Turkey a la King Recipe (2024)

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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!

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.

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 OnionOr 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 Turkeyor 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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

More Easy Turkey Recipes to Try!

Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Meatloaf
BBQ Turkey Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Leftover Turkey Casserole

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 wouldgive 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.

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4.70 from 13 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 mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

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.
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.

Nutrition

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: leftover, turkey a la king

FAQs

What is turkey a la king made of? ›

This turkey à la king recipe features turkey, peas, and mushrooms in a creamy sauce served over puff pastry boats, biscuits, toast, or rice.

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What does a la king mean in cooking? ›

Meaning of à la king in English

cut into small pieces and cooked in a sauce that contains cream and vegetables: This restaurant serves a wonderful chicken à la king. They cooked turnips à la king.

Who invented turkey a la king? ›

Origins of Turkey a La King

One popular belief is that it was invented in the late 19th century by a chef named William King, who worked at the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia. According to this theory, Chef King made the dish for a special occasion and named it after himself.

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How to keep a turkey moist while cooking? ›

Brining is the method whereby meat (turkey, in this case) is soaked in a salty water mixed with aromatics like bay leaves, peppercorns and garlic for a couple of days. This has the effect of trapping moisture in the flesh while it roasts, yielding super juicy turkey.

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What is the liquid bag inside the turkey? ›

Giblets generally include the liver, and can include the gizzard, neck, kidneys and heart. More often than not, your butcher may have already gathered them inside a little bag within the bird's cavity, which makes finding and using them considerably easier — just don't forget to remove the bag before cooking.

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Why is it called chicken à la king? ›

The origin of chicken à la king's name is a subject of debate. Some say it was created at New York's Brighton Beach Hotel in the 1890s and named after its proprietor E. Clark King II. Some claim it originated in England, while others say it's from Philadelphia.

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Why is Butterball turkey? ›

Fresh and frozen Butterball turkeys are all natural, gluten free and raised without hormones. Fresh and Frozen Butterball turkeys are deep basted for juiciness and flavor. All natural means minimally processed and no artificial ingredients.

Tell Me More ›

What is turkey tetrazzini made of? ›

Try this American classic turkey casserole—turkey Tetrazzini—a hearty pasta bake that includes sautéed mushrooms, a cheesy creamy sauce, leftover turkey, peas, and egg noodles.

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Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›

We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. We've done the math for you — check out the chart below to determine both turkey cook times and estimated servings (with leftovers!).

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Should you bake a turkey covered or uncovered? ›

To achieve a perfectly golden, juicy turkey, let the bird spend time both covered and uncovered in the oven. We recommend covering your bird for most of the cooking time to prevent it from drying out; then, during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, remove the cover so the skin crisps in the hot oven.

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What should I put in the cavity of my turkey? ›

Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the thyme, lemon, onion, quartered, and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey.

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What is Ala King made of? ›

Chicken à la King ('chicken in the style of King') is a dish consisting of diced chicken in a cream sauce, often with sherry, mushrooms, and vegetables, generally served over rice, noodles, or bread. It is also often served in a vol-au-vent or pastry case. It is sometimes made with tuna or turkey in place of chicken.

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What are turkey burgers made of? ›

The good news is that making turkey burgers from scratch is quite easy. All you need is ground turkey, onion, bread crumbs, eggs, and some seasonings and you're good to go. Simply combine your ground turkey, diced onion, bread crumbs, egg whites, garlic, parsley, salt, and ground pepper in a bowl.

Read On ›

What is turkey filling made of? ›

At its simplest, stuffing is a seasoned bread cube mixture of onion and herbs. Traditionally, it's stuffed inside the bird, but we prefer to bake ours in a separate baking dish. The first step of making stuffing is simply sautéing celery and onion in a TON of butter, which might be the most incredible smell ever.

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