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Turkey a la King

4.77 from 17 votes
By Katie
October 9, 2025
23 comments
Jump to Recipe

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If you have leftover turkey, this recipe is the most satisfying way to use it. Creamy, rich, and packed with flavor, this Turkey a la King is comfort food that feels a little fancy thanks to the puff pastry shells. It’s quick enough for a weeknight but nice enough to serve to company. Similar to a pot pie and is a great way to give new life to Thanksgiving leftovers! 

Turkey A La King38


 

Ingredient Notes + Variations

This recipe is all about creamy, savory goodness with plenty of veggies and perfectly seasoned sauce. Here are the key players that make it so good:

  • Puff Pastry Shells – The crispy, flaky base that makes this feel like a special meal.
  • Avocado Oil or Olive Oil + Butter – Using both gives you a nice balance of flavor and helps the veggies cook evenly.
  • Onion, Carrot, Celery + Mushrooms – The flavor base. Cooking them until tender makes the sauce taste rich and layered.
  • Chicken Broth + Heavy Cream – The combo that makes the sauce creamy and smooth.
  • Cooked Turkey – Shredded or diced, use what you have on hand.
Top-down view of turkey pot pie ingredients—shredded turkey, celery, carrots, onion, mushrooms, frozen peas, butter, heavy cream, gravy, chicken broth, flour, spices & puff pastry shells—reminiscent of classic turkey a la king flavors.

How to Make Turkey a la King

This dish comes together easily on the stovetop while the puff pastry shells bake. For full recipe details, including ingredients and measurements needed, see the printable recipe card down below.

1. Bake Puff Pastry Shells

Follow the package directions and get them golden and crisp while you make the filling.

2. Sauté the Veggies

Heat oil and butter in a large skillet. Cook onions, carrots, celery, and mushrooms until softened and fragrant.

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.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

Sprinkle in flour, whisk in the broth, and let it bubble until thickened. Stir in cream and seasonings.

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.
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.

Step 4: Add Turkey + Peas

Fold in turkey and peas, let it warm through, and keep it over low heat 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.
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.

Step 5: Assemble

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.

Turkey A La King23
Turkey A La King41
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Tips for Success

  • Cook the veggies low and slow so they get soft and build flavor.
  • Whisk constantly when adding the broth to avoid lumps.
  • Taste before serving and adjust salt if needed.
  • Serve immediately so the pastry stays crisp.
Turkey A La King30

What to Serve With Turkey a la King

This recipe is hearty, comforting, and guaranteed to impress. You’re going to love how easy it is to pull together. The printable recipe is below. Have a great day, friends! 🙂

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.

Turkey a la King

Katie Cooksey
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.
4.77 from 17 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 468 kcal

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

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Notes

Storage Directions

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 468kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 11gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 350mgPotassium: 245mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 2155IUVitamin C: 13.9mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 2mg
Keyword leftover, turkey a la king
Rate This RecipePlease consider Leaving a 5-Star Review!

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, but you’d be creating more of a pot pie.

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.

More Leftover Turkey Recipes

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.

4.77 from 17 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




23 Responses
  1. Nors
    Reply

    5 stars
    A lovely recipe for using left over chicken! Very tasty and easy to adapt ( didn’t have carrots used the standard green peas) Also used your base for a tofu version! Thanks 🙂

  4. 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 🙂

  5. 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!!!!!!

  8. 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!

  15. 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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Hi, I'm Katie, a professional recipe developer who spends countless hours perfecting recipes so you can know with confidence that what you see is exactly what you’ll get.

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