If you’re wondering what to do with leftover turkey, this Turkey Casserole recipe is your answer. It’s a creamy, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned dish that brings together tender turkey, hearty rice, and sweet peas in one cozy meal. Whether you’re looking for a way to transform holiday leftovers or just craving a comforting casserole, this recipe has you covered.

Turkey Casserole

What makes this Turkey Casserole stand out is its simple ingredients and easy preparation. With staples like sour cream, mozzarella cheese, and buttery Ritz crackers, you’ll have a delicious dinner ready in no time. Plus, the addition of garlic and onion powder enhances the flavor, making every bite irresistibly good. It’s one of those recipes that’s as practical as it is satisfying.

Perfect for busy weeknights or as a crowd-pleaser at potlucks, this casserole bakes up golden and bubbly in just 20 minutes. The crunchy, buttery Ritz cracker topping adds the perfect finishing touch, making it a dish everyone will want seconds of. Ready to learn how to make this ultimate comfort food? Let’s get started!

What You Will Love About This Recipe

Perfect for Leftovers: This recipe is a lifesaver when you’re wondering what to do with leftover turkey. It transforms those extras into a creamy, cheesy, satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy.

Simple and Convenient: With easy-to-find ingredients like rice, frozen peas, and Ritz crackers, this dish comes together quickly. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want something hearty without a lot of hassle.

Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: The combination of tender turkey, creamy sauce, melty mozzarella, and a buttery cracker topping is comfort food at its finest. It’s a dish that’s just as perfect for a family dinner as it is for sharing at potlucks or gatherings.

Ingredients:

3 Cups Fully Cooked Turkey, shredded or diced

3 Cups Cooked Rice

3 Cups Frozen Peas

1 Cup Sour Cream

½ Cup Heavy Cream

1 Teaspoon Onion Powder

1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

½ Teaspoon Salt

½ Teaspoon Black Pepper

2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1 Cup Crushed Ritz Crackers

3 Tablespoon Butter, melted

How to Make Turkey Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl combine sour cream, heavy cream, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.

Next add turkey, rice, frozen peas, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Mix well.

Pour mixture into baking dish and spread evenly.
Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.

Mix Ritz crackers and melted butter together then sprinkle over the dish.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the mixture is heated through and the crackers are golden brown on top.

Serve warm, enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

Make It Your Own: Don’t have turkey? This casserole works just as well with shredded chicken or even leftover ham. Customize it based on what you have in your fridge!
Cook Rice Ahead: To save time, use pre-cooked or leftover rice. If you’re starting from scratch, consider using a rice cooker to free up your hands for prepping other ingredients.
Add Some Veggies: Frozen peas are classic, but you can swap or add other veggies like carrots, green beans, or corn for extra color and flavor.
Cheese It Up: While mozzarella is mild and melty, feel free to experiment with sharper cheeses like cheddar or Swiss for a bolder flavor.
Prep in Advance: Assemble the casserole up to a day in advance and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, just pop it in the oven for an effortless meal.
Crunchy Topping Perfection: Mix the Ritz cracker crumbs and melted butter right before baking to keep the topping crispy. For an extra crunch, you can add crushed cornflakes or Panko breadcrumbs.
Freeze for Later: This casserole freezes beautifully. Just cover it tightly with foil before baking and freeze. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as directed.

FAQs

Yes, you can prepare the casserole a day in advance. Assemble it completely, cover tightly, and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, remove it from the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, and bake as directed.

You can substitute or add other frozen or fresh vegetables like carrots, green beans, broccoli, or corn. Just ensure they’re pre-cooked or thawed before mixing them in.

Yes! While mozzarella gives a creamy texture, you can use cheddar, Swiss, or even a spicy pepper jack for a flavor twist. A combination of cheeses works well too.

Store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or the whole dish in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.

Turkey Casserole

Name: Turkey Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 3 Cups Fully Cooked Turkey, shredded or diced; 3 Cups Cooked Rice; 3 Cups Frozen Peas; 1 Cup Sour Cream; ½ Cup Heavy Cream; 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder; 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder; ½ Teaspoon Salt; ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper; 2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided; 1 Cup Crushed Ritz Crackers; 3 Tablespoon Butter, melted

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Turkey casserole is so easy to make and full of so much flavor as it combines cooked turkey, rice, peas, sour cream, heavy cream, cheese, and spices that is then topped with a delicious buttery crumb topping. This is one way to eat your turkey leftovers that everyone always loves!

Ingredients

3 Cups Fully Cooked Turkey, shredded or diced
3 Cups Cooked Rice
3 Cups Frozen Peas
1 Cup Sour Cream
½ Cup Heavy Cream
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
½ Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
1 Cup Crushed Ritz Crackers
3 Tablespoon Butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl combine sour cream, heavy cream, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.
Next add turkey, rice, frozen peas, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Mix well.
Pour mixture into baking dish and spread evenly.
Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
Mix Ritz crackers and melted butter together then sprinkle over the dish.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the mixture is heated through and the crackers are golden brown on top.
Serve warm, enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 477Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 114mgSodium: 502mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 26g

Melissa

I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!

Turkey Casserole Recipe: A Comforting Classic