. Thanksgiving Leftovers: 30 Recipes for Revamping Your Leftovers | Sarah's Cucina Bella
    Reply

    […] I saw this recipe for Turkey a La King recipe from Lauren’s Latest, I was smitten. It looks so creamy, dreamy and comforting for a day […]

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